Dog
Seizure Symptoms
© John Dow
Dog
seizure symptoms are often described as falling down and feet
paddling, crying out, urinating, and even losing conciseness.
Depending on the location and circumstances, you should be
quick to insure your dog can't further injure himself by
moving him to a safe place.
Dogs
can't swallow their tongue but can hurt themselves by falling
against an object or down any stairs. A seizure can cause a
quick spike in body temperature so try and cool him down with
a fan or air conditioning. Don't talk to your dog, turn down
lights, and keep noise to absolute minimum. You want to keep
him as calm as possible.
Most
seizures last from 10 seconds to several minutes. Seizures
have several possible causes from hypoglycemia (low blood
sugar) to a hereditary condition called idiopathic epilepsy.
Ingesting flea treatments, petroleum products, pest chemicals,
chocolate, or other foods can also cause seizures. Injuries to
the head, even slight ones, can cause a seizure. In dogs older
than 6 years this could be a sign of a brain tumor.
Once
your dog recovers, it's time to a quick assessment to try and
determine the cause. Check the surrounding area for items
mentioned above. Do a quick once over in the head area to look
for any abrasions or signs of bumps. You can also give your
dog a small tablespoon of honey or karo oil to bring up their
blood sugar level.
If
this was the first seizure you've seen and was very short, it
could be a minor issue that will simply cure itself. If it
lasted more than 3 minutes and you could not determine the
cause by methods above, you should take your dog in for a
check up at your local vet as soon as possible.
Keep
your pet under observation for the next 24 hours. Many times a
dog will give some indication that a seizure is imminent by
crying or becoming agitated for no apparent reason. If another
seizure occurs, it's time to go to the vet immediately. Many
causes can be treated and if not cured at least managed with
medicine or treatment of some kind.
If
test show that your dog is suffering from low blood sugar or
other food related problems a change in diet may be necessary.
Changing them to a more natural ingredient food or high
protein mix may help. There are several brands that offer
special blends that can be beneficial for dogs with any kind
of adverse food reactions.
Dog
seizure symptoms are easy to spot if you know what to look for
when they occur. Checking for common causes and even a medical
check up may be necessary to properly diagnose any serious
problems. The good news is that they often are not serious and
even if a condition develops treatment is available in many
cases.
