Seizures in Dogs: Types, Causes, What to Do, and Treatment
A seizure in a dog is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and idiopathic epilepsy is the most common cause. Here are the types, what a seizure looks like, the causes, what to do during one, and the medications vets use.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS MRCVS · Last reviewed
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Seizures in dogs are temporary, involuntary disturbances of normal brain function caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and idiopathic epilepsy is the most common cause. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is an emergency that needs a veterinarian immediately.
Most seizures in dogs are over in one to two minutes, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. What you do during those minutes, and what you record afterward, shapes how quickly your vet can find the cause and decide on treatment.
- 1Vets work from the definition as abnormal electrical activity in the brain: a seizure is a sudden, involuntary disturbance of normal brain function.
- 2Owners should know four seizure patterns: generalized, focal, cluster, and status epilepticus.
- 3Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in dogs, and it usually starts in young adult dogs.
- 4A seizure lasting more than five minutes is status epilepticus and needs a veterinarian immediately.
- 5During a seizure, time it, clear the space around your dog, and keep your hands away from the mouth.
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What Is a Seizure in Dogs?
A seizure in a dog is a sudden, uncontrolled burst of abnormal brain activity, and VCA Animal Hospitals names idiopathic epilepsy as the most common cause. Any seizure lasting more than five minutes needs a veterinarian immediately.
VCA describes a seizure as a temporary, involuntary disturbance of normal brain function, also known as a convulsion or fit. Yes, dogs can have seizures.
Epilepsy is the name for repeated seizures, either alone or in clusters, according to VCA. The Merck Veterinary Manual defines epilepsy as two or more unprovoked seizures more than 24 hours apart. A single seizure does not mean your dog has epilepsy.
If a dog has a seizure, will it happen again?
It depends on the cause. Cornell notes your dog may never have another seizure, but idiopathic epilepsy, by definition, involves repeated seizures, so it usually recurs.
Households with both species can compare this guide with our overview of seizures in cats, which covers the feline side of the same problem.
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How to tell if your dog is having a seizure
How do you know if your dog has a seizure? Look for sudden loss of control over the body. VCA describes a seizure as "a sudden, uncontrolled movement of the body caused by abnormal brain activity." A mild seizure in a dog can look like a strange, repeated behavior rather than a collapse.
When your dog is having a seizure, these details help your vet later:
- How long it lasted, timed with a watch or phone.
- What the legs, eyes, and face were doing.
- Whether your dog could respond to you.
- How your dog acted in the hours before and after.
Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center advises timing every seizure, keeping a log, and taking a canine seizure video if you can.
A dog seizure diary turns "did my dog have a seizure?" into a record a vet can read. Odd episodes such as repeated dog licking air are worth filming too, because a vet can judge them better on video than from a description.
What to record in each seizure diary entry:
- The date and the time the seizure started.
- How long it lasted, from your timer.
- A link to the video, if you filmed it.
- How long the confusion afterward lasted.
After any suspected seizure, give your dog a quiet, familiar place to rest away from stairs while you write things down.
Are seizures painful for dogs?
Are seizures painful for dogs? None of the primary sources we used address pain directly; VCA notes that generalized seizures cause loss of consciousness. No primary source we used supports herbal remedies or home remedies to reduce seizures in dogs. The sources we used also do not tie seizure risk to small breeds such as the Shih Tzu.
Fly-biting episodes, where a dog snaps at the air, may be a focal seizure or something else entirely; a vet visit with a video sorts that out. The primary sources gathered for this article do not discuss fly biting specifically.
Owners of breeds such as Boston Terriers often ask about seizure risk, but the sources we used do not name Boston Terriers, and they do not discuss Cushing's disease as a seizure cause. Your vet can tell you what applies to your dog.
Flea and tick products and dogs with seizures
Isoxazoline flea and tick products, including Simparica Trio, NexGard, Bravecto, and Credelio, carry an FDA caution about neurologic reactions, including seizures. The primary sources gathered for this article do not detail that caution, so if your dog has seizures, discuss flea and tick choices with your vet.
Hemp oil and CBD have not been evaluated for seizures in dogs by the sources we used. MCT oil is different: medium-chain triglycerides are the basis of the NeuroCare prescription diet, covered in the treatment section.
Stroke vs seizure in dogs is not either-or: Cornell lists stroke among the structural brain problems that can cause seizures in older dogs, covered in the senior section below.
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Types of Seizures in Dogs
Dog seizures fall into two main types, generalized and focal, plus two patterns that raise the urgency: cluster seizures and status epilepticus.
