It is normal to be worried and ask what you can do to help if your dog has suffered an epileptic seizure. Epileptic seizures in dogs can occur for numerous reasons and have different levels of severity, but regardless of the frequency and reasons they occur, seeing our pet suffer an epileptic seizure causes us great distress and concern; especially because usually we don’t know how to act or how epilepsy will affect their health and well-being.

Unfortunately, to date there is no cure for all cases of epilepsy in dogs and in many cases the dog suffering epilepsy will have it for life. However, there are many ways to act to alleviate its symptoms and the frequency of seizures so that the dog can live as normal and happy a life as possible.

The veterinary follow-up is essential, as well as providing good nutrition that supplies your furry friend with all the vitamins and nutrients needed to care for their neural health. Supplementation can be a fundamental support if your dog suffers from epilepsy; at Kun-Kay we have different natural supplements specially formulated to help you take care of your furry friend’s neural health, to alleviate symptoms and prevent causes that can trigger epileptic seizures in dogs.

Besides following all veterinary recommendations and caring for your pet’s diet, being informed about your furry friend’s disease, how to act if your dog suffers an epileptic seizure, and what you can do to help is fundamental. That is why, in this article, we tell you everything you need to know about epilepsy in dogs and why our dog supplements and vitamins can help you take care of your pet’s health.

1. What are epileptic seizures in dogs? Symptoms and types

The first thing you need to know about epilepsy in dogs is that it can be idiopathic or acquired, while convulsive seizures in dogs can be partial or generalized. We will explain these terms later, but first, we will teach you how to recognize the symptoms of a seizure:

1. Sudden nervousness.
2. Anxiety and restlessness.
3. Excessive salivation or jaw movements resembling chewing.
4. Vomiting.
5. Hallucinations (suddenly wagging tail or barking).
6. Loss of consciousness or falls.
7. Involuntary urination or defecation.

Once you know the pre-seizure symptoms, it is also important to learn to differentiate its phases. All epileptic seizures are divided into four stages:

1. Prodrome: This is the phase before the seizure, which can occur hours or even days before the attack. The dog will appear restless and may seek more attachment due to anxiety.
2. Aura: Changes in behavior are noticeable; there may be increased aggression, anxiety, or fear depending on the dog’s character.
3. Ictal period: When the convulsive seizure itself occurs.
4. Postictal period: The phase when the dog begins to return to normal.

1. Partial convulsive seizures

In this case, only one part or hemisphere of the brain or a specific region of the brain is activated and it affects any part of the animal’s body. They are further divided into three types:

1. Focal motor seizures: Convulsions in one muscle or group of muscles.
2. Focal sensory seizures: Affect the limbic system and cause rage, unprovoked aggression, hallucinations, and erratic behaviors.
3. Focal autonomic seizures: These are rarer and cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or difficulty swallowing. Do you want to know more about gastroenteritis in dogs?

2. Generalized convulsive seizures

These affect both cerebral hemispheres at the same time and usually cause the animal to lose consciousness. They also have motor manifestations and can occur in different forms or even as a combination of several:

1. Tonic: There is increased and sustained muscle contraction. Generally, the dog remains lying down during this phase.
2. Myoclonic: Involuntary contractions of muscles or groups of muscles occur.
3. Clonic: An intensified version of the myoclonic phase that lasts longer.
4. Atonic: Sudden loss of muscle tone for several seconds.

3. Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs

Idiopathic epilepsy refers to all cases where the veterinarian cannot detect the cause that triggers this problem. Although it cannot yet be stated with certainty, it is believed to occur when there is an imbalance between certain substances responsible for transmitting electrical impulses in the brain.

In these cases, there is usually a genetic predisposition, generally linked to the dog’s breed (for example, dachshunds, German shepherds, or beagles have a higher predisposition to suffer this problem).

4. Acquired epilepsy in dogs

This refers to all cases of epilepsy in dogs where the cause is known. Although we will look at the causes in more detail later, acquired epilepsy can mainly be caused by damage to the nervous system or liver, or brain damage caused by a pathology or accident.

