Seizures in Pets

What a seizure looks like

A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It can look different from one animal to another: some collapse and paddle their legs, others stiffen, twitch or lose control of their bladder. Some stare into space or behave oddly for a short time before or after the event.

Seizures are distressing to watch, but most do not last long. The most useful things you can do are to keep your pet safe, avoid being bitten, and note what you see. Your description helps us work out the cause and decide on treatment.

Warning signs and what to record

Some pets show a brief change in behaviour before a seizure. If you notice any of these, keep your pet safe and watch closely.

• Restlessness, pacing, whining or hiding before the event
• Staring, head-pressing or unusual behaviour
• Collapse with stiffening, paddling or jerking limbs
• Twitching of the face, jaw or a single limb
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Drooling, chomping or foaming at the mouth
• Confusion, blindness or wobbliness afterwards

What to do during a seizure

What not to do

Never put your hands, a spoon or any object into your pet’s mouth — doing so risks serious bites and broken teeth, and cannot help. Do not try to restrain them in the middle of a seizure. Do not give any medication, food or water while the seizure is happening, and do not crowd or shout at your pet.

If your pet is near stairs, a road, water or a heat source, move the danger away from them rather than moving them, wherever that is possible safely.

What to tell us when you call

Tell us how long the seizure lasted, whether it has happened before, and how many episodes you have seen. Describe what your pet did before, during and after. Mention their age, their weight, any medication or recent illness, and whether they may have eaten anything unusual.

A short video taken from a safe distance can be extremely helpful, but never put yourself at risk to record one.

When it is an emergency

Call us immediately if a seizure lasts more than a few minutes, if seizures repeat without your pet recovering in between, or if your pet does not wake up normally afterwards. A first-ever seizure should always be assessed, because it may signal poisoning, infection, metabolic disease or a brain problem rather than epilepsy.

Afterwards and prevention

Many pets are tired, wobbly or temporarily blind after a seizure, and usually settle over minutes to hours. We investigate the cause carefully: not every seizure requires lifelong medication, and some are triggered by illness, toxins or heat that can be treated directly.

If your pet is prescribed medication, give it exactly as directed and never stop or adjust it without speaking to us. Keep them away from known toxins, avoid overheating, and keep a simple diary of any episodes. Call us straight away if seizures become more frequent, more severe or last longer than before — that is a change we need to know about.