There’s nothing worse than the feeling of knowing something is wrong with your dog and not being sure what’s going on. It’s even more anxiety-inducing when the symptoms have a wide, vague range, like muscle spasms and drooling.
If your dog is acting “off” and suddenly falls to the ground with spasms, there’s a good chance your dog is having a seizure. Unfortunately, not all dog seizure symptoms are as obvious as muscle spasms and involuntary twitching.
If your dog has seizures, ask your vet about PetAlive’s EaseSure-S™ for symptoms of pet seizures. This herbal supplement can support brain and nervous system function in cats and dogs and help manage common symptoms of seizures, epilepsy, and stress-induced episodes. Buy it here!
Here are seven signs that your dog is having a seizure.
1. Confusion And Anxiety
Some dogs who are about to have a seizure will have a sudden shift in demeanor.
They may appear confused, put their tail between their legs, or go to their favorite safety hiding spot in your home. Your pup might even find you for comfort and whine or cry.
This period of pre-seizure, called the pre-ictal phase (aura), can start anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours before the actual seizure starts.
2. Twitches And Convulsions
Dog seizures can start with small twitches around the face and legs, and they can go as far as to cause the entire body to convulse. This is called the ictus period of the seizure.
Seizures make the muscles of the body expand and contract quickly.
These muscle spasms might look like your dog is doggy-paddling on the floor or as if your dog is trying to shake off water in an irregular way. They might also chomp or bite their tongue during the seizure.
3. Drooling And Foaming At The Mouth
Because your dog’s body is under a lot of stress during a seizure, they may become overheated. This could lead to panting, excessive drooling, or even foaming at the mouth.
A dog might even vomit during a seizure or convulsing episode, which can also lead to foamy discharge around the mouth.
4. Loss Of Consciousness
During the actual seizure, your dog may lose consciousness. Just because your dog faints, however, does not necessarily mean that they are in the midst of a seizure.
Loss of consciousness from seizures looks like your dog doesn’t have control of their body and is twitching or convulsing.
5. Incontinence
When dogs have seizures, they don’t have control over their muscles or movements. That’s why it’s common for seizing dogs to involuntarily urinate or defecate.
This can happen at any point during the seizure itself. If you come home to an accident and it’s smeared all over the place as opposed to in one spot, it could be a sign that your dog had a seizure.
6. Trouble Walking
Once the tremors and convulsions of the seizure start to subside, your dog might have difficulty regaining control of their limbs.
As they enter the post-seizure (postictal) stage, they may have an odd gait or limp. They may not even be able to move at all if it was a severe seizure.
7. Temporary Blindness
A dog who has experienced a seizure might bump into walls or furniture because they’re still regaining control of their limbs, but it could also be due to temporary blindness.
Some dogs experience temporary blindness after a seizure because the seizure makes temporary, abnormal connections in the part of the brain that processes vision.
In extreme cases, blindness can be permanent.
Seeing your dog have a seizure can be a terrifying event. If your dog experiences a seizure, as hard as it may be, try to remember and write down the events and timing.
Make an appointment with your veterinarian to help determine the cause of your dog’s seizure and follow their instructions for treatment.
You should also ask your vet about PetAlive’s EaseSure-M™ for nervous system calm in pets. This homeopathic medicine can reduce involuntarily muscle movements or twitching and reduce nervous system hypersensitivity. Buy it here!
Has your dog ever had a seizure? What were their symptoms? Let us know in the comments below!
