Puppy Seizure Symptoms

Seizures are characterized by uncontrollable behavior or movement caused by a neurological problem in a puppy's brain. All seizures are different; smaller ones affect only a small part of the body, while larger seizures affect the entire body at one time, making the onset of a seizure more noticeable. Owners who think their pup may be having a seizure should keep puppies calm and off of furniture to prevent injury from uncontrollable movements such as falls from a seizure.

  1. Preictal Phase

    • Preictal refers to the period before the onset of a seizure and its symptoms. Before a seizure occurs, puppies may show signs that a seizure is coming by acting in a way that is uncharacteristic. Puppies in the preictal phase of a seizure may become agitated and nervous.They also will seek out their owner's attention and stay close so when the seizure occurs they feel safe.

    Seizure Symptoms

    • Signs and symptoms of a seizure may vary from puppy to puppy and also depend on the severity of the seizure. Most of the time a puppy will experience no reaction to its surroundings, accompanied with a fixed gaze and glossy eyes. Many puppies will lose control of muscles, resulting in a rigid and stiff appearance, accompanied with a slight tremble or shake. Puppies also may lose bowel control, drool and even vomit, depending on the severity of the seizure.

    Postictal Phase

    • Postictal refers to the time period after the seizure has taken place. The average seizure lasts for less than two minutes, and puppies may take anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days to fully recuperate. After a seizure, puppies will have a temporary loss of vision or the ability to focus on objects, but vision will return as it recovers. Puppies also will be extremely tired and should rest in a quiet, unstressful environment until they fully recover. If a seizure lasts more than two minutes, seek medical help for your puppy immediately.

    Causes of Seizures

    • Seizures that occur in smaller, toy breed dogs are often the result of low blood sugar or as a result of an excess insulin dosage or overdose in diabetic puppies. One of the most common causes of seizures in puppies is lead poisoning from the objects puppies come into contact with during their teething phase. Veterinarians will need to do a physical exam, blood tests and urine analysis to find the underlying causes that may have caused the seizure to begin in the first place.