2. Why do epileptic seizures occur in dogs? - Causes

As we saw in the previous section, there are two types of epilepsy in dogs: idiopathic and acquired or symptomatic.

In idiopathic epilepsy, the causes are not determined; the only thing that can be pointed out is that there are breeds with a higher predisposition to suffer it and that it can manifest at any time in their life, usually the first seizure occurs when the dog is between one and five years old.

On the other hand, acquired epilepsy is the one that appears due to a specific cause. Mainly, these are the causes that can give rise to this type of epilepsy in dogs:

1. Trauma, usually after a blow or fall.
2. Infections bacterial, viral, etc.
3. Tumors in the brain.
4. Deterioration due to age in senior dogs.

It is also important to consider that some dogs can suffer epileptic seizures without having epilepsy. There are other diseases and conditions that can cause epileptic seizures in dogs such as poisoning, cardiovascular accidents, low blood sugar, congenital malformations, meningitis, or metabolic diseases. Here is a guide on common diseases in dogs.

Prevention is fundamental and to avoid the appearance of epilepsy in your dog due to a viral or bacterial infection, it is important to take care of their immune system. For this, we recommend using Immunokun, a supplement you can include in their daily diet to strengthen their immune system.

It is also important to consider that regardless of the origin of this condition, there are factors that increase the risk of having a seizure.

Stress and anxiety, for example, are two of the factors that most increase the number of epileptic seizures in dogs. Therefore, it is highly recommended that if your dog has epilepsy, you do everything possible to avoid stressful moments. As support, you can also use natural supplements like Mindkun. Mindkun has been specially formulated as an anti-stress and anxiety supplement, promoting a sense of calm and well-being for your dog.

3. What to do during an epileptic seizure of my dog?

The most important thing if your dog is having an epileptic seizure is to stay calm. We also share some keys to make this moment as least traumatic as possible for your furry companion and tips to prevent injury:

1. If possible, remove all objects around that could hurt them or carefully take them to a safe area where they cannot injure themselves.
2. Do not touch your dog immediately after the convulsions seem to have stopped to avoid triggering a new series of seizures.
3. Do not pull their tongue out of their mouth or put anything between their teeth, they could hurt themselves.
4. Immediately after the seizure ends, take them to the veterinarian.
5. In the exceptional case that the seizure lasts more than five minutes, take your dog immediately to emergency veterinary care. A seizure lasting more than seven minutes is life-threatening for your dog and requires immediate veterinary assistance.

4. What is the life expectancy with epileptic seizures?

A dog with epilepsy can enjoy the same lifespan as one without this disease. It all depends on the origin of the problem, periodic veterinary control, external factors that may affect their condition, and their general health. Usually, dogs with epilepsy have a life expectancy of between five and ten years.

It is also important to consider that besides the danger posed by the seizures themselves, your dog is also at risk of injury during a seizure. For example, if they hit themselves during convulsions. To alleviate pain and/or inflammation caused by a blow, you can use Superorangekun, our go-to supplement to reduce your pet’s discomfort and pain.

5. Recommended treatment to alleviate or reduce epileptic seizures

The treatment for epilepsy in dogs will depend on the type of condition your furry companion suffers from and must always be recommended by a veterinarian.

In general, when dealing with idiopathic epilepsy, lifelong treatment with barbiturates or anticonvulsants is used. On the other hand, when epilepsy is symptomatic, there is no generalized treatment as it depends on the origin of the problem. For example, if epilepsy appeared due to an infection, antibiotics will be used, but for trauma or tumors, surgical measures may be applied.

Beyond the treatment used by the veterinarian, different measures can be taken to alleviate or reduce epileptic seizures. Avoiding stressful situations, for example, is essential to prevent crises. Likewise, a diet change is crucial.

Any dog needs to have a healthy and balanced diet that provides everything needed to live a healthy and happy life. In the case of dogs with any type of condition, this aspect is even more important. That is why dog supplements are one of the best alternatives to provide your pet with that extra they need to stay healthy and, most importantly, so you can enjoy the most years together possible.