Seizures are a common neurological health condition in dogs. Usually, dogs show symptoms such as fits or convulsions when their normal brain function undergoes a temporary involuntary disturbance. Animal health experts refer to seizures as epileptic episodes in dogs. Despite their common nature, seizures can be a severe issue if not dealt with in time. Keep reading to learn about the causes and symptoms of dog seizures and how pet parents can manage them.

Dog seizure symptoms
Animal experts and veterinarians can identify and diagnose seizures in dogs based on certain common symptoms. Some of these warning signs are listed below.

Running in circles
Seizures tend to affect motor activities among dogs. As a result, they may exercise too much control over their behavior. This results in out-of-control actions such as running in circles. Furthermore, during a seizure, dogs will find walking in a straight line difficult or impossible. Epilepsy brings about forebrain dysfunction in dogs, which makes it a tall task for them to switch directions without effort or strain. If a person finds their dog circling a spot endlessly, they should be taken to a nearby veterinarian immediately.

Having trouble balancing and walking
Besides losing a sense of direction, location, or situation, dogs will also be unable to walk properly without stumbling when they experience a seizure. It is one of the clearest indicators that a dog has neurological problems. Balance is one of the complex functions of the brain. So, when this function is negatively affected, dogs will find it difficult to maintain a sense of equilibrium and must be carried from one place to another for displacement.

Fainting
Certain types of seizures, like the Grand Mal seizures, affect both sides of a dog’s brain and also its entire body. It results in involuntary convulsions, twitching of limbs, and, in a worst-case scenario, a loss of consciousness. It is common for dogs to faint while experiencing a seizure due to temporary impairment of brain function.

Other than that, dogs also lose control over bodily functions when they experience a seizure. So, an affected dog may urinate or defecate on the floor without knowledge or control over their own motions.

Besides these signs, some of the other clear indicators of dog seizures are chomping or making biting motions, collapsing to one side, a sudden stiffening of the body, foaming uncontrollably at the mouth, uncontrolled drooling, being permanently confused or dazed before collapsing on the ground, repeating an odd behavior on loop endlessly, emitting a low growl for no specific reason, becoming aggressive without any provocation, and many others.

These are some of the early warning signs of dog seizures. It is advised to get one’s pet screened by a local vet before these symptoms assume more severe proportions.

Causes of dog seizures
Although there are numerous triggers of dog seizures, some of the most commonly-known causes of the health condition are:

Food poisoning
Some foods are toxic to dogs. Eating rotten or toxin-filled food frequently can harm a dog’s health. Food poisoning is arguably one of the most common causes of epileptic attacks in dogs.

Liver or kidney disease
Issues with the liver or kidney can occasionally trigger seizures in the long term in canines. In the case of liver disease, the built-up toxins in the bloodstream can gradually find their way to the sensitive neurological zones within a dog. Similarly, with kidney disorders, the blood is saturated with toxins, impairing a dog’s brain functions.

Head injuries
Injuries of any kind in dogs must be considered an emergency. If there is any delay, the dog will suffer severe consequences, including violent seizures.

Other known causes of dog seizures include anemia, low or high blood sugar, electrolyte deficiency or imbalances, strokes, brain cancer, and encephalitis.

Types of dog seizures

Grand Mal seizures
As mentioned earlier, Grand Mal seizures affect both sides of a dog’s brain and its entire body. As a result, involuntary jerking and twitching are observed in dogs with this condition.

Focal seizures
In this kind of epileptic seizure, only a specific part of a dog’s brain is affected. So, dogs experiencing this seizure experience seizures on just one limb, one side of the face, and, in general, a targeted part of the body. Focal seizures must be addressed before they escalate to Grand Mal over a dog’s lifetime.

Focal seizures with secondary generalization
This condition comes in two distinct phases. Initially, the dog will show all signs of a focal seizure, followed by a stronger second phase, in which the dog experiences a full-on Grand Mal episode.

Treatment for dog seizures
Healthcare experts use the available treatment options when a dog undergoes more than one seizure per month or shows signs of a cluster of seizures or Grand Mal attacks. Veterinarians use blood and urine tests and chest X-rays to get a complete picture of an affected dog’s brain and overall nervous system.

Prescription-based treatments and combination therapy, a mix of multiple treatment options, are ideal remedies to address dog seizures.