Seizures in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes, and What To Do

What Are Seizures in Dogs?

Seizures in dogs are caused by a sudden surge of uncontrolled electrical activity within the brain. The signs and severity of a seizure depend on which areas of the brain are affected and how widely that activity spreads.

Some seizures are brief and self-limiting. Others can be life-threatening and require urgent veterinary intervention. While witnessing a seizure is distressing, many dogs with appropriate diagnosis and management can live long, stable, and fulfilling lives.

Seizures vs Look-Alike Conditions

Not all abnormal movements are seizures.

Muscle tremors, shivering, and even vivid dreaming can be mistaken for seizure activity. The key difference is awareness.

  • Dogs experiencing tremors or shivering remain aware of their surroundings

  • Dogs having most types of seizures show altered awareness, confusion, or loss of consciousness

Because some seizures do not involve full loss of consciousness, diagnosis is not always straightforward.

If possible, video recording an episode can be extremely helpful for your veterinarian.

Types of Seizures in Dogs

Generalised Seizures

Generalised seizures occur when abnormal electrical activity affects most or all of the brain.

These are the seizures most people picture and often involve the entire body.

Common features include:

  • Loss of consciousness

  • Body stiffness

  • Limb paddling or jerking

  • Jaw chomping or biting at the air

  • Involuntary urination or defecation

Variants of generalised seizures include:

  • Tonic seizures – stiffness without paddling

  • Clonic seizures – paddling without stiffness

  • Atonic or absence-type seizures – sudden loss of consciousness without convulsions

Focal (Partial) Seizures

Focal seizures involve abnormal electrical activity in a specific area of the brain.

Signs are often localised and may include:

  • Facial twitching

  • Lip or eyelid movements

  • Fly-biting or snapping at the air

  • Repetitive licking

  • Repeated movement of one limb

Awareness may be normal or altered.
Focal seizures without altered awareness may be called partial motor seizures, while those involving behavioural changes or confusion may be referred to as complex partial or psychomotor seizures.

Focal seizures can sometimes progress into generalised seizures.

Phases of a Seizure

Generalised seizures typically occur in three stages.

Pre-ictal Phase (Aura)

This phase occurs before the seizure itself and may last seconds to minutes.

Signs may include:

  • Restlessness or anxiety

  • Clinginess or withdrawal

  • Staring into space

  • Unusual behaviour

Ictal Phase (The Seizure)

This is the active seizure phase.

Dogs may:

  • Collapse

  • Become rigid

  • Paddle their limbs

  • Lose awareness

  • Vocalise

  • Lose bladder or bowel control

Post-ictal Phase (Recovery)

After the seizure, dogs often experience a recovery period.

Signs may include:

  • Confusion or disorientation

  • Weakness or unsteady walking

  • Restlessness or agitation

  • Temporary blindness

  • Lethargy

This phase can last minutes to hours and is often longer after severe or prolonged seizures.

What To Do If Your Dog Has a Seizure

Stay calm. Most seizures last less than one minute and resolve on their own.

During the seizure:

  • Remove nearby hazards

  • Do not restrain your dog

  • Do not put anything in their mouth

  • Gently move them only if they are in danger (stairs, road)

After the seizure:

  • Keep your dog in a quiet, safe area

  • Allow them time to recover

  • Offer water once they are steady

  • Delay feeding until they are fully alert

When Seizures Are an Emergency

Seek immediate veterinary attention if your dog experiences:

  • A seizure lasting longer than five minutes

  • Multiple seizures without recovery in between (cluster seizures)

  • More than two seizures within 24 hours

These situations can cause serious neurological damage and can be life-threatening.

Causes of Seizures in Dogs

Seizures can result from many underlying conditions, including:

  • Brain infection or inflammation

  • Brain tumours

  • Head trauma

  • Metabolic disorders (low blood sugar, calcium imbalance)

  • Liver or kidney disease

  • Toxic exposure (lead, antifreeze, certain drugs)

  • Congenital abnormalities such as hydrocephalus

  • Heatstroke

In some cases, no underlying cause is identified.

Idiopathic (Primary) Epilepsy

When dogs experience recurrent seizures and no underlying cause is found, they are diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy.

Key points:

  • Most common cause of seizures in young dogs

  • Typically begins between 1–4 years of age

  • Likely has a genetic component

  • Seen more commonly in certain breeds

Idiopathic epilepsy does not mean seizures are untreatable. Many dogs respond well to long-term management, although some require careful adjustment of treatment over time.