Dog Seizures: Things You Ought to Know

A dog seizure is undoubtedly not a very pretty sight to witness, especially if it is your own beloved furry pal. And considering that not very many pet parents have extensive experience in this area of their furry friend’s wellbeing, it is imperative to lay down some of the common symptoms of dog seizures, they include;

·         Falling/collapsing to the floor for no apparent reason

·         Running around in circles

·         Having severely still muscles

·         Twitching and shaking uncontrollably

·         A fixated gaze or a blank stare

·         Biting

·         Drooling

·         Fainting and going completely unconscious

·         Defecating and urinating uncontrollably

How to Assist Your Dog When He is Having a Seizure

You can do several things for your dog when they are experiencing a seizure before even the emergency veterinarian arrives. They include;

1. Calm Yourself Down

Whether this is the first time your dog is having a seizure (or just another episode), it is crucial to keep yourself calm to be in a better position to assist them better. Remember that dogs can instinctively tell when their owners are shaken, panicky or frightened; this will do nothing but worsen the entire situation.

2. Time and Record the Intervals Between the Episodes

It is important to time and record the interval between the dog seizures if possible. This will help the vet gauge the severity of the seizures, which significantly narrows down the exact medication that they can prescribe. Use the stopwatch function on your smartphone to do this. Remember that if your dog has multiple seizures within a span of just a few minutes, then it is high time you called the vet, especially if the animal does not wake up after each seizure.

3. Move the Dog to a Comfortable and Safe Location Carefully and Comfortably

A dog who is experiencing violent seizures can easily hurt themselves, and to prevent this, it is very important to move them to a safe location where they cannot hurt themselves. This means getting as far away as possible from staircases, balconies, raised platforms, or door edges.

4. Lower the Dog’s Ambient Body Temperature

Dog seizures can easily cause your poodle’s temperature to rise exponentially to the point that they feel extremely hot to touch. It is your duty to attempt to bring their temperature down as quickly and safely as possible. You can, for example, use a pair of cool and soft wash clothes to dab their feet until they have cooled down a bit. 

References: VCAHospitals, PetsWebMD