The seizure types table below shows what it looks like, how long it lasts, and the urgency for each type.
| Type | What you see | Typical length | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) | Falls over, legs stiffen then paddle, loss of consciousness | About one to two minutes | Call your vet the same day; a first seizure needs an exam |
| Focal (partial) | Only certain muscle groups move, behavior changes, jaw clacking | Varies; can spread into a generalized seizure | Film it and book a vet visit |
| Cluster | More than one seizure in a day (thresholds differ by source) | Repeated episodes within 24 hours | Urgent: contact your vet or an emergency clinic now |
| Status epilepticus | A seizure that does not stop, or repeated generalized seizures | Five minutes or longer | Emergency: go to a veterinary clinic immediately |
- Generalized tonic-clonic seizure: the grand mal seizure in dogs, which is convulsive. Cornell describes widespread abnormal electrical activity on both sides of the brain, and VCA notes that generalized seizures cause loss of consciousness.
- Focal seizure: the partial form. Cornell explains that the abnormal activity is localized to one spot in the brain, and VCA says focal seizures involve only certain muscle groups with behavior changes. Signs of a partial seizure can include the "chewing gum fit," a jaw clacking episode Cornell gives as a focal example.
Are focal seizures in dogs dangerous? They can progress to generalized seizures, so treat them seriously. A dog focal seizure video helps your vet, and what causes focal seizures in dogs follows the causes list below. If the twitching looks more like local dog muscle spasms, a video helps your vet tell the two apart.
Cluster seizures in dogs are defined differently by different sources:
- Cornell describes clusters as one or more seizures in a 24-hour period.
- The ACVIM consensus statement counts 3 or more generalized seizures within 24 hours as part of its status epilepticus definition.
- A PMC review of emergency seizure care uses two or more seizures in 24 hours.
Status epilepticus seizures in dogs are the most serious type. The ACVIM statement defines status epilepticus as a seizure lasting 5 minutes or longer, or 3 or more generalized seizures within 24 hours.
The veterinary sources we used sort the different types of seizures in dogs into just two groups, generalized and focal, rather than the older labels some owners have heard.
What does a mini seizure in a dog look like?
No primary veterinary source we used defines a "mini seizure." What owners usually mean is a focal seizure: VCA describes focal seizures as involving only certain muscle groups and showing as behavior changes, such as Cornell's jaw clacking example. Mini seizures in dogs can still progress to generalized seizures, so film one and tell your vet.
Symptoms: What a Dog Seizure Looks Like
A dog seizure usually looks like a sudden fall onto the side with stiff legs that then paddle, followed by a period of confusion. VCA describes three phases, and signs of a dog having a seizure appear in each one.
- Pre-ictal phase (aura): a period of altered behavior before the seizure, such as hiding, nervousness, or seeking out the owner, per VCA.
- Ictal phase: the seizure itself. Cornell describes a dog with a generalized seizure suddenly falling over with violent, jerking spasms of all four limbs, and VCA says the legs stiffen and then paddle rhythmically.
- Post-ictal phase: the period right after the seizure ends. VCA notes dogs are confused and disoriented, and Cornell says this phase lasts minutes to hours.
The signs and symptoms of seizures in dogs during the ictal phase are what most owners remember, but the after effects matter too. Post-ictal confusion can look like lethargy in dogs, and noting how long it lasts is useful for your vet.
What do dogs do right before a seizure?
Right before a seizure, many dogs show a pre-ictal phase, or aura, of altered behavior. VCA gives examples such as hiding, nervousness, or seeking out their owner. These changes come before the seizure starts, and they give you a moment to move your dog away from stairs or furniture.
How to know if a dog just had a seizure?
The clearest clue that a dog just had a seizure is post-ictal behavior: VCA describes dogs as confused and disoriented after a seizure, and Cornell says this phase can last minutes to hours. A dog that seems lost, wobbly, or unlike itself after an unseen episode may have seized, so tell your vet what you found.
Can dogs have seizures in their sleep? The sources we used do not address sleep seizures in dogs specifically. Is my dog dreaming or having a seizure? If movement during sleep is followed by post-ictal confusion, treat it as a possible seizure and film the next episode. Our guide to dog barking in sleep covers normal dreaming behavior.
What to do after a dog has a seizure: keep things quiet, stay close while your dog is confused, and write down the time, length, and what you saw.
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What Causes Seizures in Dogs?
Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in dogs, according to VCA, and the other causes fall into toxins, metabolic disease, and structural brain disease.
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- Idiopathic epilepsy: idiopathic means a disease of unknown cause, per the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center. Missouri says most epileptic dogs have their first seizure between 1 and 5 years of age; Cornell gives a typical onset of 6 months to 6 years, with a median of 2.5 years.
- Metabolic causes: VCA lists liver disease and kidney failure, and Cornell lists low blood sugar and low blood calcium.
- Structural causes: VCA names brain tumors and brain trauma.
- Toxins and drugs: VCA lists toxins, and Cornell notes some drugs can cause seizures by lowering the seizure threshold in the brain. If you suspect a poison such as antifreeze, read our guide to antifreeze poisoning in dogs and call your vet now.
