Pet Seizures: Six of Your Most Frequently Asked Questions Answered!
1. What should I do when my pet has a seizure?
Make sure your pet is in a safe place where they can't harm themselves.
Time the seizure: How long did it last? Monitor for the occurrence of more than one seizure occurring in a 24-hour period. (This is called cluster seizure activity.) If there were multiple seizures, how long was each and how long was it between seizures?
Keep note of symptoms that occur during the seizure.
Generalized seizure activity can include urination/defecation, unconsciousness, paddling while in a lateral position, thrashing, foaming at the mouth, chomping, facial twitching, and a post-ictal period of drowsiness and lethargy.
Focal seizure activity includes consciousness but no response to stimuli, facial or muscle twitching, pacing/circling, and vomiting. Drowsiness and lethargy may occur during the recovery period.
If it is a non-emergency seizure and you are a existing client of VNIoC, you can use this form on our website to report it. This information will be used to record the frequency of your pet’s seizures, and is not meant to be used to report an emergent situation. You can, however, request a response from your pet’s neurologist.
2. When should I seek emergency attention for my pet’s seizures?
Clusters of 3 or more seizures in a 24-hour period.
Sequential seizures with no return to normal consciousness between episodes.
Any seizure that lasts for more than 5 minutes.
When your pet needs immediate care, please take him/her to the nearest pet hospital for emergency treatment.
3. Why don’t we know what causes my pet’s seizures?
While we can determine the cause for some seizures, most are idiopathic, i.e., recurrent, unprovoked convulsions with no known cause, often suspected to be genetic. Idiopathic epilepsy is diagnosed by excluding all other causes of seizures.
4. Can you stop the seizures from idiopathic epilepsy?
Idiopathic epilepsy is a condition for which there is no cure. However, we hope that with medication, we can manage seizures so that they do not impact quality of life. Our goal is to reduce seizure frequency as much as possible, but in general, one seizure every 4-6 weeks is considered good control.
Seizure management involves treating the seizures appropriately with few side effects and monitoring the response to therapy. Continue the medications as directed. Do not change any medications without speaking to your pet’s neurologist.
5. Will the seizures shorten my pet’s life?
Seizures do not inherently shorten life expectancy, but excess frequency or seizures of an extended period of time can impose a risk of death, and sometimes uncontrolled seizures may compromise quality of life. Therefore, lifelong maintenance (daily) and rescue (in the event of prolonged or cluster seizures) medications are important to utilize.
In cases of Idiopathic or Genetic Epilepsy, there is generally no effect on pet longevity; once seizures are successfully managed with appropriate medications, the prognosis for a normal lifespan and quality of life is favorable.
6. What else can I do to help my pet with seizures?
Effective management of canine seizures, whether as an alternative or a supplement to medication, focuses on holistic care, dietary interventions, and environmental changes. Key approaches involve utilizing MCT-rich diets or oil supplements, incorporating acupuncture, and applying vagal nerve stimulation methods. Working with an integrative veterinarian is essential to developing a tailored care plan for your dog.
To manage seizures without relying exclusively on drugs, consider these science-backed and holistic approaches:
MCT Oil (Dietary Therapy): Research has shown that diets enriched with Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) can reduce seizure frequency/severity and support neurological health by inhibiting specific receptors in the brain. Consult your veterinarian about prescription neuro-care diets; Purina NeuroCare is currently the only commercial option proven to reduce seizure severity or frequency when paired with anticonvulsant therapy.
Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine: Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system and can help decrease seizure severity and frequency. It is often used to complement conventional medications or to reduce the required drug dose.
Ocular Compression (Vagal Nerve Stimulation): A recognized technique to quickly halt an active seizure is to apply gentle to moderate pressure with your finger to the closed upper eyelid for 10–60 seconds. This stimulates the vagus nerve and can help stop a seizure in progress.
Trigger Avoidance: Monitor and minimize your dog’s exposure to environmental triggers, such as stress, loud noises, flickering lights, and toxins associated with seizures.]
Nutritional Supplements: Supplements such as Vitamin E, Omega-3s, and magnesium are sometimes recommended to reduce whole-body inflammation and support a healthy nervous system.
To find a qualified veterinary acupuncturist, search accredited directories like the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture (AAVA) or the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Ensure your practitioner is a licensed veterinarian (DVM or VMD) with post-graduate certification (such as CVA) in animal acupuncture