Seizures can be very terrifying for dog owners. A seemingly healthy and happy pet may suddenly act strangely and be unconsolable; some dogs even experience multiple seizures at the same time. Even for the most attentive of pet owners, recognizing when seizures start can be challenging; sometimes your pup will show symptoms such as dazed eyes or unsteady walking, while other times they hide, appear nervous, seek their owners, tremble, or whine as early warnings to stay away.
Most veterinarians advise pet owners to maintain a seizure log for their pet. This will enable them to better understand your pet’s symptoms and devise an effective treatment plan. You will need to record date, time and duration of every seizure, plus details such as what triggered it. In fact, some vets require this as part of the prescription process for anti-seizure medication.
Emergency kits should also be kept handy at home for your dog, such as journals and pens to record his activity, first aid kits and an ice pack to soothe his body after seizures occur. Many owners find speaking softly in soothing tones helps them reassure and calm their pet after seizures have occurred; playing soft music at a volume low enough not to compromise your dog’s recovery can also be useful in relieving anxiety after seizure episodes occur.
Dog muscles can undergo the equivalent of marathon training, so it’s vital that after seizures he receives food and water to replenish his energy stores. Small sips of water or ice chips should be given rather than large meals as this increases his chance of choking. A good rule of thumb would be waiting a few minutes to see if he reaches for either food or liquid first.
After experiencing a seizure, most pets become disoriented and confused and should be kept off stairs. In postictal phase, dogs may become restless and start eating voraciously; this period of confusion and unusual behavior could last up to two days post seizure.
Protecting your pet after an episode of seizures requires keeping him in a familiar room and restricting other family pets from getting too close. Thrashing during seizure could hurt himself or injure other family pets. Also ensure he cannot fall into water or onto sharp objects; once out of his seizure you can use cool washcloths on his legs; seizure causes their temperature to rapidly increase.
