Causes of Seizures in Dogs

Dog seizures can be scary to owners who might not understand them. Seizures can be an indication of a serious problem, or can be the serious problem themselves. It is important to understand how to tell if your dog has had a seizure, and what the causes might be, as well as how to prevent the seizures from happening in the future.

  1. Indication

    • If you witness your dog having a seizure, there will likely be no question in your mind as to what has happened. His body will go very rigid, and he will likely shake. If you do not witness your dog having a seizure, it is still possible to tell if he has one. He might seem disoriented, and there might be foam around his muzzle. Also, if you have another dog, that one might be acting strangely toward the dog who has had the seizure. The dog might have also lost control of his bladder or bowel.

    Epilepsy

    • Epilepsy is a brain disorder that is found in humans and cause seizures to occur. It is also found in dogs. When dogs have epilepsy, they will probably have seizures from the time that they are puppies until they are adults.

    Brain Damage or Disorder

    • Some dogs have seizures because they have brain damage or another type of brain disorder. If this is the case, your doctor will most likely not be able to tell what the exact cause of the seizures is.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If your dog has seizures, take him to the vet. If he is diagnosed with epilepsy, the doctor might be able to prescribe daily medication for him to take that might control his seizures. If your dog has brain damage or another disorder, the vet might prescribe other medications, or the seizures might be something that the dog has to live with.

    Considerations

    • Some dogs have seizures without having epilepsy or another brain disorder. Many times, this is due to low blood sugar. If a dog is prone to seizures and does not have a condition, try feeding him a spoonful of honey each day. This will keep his blood sugar up. It is also a good idea to give a dog honey after a seizure.