Seizures

What It Is

A seizure happens when a surge of disorganized electrical activity sweeps through the brain, temporarily overriding normal control of movement and consciousness. Some animals fall to one side, paddle their legs, and lose awareness completely, a pattern called a generalized seizure. Others stay upright and show a briefer, more localized event, such as facial twitching or a single limb jerking, while remaining partly aware. Dogs, cats, horses, and pet birds can all seizure, though the underlying causes differ across species. A seizure itself is not a disease; it is a sign that something is disrupting normal brain function.

Common Causes

Epilepsy, a tendency toward recurring seizures with no other underlying illness found, is the most frequent diagnosis in young to middle-aged dogs. Other causes include liver disease that allows toxins to build up in the blood, low blood sugar, exposure to a poison or toxic plant, and head trauma. In older animals, a brain tumor becomes a more likely explanation for new-onset seizures. Kittens and puppies with a severe parasite burden or an infection affecting the brain can also seizure.

When It Is an Emergency

Call a vet immediately if a seizure lasts longer than five minutes, if a second seizure starts before the animal has fully recovered from the first, or if seizures repeat several times within a single day. This pattern, known as cluster seizures or status epilepticus, can cause dangerous overheating and brain damage the longer it continues, and it needs urgent treatment to stop the electrical activity. A first-time seizure in any animal also deserves a veterinary visit within a day, even if it stops quickly on its own.

What the Vet Will Do

If you are watching a seizure happen, move nearby objects out of the way, do not put your hands near the mouth, and time how long it lasts. Once at the clinic, the vet will check body temperature, run blood work to look for metabolic causes, and ask about any possible toxin exposure. Animals with recurring seizures and no clear underlying cause often go on to have advanced imaging of the brain and further testing to rule out structural disease.

Home Care and Prevention

Keep a written log of when seizures happen and how long each one lasts, since this pattern guides treatment decisions over time. Give any prescribed anti-seizure medication on a strict schedule, since missed or irregular doses can trigger a cluster. Keep the home free of toxins the animal could access, and remove access to stairs or unsafe ledges if seizures happen unpredictably. Never leave a seizuring animal unattended near water or stairs.