Your dog experiences a lot of the same health problems as people, and unfortunately, they are not able to communicate the exact symptoms to you. Therefore, you need to be fully aware of a change of behavior in your pup, especially if he or she is having a seizure.
Typical Causes of Dog Seizures
Similar to people, there are a variety of reasons why your dog is experiencing a seizure. It may be the result of a health condition or a one-time occurrence as a result of its environment. Some of the more common reasons why dogs have seizures include:
- Toxins in the environment
- Epilepsy
- Head injury
- Brain tumor
- Lyme disease
- Consuming poison
- Anemia
- Liver disease
How to Recognize a Seizure
Hopefully, you will be around when your dog has a seizure. Some dogs may go off to hide if a seizure is about to occur, so look for your dog if he or she was looking a little unwell beforehand. Some of the more common symptoms of a seizure include muscle twitching, collapsing and stiffening. Many dogs tend to urinate during a seizure. A very serious problem that can occur is that sometimes a seizure will cause a dog to bite its tongue, which can result in bleeding in the mouth.
What to Do When Your Dog Has a Seizure
It is very important that you remain calm if you see your pooch having a seizure. You should make sure your pooch is not around any items that could hurt it while it is convulsing, so if you can, try to maintain an open area. Try to relax your pup by gently petting it. Once the seizure ends, contact your vet.
A seizure may be a one-time ordeal, or it could be indicative of a much more serious condition. Either way, make sure you seek out a proper diagnosis after a seizure.