Epilepsy in Dogs, Cats & Pets

It’s known as a seizure without an underlying cause. It is much more common in dogs than in cats and a pet’s first seizure usually occurs between 1-5 years of age.

Seizures can come in many shapes and forms. There are generalized seizures, which can be characterised by a pet:

• Being unconsciousness and unresponsiveness
• Falling or lying down
• With their legs rigidly stretched out or drawn up toward their body
• With limbs jerking

A pet can also have a partial seizure, which can include:

• Jerking or twitching of a single limb or one/both sides of the face
• Head turning to one side
• Repeated blinking of one or both eyes
• Chewing movements and salivation
• Disorientation
• Excessive barking
• Unprovoked aggression
• Excessive licking or biting at the air

Certain behaviours prior to a seizure such as hiding, restlessness, hyperactivity and attention seeking can also occur.

Following a seizure, some animals can be restless, pant excessively be hyperactive, thirsty and hungry.

What to do if your pet has a seizure

It’s important to make sure your pet is safe during a seizure and to remove anything that might harm him/her. It’s best not to move your pet, however, if they are in are a dangerous area you can softly drag them by their feet.

Avoid your pet’s mouth as they might bite you. They can’t choke on their tongues so there is no need to put anything in their mouth.

You might want to put a sheet/blanket around them in case they defecate or urinate.

It’s important that any pet who has a seizure sees their vet urgently. Seizures can be caused by a number of underlying conditions, as well as poison ingestion. Pets can also develop epilepsy, where there is no underlying reason for their seizures.

Selby’s story

When Selby was six months old she started having seizures.

She had blood and urine tests to look for an underlying cause of the seizures but none was found.

Selby was started on anti-seizure medication by her regular veterinarian and was referred to our internal medicine specialist, Dr Emily Cook, when she was two as her seizures were getting harder to control.

Selby sees Emily for regular check-ups and blood tests to monitor the blood levels of the anti-seizure medications and to make sure her liver is coping with the long term medications.

Selby has a good quality of life and has not had a seizure in years.

Not all pets with epilepsy are as lucky. Many will continue to have some seizures and the aim of treatment is to reduce the severity and frequency of these.

You can read more of our specialist veterinary news and stories here.

For referring vets, please use our online referral form to submit a case enquiry.