Seizures in Dogs: What to Do During One
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If your dog is having a seizure, stay calm, keep them safe, and time it — don't put your hands near their mouth. Most single seizures stop within a couple of minutes. Call your vet right away, and go in immediately if a seizure lasts more than about 5 minutes, if they happen one after another, or if it's your dog's first seizure. Tracking every episode helps your vet find the cause and manage it.
What to do during a seizure
During the seizure:
- Stay calm and keep your pet safe — gently move furniture away and, if they're near stairs or an edge, ease them to a safe spot by the hips, not the head.
- Do NOT put your hands or anything near the mouth — dogs can't swallow their tongue, and you may be bitten unintentionally.
- Note the time the seizure starts and ends, and take a video if you can.
- Keep the room quiet and dim — lower the lights and reduce noise.
- After it stops, comfort your pet calmly; they may be disoriented for minutes to hours.
Call your vet right away, and go to an emergency clinic now if: a seizure lasts more than about 5 minutes, your pet has several in a row without fully recovering, it's their first-ever seizure, or they don't return to normal. These can be life-threatening.
The three phases of a seizure
Knowing the phases helps you describe what you saw:
- Pre-ictal (aura): minutes before, your pet may seem restless, clingy, anxious, or dazed.
- Ictal (the seizure itself): can range from a full collapse with stiffening and rhythmic paddling, jaw chomping, drooling, and loss of bladder or bowel control, to something subtle like staring, twitching, or "fly-biting." Usually lasts seconds to a couple of minutes.
- Post-ictal (recovery): afterward, pets are often confused, wobbly, restless, temporarily blind, or extra hungry or thirsty, sometimes for hours.
Note: A single seizure under about 5 minutes is frightening but usually not dangerous in itself. Prolonged or clustered seizures are the true emergencies.
Common causes of seizures
Seizures have many causes, which is why the first one always warrants a workup:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Inside the brain | Idiopathic epilepsy (most common in young-to-middle-aged dogs), tumors, inflammation, trauma |
| Outside the brain | Low blood sugar, liver or kidney disease, electrolyte imbalances, high or low calcium |
| Toxins | Xylitol, chocolate, some insecticides, certain plants and medications |
In dogs between roughly 6 months and 6 years with no other findings, idiopathic epilepsy is the most common diagnosis — but your vet rules out the other causes first.
Why tracking seizures matters
For any pet prone to seizures, a detailed log is one of the most useful things you can give your vet. Record the date, time, and duration of each seizure, what your pet was doing beforehand, how it looked, and how long recovery took. Note any missed medication doses, new foods, or possible toxin exposures too.
This history drives the two decisions that matter most: whether to start medication (often considered when seizures become frequent or severe) and whether the current treatment is working. A clear trend of frequency and severity over months tells that story far better than memory can — and helps your vet fine-tune the dose.
Living with a seizure-prone pet
Many pets with epilepsy live full, happy lives once seizures are managed. If your vet prescribes anti-seizure medication, give it exactly as directed and never stop it suddenly — abrupt withdrawal can trigger severe seizures. Keep a consistent routine, minimize stress, and make sure everyone in the household knows the emergency steps.
Ask your vet what to do for a prolonged seizure at home, and keep their number and the nearest emergency clinic easy to reach. Logging doses and episodes together makes it simple to catch a missed pill or a creeping increase in seizure frequency before it becomes a crisis.
Give your vet a real seizure history
Tavi lets you log every seizure — date, time, duration and what led up to it — alongside medications and weight, so you and your vet can see whether treatment is working and adjust before the next crisis. Free for your first pet.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do while my dog is having a seizure?
Stay calm, clear the area of hazards, and keep your hands away from the mouth. Time the seizure and take a video if you can, keep the room quiet and dim, and comfort your dog calmly once it stops. Call your vet right away, and go in immediately if it lasts more than about five minutes.
When is a dog seizure an emergency?
Go to an emergency vet immediately if a seizure lasts more than about five minutes, if your dog has multiple seizures without fully recovering in between, if it's their first-ever seizure, or if they don't return to normal afterward. These situations can be life-threatening.
Can a dog swallow its tongue during a seizure?
No — that's a myth. Dogs cannot swallow their tongue, and putting your hands or objects near the mouth risks a serious bite and can injure your dog. Focus on keeping the surroundings safe and timing the seizure instead.
Why is my dog acting weird after a seizure?
The recovery, or post-ictal, phase is normal. Dogs are often confused, wobbly, restless, temporarily blind, or unusually hungry or thirsty for minutes to hours afterward as the brain recovers. Comfort them calmly; if the disorientation is severe or prolonged, call your vet.
What causes seizures in dogs?
Causes include idiopathic epilepsy (the most common in young-to-middle-aged dogs), brain tumors or inflammation, low blood sugar, liver or kidney disease, electrolyte problems, and toxins like xylitol or chocolate. Because the list is broad, a first seizure always warrants a veterinary workup.
Tavi's guides are informational and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. When in doubt, call your veterinarian. Sources: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM); Merck Veterinary Manual; VCA Animal Hospitals; American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA); American Kennel Club (AKC)