Diet to Help Dog With Seizures

There can be different causes for seizures in dogs, from canine epilepsy to nutritional deficiency. Whatever the cause, you must take your dog to the veterinarian if you notice seizures, even minor ones. After that, you can use diet to help reduce the incidences of seizures.

  1. Supplemental Canine Vitamin

    • Give your dog a supplemental canine vitamin daily to assure that all his nutrients are met. Purchase chewable canine vitamins from the pet store or from your veterinarian's office. Read the label to determine how much to give to your dog according to age and weight. Place the tablet in a pill-crusher and add the crushed vitamin to your dog's daily food.

    Avoid Artificial Preservatives

    • Artificial preservatives often cause problems for dogs with special diet needs. Replace inexpensive, commercial brand dog food with organic dog food. Read the labels to confirm that the food does not contain artificial preservatives. This is particularly important with canned foods, which often add preservatives to increase the products' shelf life.

    Avoid Artificial Dyes

    • Some dog foods have red dye and yellow dye to make the food look more appetizing--as if a dog cares what color his food is. These dyes offer no nutritional value. If there is red food pictured on your dog-food bag, double-check the ingredients and avoid all food with dyes.

    High Protein

    • Give your dog foods that are high in protein. The food labels will who you a list of crude protein percentage in the formula. Compare the percentage between brands, and select a brand that has the highest crude protein percentage. Ask your veterinarian which brands of commercial food are recommended for your dog, particularly one with a history of seizures.

    Avoid Sweets

    • Give your dog nutritional food that does not contain artificial sugars, processed sugars or other sweets in them. These foods don't add to the dog's nutrients and can be difficult to digest. The goal of a diet for dogs with seizures is to provide foods that are easily digestible and nutritious. Dog foods with sugar and sweets are empty calories that won't benefit your dog.

    Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet

    • Learn what foods are listed on the biologically appropriate raw food (BARF) diet. Ask your veterinarian for a brochure or directions. Prepare the diet according to the instructions. Feed the appropriate servings and proportions based on your dog's activity level, age and breed. Add canine nutritional supplements, minerals and vitamins to give your dog the maximum amount of nutrition from the BARF diet.