Pet Seizures

When a pet has a seizure, it can be a scary experience for the animal and his owner. Pet seizures can be the result of a variety of health problems, some milder than others. If your pet has a seizure, you should always consult a veterinarian to find out the underlying cause or condition and make a plan for future action with regard to your pet's health.

  1. Definition

    • According to the Washington State University Veterinary Medicine department, "a seizure is defined as a paroxysmal, transitory disturbance of brain function that has a sudden onset, ceases spontaneously, and has a tendency to recur." If a pet has regularly seizures, he may have epilepsy.

    Symptoms

    • Pet care author Deena Caruso explains that during a seizure, "pets often lose control, fall over, chomp their teeth, salivate or drool, whine, paddle with their feet and begin to urinate or defecate on themselves." This can all be frightening to watch, but it is important to remember not to panic.

    Causes

    • Seizures may be caused by metabolic conditions such as liver or kidney disease, hypo- or hyper-thyroidism, toxins or anemia. They may also be the result of structural problems such as cancer or traumatic injuries. They may additionally be caused by idiopathic epilepsy, which is simply the term for a seizure condition with an unknown cause.

    Action

    • During your pet's seizure, stay calm and position your pet in a soft area so she will not be in any danger of falling or injuring herself through contact with her surroundings. Call your veterinarian when the seizure subsides and schedule an appointment to have him check your pet's condition.

    Emergency

    • A seizure becomes an emergency situation if it lasts for longer than a minute or two, or if several seizures happen over a short period of time. Veterinarians John A. Bukowski and Susan E. Aiello advise getting your pet to a veterinarian or veterinary emergency center immediately if you witness this occur.

    Treatment

    • The treatment for your pet's seizure depends on the underlying cause in most cases. The veterinarian will probably treat that disease in and of itself and then may also prescribe an anti-convulsant medication to treat the seizures themselves.