Ictal Phase of Seizures

According to the Dog Seizures Guide, a major motor seizure is known as a grand mal or a tonic-clonic seizure. These seizures occur in three phases. The first is the preictal or aura phase. It is followed by the ictal phase, which is the seizure itself. The final stage is the postictal phase.

  1. Pre-Ictal Phase

    • During the preictal or aura phase, the dog may act whiny or seek attention. The Four Paws Veterinary Hospital indicates that it may seem restless, shaky or agitated. This phase may be brief and last only a few minutes, or it may continue for several hours.

    Ictal Phase in Tonic-Clonic Seizures

    • The ictal phase of most major seizures can be divided into two separate stages called tonic and clonic. The tonic part usually lasts for about 30 seconds. The animal may lose consciousness and drool uncontrollably. It may also urinate or defecate on itself because it has lost control of its muscles. The Canine Epilepsy Network explains that the dog's muscles will stiffen and it will fall to the side. Its head may jerk backward, and its legs are usually stretched out.

      During the clonic part of the ictal phase, the dog will make biting or chewing movements with its mouth, and its limbs will jerk uncontrollably. It may have difficulty breathing. This part of the seizure usually lasts for only a minute or two.

    Brain Activity During Ictal Phase

    • Generalized seizures are caused by an irregularity in the brain's electrical signals. Pet Education explains that the neurons do not fire in a coordinated manner, possibly because their neurotransmitters are not chemically balanced. During the ictal phase of a seizure, the dog is experiencing an electrical storm that is caused by the uncoordinated firing of neurons. According to the Canine Epilepsy Network, the dog is unconscious during the ictal phase even if its eyes are open, and it does not feel pain during a seizure.

    How to Help Your Pet During Ictal Phase

    • The Dog Seizures Guide offers several tips for how to help your pet when it is having a seizure. First, the site does not recommend restraining the dog, because this will not stop the seizure. Instead, it suggests clearing the area and making sure that there is nothing nearby that the dog can fall on. The site also states that the dog will not swallow its tongue, so it is not necessary to try to put your fingers in its mouth; in fact, you may injure yourself if the dog involuntarily bites you. Finally, it is important to stay calm and observe the seizure so that you can explain it to a veterinarian, who will use the information that you provide as a diagnostic tool to try to find out what is wrong with your pet.

    Postictal Phase

    • The Canine Epilepsy website explains that after a seizure, the dog may react as if nothing had happened, or it may be confused and disoriented. Some dogs may become hostile or aggressive after a seizure. It may take several hours for it to return to normal.