Watching a dog seize can be a very scary experience. According to veterinarian Dr. Graves on Canine-Epilepsy.com, seizures occur in up to 5 percent of all dogs. They're caused by excess electrical activity in the brain. Recognizing the symptoms of canine seizures is vital so that proper treatment can be secured for your dog.
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Clinginess
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Dog seeking comfort Before a seizure begins, your dog may be far more clingy than usual. Many dogs will seek their owner out for reassurance and comfort anywhere from 5 minutes to 24 hours before actual convulsions begin.
Anxiety
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Your dog may become very nervous before a seizure starts. It may salivate, tremble or whine. The amount of time a dog is anxious varies from dog to dog but like clinginess, often can begin 5 minutes to 24 hours before convulsions start.
Non-responsiveness
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Directly before a seizure, your dog may appear to be blind or non-responsive. It won't respond to either your touch or voice and may stare straight ahead without blinking. This phase can last 30 seconds or more and varies for every dog.
Unconsciousness
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Dog on side A dog experiencing a seizure may fall over on its side and go stiff-legged. It may also void urine or feces. Oftentimes, a dog will lose control of its salivary glands and drool excessively during a seizure.
Convulsions
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The most marked sign of a canine seizure, convulsions, often begin once a dog is unconscious. Dog seizures can bring on convulsions throughout the entire body or only in certain body parts, depending on the type of seizure, according to DogSeizures.net. During convulsions, a dog's legs may paddle and twitch, its muzzle may clamp open and closed or the dog's body may tremble spastically.
Recovery
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Recovery of a seizure is different in every dog. Some dogs pace incessantly or become clingy. Other dogs get very hungry. Sometimes dogs may twitch or the dog may be blind for a period of time. Confusion is very common.
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