Continuous Seizures in Dogs

Watching your furry friend have a seizure can be a difficult, emotional and stressful ordeal. But, by understanding the cause and treatment of seizures, an effective treatment can be found for the underlying condition. Seizures come in many different types, and are fairly common among all breeds of dogs. Each type will have a defining characteristic that will help your vet identify the proper route to take.

  1. Generalized Seizures

    • Generalized seizures are also known as Tonic Clonic, and can be mild or severe. The "Tonic" phase lasts between 20 and 30 seconds, and usually causes loss of balance and will immediately extend to the limbs. The "Clonic" phase begins shortly after; causing spastic motions and creating a "running" motion coupled with jaw muscle contraction.

    Partial Seizures

    • Partial seizures typically involve just one part of the dog's body. It may include spasm of a single limb or muscle. It is possible to progress to a Generalized Seizure.

    Status Epilepticus

    • A seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes and up to 30 minutes is a status epilepticus. A chain of several seizures is possible, the duration of which can be difficult to determine. These are often considered life-threatening.

    Three Stages

    • Throughout the duration of a seizure, a dog may experience three different stages. The Pre-Ictal Phase occurs before the actual seizure. The animal's behavior may be odd and can last from a few seconds to a few hours. The Ictal Phase is during the onset of the seizure, and can last from a few minutes to a half hour. The Post-Ictal Phase is the period of time following the seizure. Behavior may still be abnormal, the dog may be confused or he may experience temporary blindness.

    Causes and Treatments

    • Dogs may experience seizures due to simple hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can be cured with natural vanilla ice cream once the seizure has subsided. Infections, toxins and tumors can also be responsible for seizures. For more serious conditions, medications can be prescribed through a veterinarian to control seizures.