How To Spot Dog Seizure Symptoms

If you have seen your dog have a seizure it can be quite frightening and you may not know what to do. However, knowing dog seizure symptoms can ensure that your vet can make sure your dog gets appropriate treatment. It is also important to keep calm and make sure your dog does not panic.

Making sure dog does not panic can be difficult, especially if this is the first time that the seizure has occurred. There are ways you can prevent this. If you are in a park, make sure you keep the dog away from any poisonous berries. If you have children, do not let them feed the dog chocolate as this is toxic for dogs. When there are firework displays outside, keep your dog inside. Measures like this will help prevent seizures caused by outside influences.

One common misconception when dealing with a dog seizure is that you need to make sure that you need to grab their tongue to ensure they do not swallow it. Not only is this inaccurate but can be potentially very dangerous. This is because the dog is likely to react and bite you, causing you a serious injury.

With any seizure the best thing to do is remain calm. While this may not always be easy, this is a vital part of making sure your dog does not panic. Talk to your dog in a calm and reassuring way. Keep away from holding the paws as you may get clawed. Note the time of the seizure and how long it took the dog to return to normal. This is the kind of information the vet will want to know as well as any unusual occurrences such as fireworks or excessive playtime.

A serious seizure to look out for is status epilepiticus. This either consists of a single seizure lasting up to half an hour or a series of repetitive seizures. It often occurs with dogs who have had a history of milder seizures or who have had suffered an injury to the brain or eaten toxic substances. It is important to check this with your vet as they can sometimes be mistaken for cluster seizures. The difference is that dogs will often be conscious between seizures.

Two types that are often confused are status epilepticus and cluster seizures. Status epilepticus can be potentially life threatening and is characterized by either one half hour length seizure or several on a loop. The difference between that and cluster seizures is that between seizures the dog will be conscious.

Take a note of when the seizure occurred and contact the veterinarian immediately, especially if this is the first time this has happened. They will usually ask if there was any outside influence such as fireworks or excessive play time. You should also note how long before the dog appeared to be acting normally. For some time after your dog may appear to be in an almost drugged state and take longer to respond to commands.

Once you have reported a dog seizure to a vet, they will usually look at the symptoms to see what kind of seizure has occurred. In some cases they may suggest waiting and seeing if there are any further developments. They will often seem groggy after the seizure and be slower to respond to commands. If necessary, the vet may then do blood tests to check factors such as glucose and calcium levels. If spotted early enough, this will allow the dog to get the best treatment to lead a happy and healthy life. If you have any concerns about your dog or want more information speak to your local vet.