Introduction
When it comes to our furry friends, it is hard to figure out what exactly happens to trigger these seizures, but it is also curious to wonder if it affects their quality of living and if it causes any damage to the length of their life. Seizures are very serious and can sometimes be life-threatening, so we have to wonder if dogs can handle them and survive.
Signs Your Dog May be Seizing
You may notice your dog quickly collapse and begin jerking their body around. This is because they no longer have any control over what their body is doing. With that, they may also start drooling at the mouth, chomping, biting their tongue, and foaming at the mouth. These signs are all huge indicators of something terrible going on.
Your dog may also pass out and lose consciousness during this entire situation. If you notice your dog displaying any of these signs, be assured that dogs do not feel any pain when they are having a seizure. After it has ended, they may wake up dazed and disorientated. This is absolutely normal and should be expected.
Body Language
- Shaking
- Body freezing
- Twitching whiskers
- Drooling
Other Signs
- Collapsing and loss of consciousness
- Foaming at the mouth
- Incontinence
- Stiffness
History of Seizures in Dogs
A study has been ongoing since 2013 called The Canine Epilepsy Project. This was created to study various different breeds of dogs to help determine what exactly causes seizures and to be able to decipher whether or not there are differences in certain breeds so that an effort could be made to stop crossbreeding certain types of dogs if there was proof that there was a higher chance of seizures.
It is still an ongoing study and, hopefully, answers will follow for different pups. While that study continues on, it has been said that about 3% of dogs have idiopathic epilepsy, which means their seizures are from unknown causes. Many different things have been found to cause seizures, including trauma to the head, eating toxic items, and brain tumors.
The Science of Dog Seizures
Helping Your Dog Handle Epilepsy
When seizures occur, often times the subject who is having them will not even realize what is going on. They will simply have the seizure and when it is over, they will be confused and disoriented.
This is the same with dogs. When dogs have seizures, they will fall over and go in and out of consciousness while their body seizes. While it is scary to witness, it is not always painful for the one going through it, so just bear that in mind.
With all of that being said, there are different ways to be better prepared for when your dog experiences a seizure. If you know your dog has seizures, the first thing you need to do is take them immediately to the vet so that they can try to determine how to best handle the issue. Many times, there is no cure for seizures but medication can be prescribed for daily intake to help lessen the symptoms and frequency of the seizures.
After your visit to the vet, you will want to get yourself a notebook that you can carry with you to write down anything strange going on with your pup so that you can possibly figure out any triggers that may be a cause of seizures. Sometimes, no one can figure out what causes them, but in the end, seizures are mostly manageable for your four-legged pal and they will be able to live a practically normal and long life with you.
Safely Handling Your Dog's Seizures:
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If your dog is having a seizure, do not try to move them or interact with them. The best thing to do is to let the seizure run its course while you stand to watch.
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Your dog may be confused after waking from their episode. They also may have no clue what happened. Keep them calm, get them water, and stay with them as long as you are able to.