A trance-like stare, trembling or excessive salivation are a few of the symptoms of a doggie seizure. During your lifetime, you may own or have a friend who owns a dog that has seizures. Understanding how a seizure develops, and recognizing when it is happening, allows you to take the proper steps in helping your pet. Even though your dog isn't feeling any pain during a seizure, he may show signs of fear and confusion. Recognizing the symptoms of each stage of a seizure could save your dog's life.
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Symptoms Before a Seizure
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The preictal stage starts before the actual seizure occurs. It may precede the seizure by seconds or hours. Your dog may show signs of restlessness, mood change, nervousness, apprehension, trembling, whining or drooling. If you see any of these symptoms appearing, remove other dogs from the area in case the other dogs attack. Keep your dog quiet and talk soothingly to it. Jot down any information about this stage to inform the veterinarian of everything that happened.
Symptoms During a Seizure
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Once the actual seizure begins, the condition moves to the ictal stage. The seizure can be just a far away look in your pet's eyes to a severe case of convulsions. During this stage, your pet may appear stiff and even fall over where you can actually see the muscles in spastic, uncontrollable motion. In some cases, loss of bowel or bladder control or extreme salivation occurs. If your pet is completely out of control with its legs paddling, a grand mal seizure is taking place. At this stage, he may not be lucid enough to recognize his surroundings. If this stage lasts longer than five minutes, it may be an epilepticus status, which is a prolonged seizure and may need emergency care. Continue writing notes so you can give your veterinarian detailed explanations of what occurred.
Symptoms After a Seizure
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The postictal stage occurs once the convulsions stop. Your pet may look confused, disoriented and be staring into space caused by temporary blindness. His salivating may continue to be excessive. This stage may occur for a few minutes up to several minutes. It is important to soothe your dog with low tones and assure him that you are there. This last stage is also important to record. Record the length of time each stage took. Many types of illnesses have symptoms of seizures. All the information that you give to your veterinarian will help him determine what is causing the symptoms.
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