Seizures are not something that every pet owner will see, but for those who have seen their pet have a seizure, it can be a very scary experience. In this article, I’m going to discuss the type of seizures cats and dogs can have, what to do if your pet is having a seizure, and possible treatment options.
Types of Cat and Dog Seizures
When most people think of seizures, they think of what is called a Grand Mal seizure, where the animal is convulsing on the ground with stiffness/contraction cycles (tonic/clonic action), paddling, defecating, urinating, etc. These seizures are scary, but they are not the only type of seizure that your pet can have. There are two other classifications of seizures that owners don’t always recognize. The two other types of seizures are partial seizures and psychomotor seizures.
Partial seizures in dogs and cats occur when the seizure activity originates from one specific part of the brain and therefore only affects a certain area of the body. For example, this type of seizure may present itself as twitching, excessive blinking, etc. Partial seizures can progress to Grand Mal seizures.
Psychomotor seizures often appear as behavioral abnormalities. This type of seizure can present itself as involuntary circling, howling, snapping, etc. This behavior may also be followed by a Grand Mal seizure.
When speaking to your veterinarian about seizure-like behavior, they may ask what happened after the seizure. The time after a seizure occurs is called the postictal phase. This phase helps veterinarians distinguish between a true seizure and some type of cardiovascular event or fainting.
The postictal phase can last from a few minutes to several hours. During this time, your pet will be experiencing disorientation and may appear to be blind. The postictal phase can be even more disturbing than the seizure itself to a pet owner. During this time, owners need to be very careful. Our first thought after seeing a pet have a seizure is to comfort them, but as animals come out of seizures and are disoriented, they will not recognize the people they love. This is often when owners get bitten or scratched.
What Causes Seizures in Dogs and Cats?
There are many factors that can trigger seizures in cats and dogs, including toxins, medical conditions, and physiological or environmental stressors.
Common causes of seizures in dogs and cats include:
- Brain infections: More common in animals under one year of age.
- Epilepsy: When the underlying cause is unknown, animals (typically between 1–5 years old) are often labeled as epileptic.
- Tumors: More common in animals over five years of age. In older pets, the most frequent cause is meningiomas, tumors that grow from the inside of the skull and press on the brain. These tumors are usually diagnosed via MRI or CT scan, and surgical removal may be an option for some animals.
- Other causes: Toxins, trauma, hypothyroidism, and other medical conditions can also lead to seizures.
Spotting Seizures: Cat and Dog Seizure Symptoms to Watch Out For
During a Seizure
Signs can vary depending on the type of seizure (generalized vs. focal), but common symptoms include:
- Loss of consciousness: The pet may collapse or appear unaware of their surroundings.
- Muscle twitching or convulsions: Limbs may paddle, or the body may shake uncontrollably.
- Stiffening or jerking movements: Often rhythmic and repeated.
- Drooling, foaming, or frothing at the mouth
- Involuntary urination or defecation
- Vocalizations: Whining, barking, or meowing in distress.
- Unresponsiveness: Your pet may not respond to voice or touch.
After a Seizure (Postictal Phase)
Pets often appear normal after a seizure eventually, but the postictal phase after a seizure can be different for every pet. Watch for:
- Confusion or disorientation: The pet may stumble, bump into objects, or seem “lost.”
- Restlessness or pacing
- Temporary blindness or altered vision
- Fatigue or sleepiness
- Appetite changes: Some pets may refuse food temporarily.
- Behavior changes: Anxiety, clinginess, or unusual aggression may occur.
- Weakness or difficulty walking
What to Do When a Dog or Cat Has a Seizure
If your pet is having a Grand Mal seizure, I always tell owners to make sure their pet is in a safe place (i.e., not at the top of the stairs or on a piece of furniture where they could fall off of it), remove other animals and children from the area, and time the seizure. If the seizure lasts more than three minutes, you need to start cooling your pet down with ice packs or cold cloths on the ears and paw pads and seek immediate veterinary attention. Also, if your pet has more than two seizures in a 24-hour period (even if they are less than three minutes), you need to seek veterinary attention. If the seizure doesn’t last more than three minutes, then after the seizure is done, record the date and time of the seizure and note any abnormal behavior beforehand, such as twitching.
After your pet’s seizure, the postictal stage will occur. Again, you need to be careful because you can get bitten during this phase, no matter how sweet your pet normally is.
If your pet has a seizure, you should notify your veterinarian so that a note can be made in your pet’s medical history. Your veterinarian may advise you to bring your pet in for a work-up. I tell all of my clients to record the date, time, and length of each seizure, no matter how much time occurs between seizures, since sometimes we can find patterns.
Are Seizures Painful for Dogs and Cats?
While seizures can be stressful and frightening to witness, they aren’t believed to be painful for our pets. During a seizure, cats and dogs are typically unconscious and aren’t aware of their surroundings, so they aren’t feeling pain in the usual sense during a seizure.
However, while pets are in pain during a seizure, they may be physically and emotionally stressed in the aftermath during the postictal phase. Because cat and dog seizures can cause muscle contractions, your pet may be sore and uncomfortable following one due to the strain put on their body. Pets may also be confused or scared following a seizure and instinctively seek comfort from their owner while they recover.
How Do You Treat Seizures in Pets?
Treatment of seizures in dogs and cats varies with the patient. Many veterinarians will start by doing blood work to rule out underlying causes or other medical conditions. If the blood work is normal, then, depending on the age of the pet and the owner’s willingness, further diagnostics may be recommended to better understand what is causing the seizures and how to best approach a treatment plan.
Seizure Medication for Dogs and Cats
Based on the pet’s seizure history, specific seizure medication for dogs and cats may be started. The
most common medications used are phenobarbital and potassium bromide. Your veterinarian will decide which is best for your pet based on their findings from the diagnostic tests run, as well as other factors, including your pet’s overall health status. After your pet is started on medication, there is monitoring involved to make sure your pet is on the appropriate dose and not having any side effects from the medication.
Up to 30% of cats and dogs will not respond to traditional medications. There are other seizure medications available from the human side that can be used, but are not commonly used due to excessive cost and inconvenient dosing schedules.
Acupuncture for Cat and Dog Seizures
One alternative that has worked for one of my patients has been acupuncture. My patient, Sadie Mae, first started having Grand Mal seizures back in 2012 when she was two years old. Blood work ruled out any underlying abnormalities. The owners didn’t want to do medication, so they sought out acupuncture to treat Sadie Mae’s seizures. Sadie Mae has been seeing me since 2013, and we’ve done a very good job of managing her seizures with acupuncture alone. On average, Sadie Mae goes 7-9 months between seizures. When a seizure occurs, we treat Sadie Mae with acupuncture several times, and then she is good for another 7-9 months. The owners have been happy not to treat Sadie Mae with daily medication, and Sadie Mae seems to really enjoy her sessions.
There is nothing fun about your pet having a seizure. The most important things to remember if your pet has a seizure are to keep your pet in a safe place, be careful you don’t get hurt, write down the seizure, and contact your veterinarian. Many animals that have seizures can be managed and live normal, happy lives.
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