Why would a dog suddenly start having seizures when it seemed healthy yesterday? The answer depends on age and on the tests below. Epilepsy simply means repeated seizures, so epileptic seizures and epilepsy seizures are the same thing, and in most dogs the cause is idiopathic, with nothing else found.
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What can trigger a seizure in dogs?
Known triggers are provoking causes: metabolic disease such as low blood sugar or low blood calcium, toxins, and drugs that lower the seizure threshold, per Cornell. No primary source we used lists stress, sleep, or flashing lights as proven triggers for seizures in dogs, and none names dog treats, dog food, or dehydration as a cause.
What to Do When Your Dog Has a Seizure
When your dog has a seizure, keep it from falling or hurting itself, time the seizure, and stay away from its mouth.
This first-aid steps list is built around the five-minute rule:
- Note the start time and keep timing, per Cornell.
- Move furniture and breakable items away, and keep your dog away from stairs, per VCA and Cornell.
- Keep your hands away from the mouth. VCA notes dogs do not swallow their tongues during a seizure.
- Film the seizure if you can do it safely.
- If it passes five minutes, go to the veterinary clinic immediately.
- Afterward, keep your dog quiet and log what happened.
How to stop seizures in dogs immediately is a question to settle with your vet before an emergency happens. Cornell says a vet can dispense diazepam for rectal use during a seizure, and the PMC emergency review notes owners can be trained to give intranasal midazolam at home.
No source we used describes a way to stop seizures in dogs naturally. Does gabapentin help with seizures in dogs? Gabapentin is not among the seizure drugs our sources list; see our gabapentin for dogs and cats guide and ask your vet how to help with seizures in your dog.
If your vet does start daily medication, a steady routine at the same times each day makes dosing easier for both of you.
How Are Seizures in Dogs Diagnosed?
Vets diagnose seizures in dogs by exclusion: they rule out other causes with bloodwork and imaging, and idiopathic epilepsy is what remains when nothing else is found.
- History, plus a physical and neurologic exam.
- Blood and urine tests that rule out liver, kidney, heart, electrolyte, and blood sugar disorders, per VCA. Our dog bloodwork cost guide explains that step.
- MRI, which the University of Missouri calls the preferred imaging for a presumptive epilepsy diagnosis, with CT or spinal fluid testing in some dogs.
Cornell states that idiopathic epilepsy is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning all other causes of seizures should be ruled out first.
What can be mistaken for seizures in dogs?
Fainting (syncope) and heart rhythm problems are the main mimics. VCA explains that syncope starts suddenly with no pre-ictal phase, often with exertion, and ends within seconds to minutes with rapid recovery and no post-ictal period. Cornell notes intermittent cardiac arrhythmia can cause confusion, weakness, and collapse mistaken for seizure activity.
Tremors are another look-alike. If your dog stays alert while shaking, our guides to why a dog is shaking, dog head tremors and shaking, and dog back legs trembling cover those causes.
Treatment and Seizure Medications for Dogs
Treatment for seizures in dogs is daily anti-seizure medication, and phenobarbital is the most commonly used drug, according to VCA. The ACVIM consensus statement recommends starting treatment when a dog has 2 or more seizure events within 6 months, among other criteria such as prolonged or severe post-ictal periods.
The main seizure medications for dogs named by VCA and Cornell are:
- Phenobarbital: the most common choice. ACVIM gives an effective, safe serum range of 15 to 35 ug/mL, checked with blood tests.
- Potassium bromide: ACVIM recommends a starting dose of 40 mg/kg/day.
- Levetiracetam (Keppra): ACVIM notes no published reports of levetiracetam as first-line therapy, and in a placebo-controlled trial responder rates (56% vs 30%) did not differ significantly from placebo.
- Zonisamide: listed by VCA and Cornell as another option.
Treating seizures in dogs is usually lifelong. Cornell says lifelong medication is typically necessary once management starts, and the University of Missouri says dogs with epilepsy usually require lifelong therapy. Giving every dose on schedule matters, and some owners hide tablets in Greenies Pill Pockets Canine Chicken Flavor Dog Treats.
Seizures in dogs diet research centers on medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). In a 2015 crossover trial of 21 dogs published in the British Journal of Nutrition, seizure frequency was lower on an MCT diet; three dogs became seizure-free and seven more had at least a 50% reduction.
The same paper notes about one-third of dogs with epilepsy keep seizing despite drugs.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Neurocare Dry Dog Food is a prescription diet with MCT from vegetable oil, formulated for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. The evidence supports MCT diets alongside medication, never instead of it.
CBD and natural remedies for seizures in dogs
What about CBD and seizures in dogs, or other natural remedies for seizures in dogs? None of the primary sources we used evaluates CBD for seizures in dogs, holistic treatment, or natural cures, so there is no evidence here to report for treating seizures in dogs naturally.
As for how to cure seizures in dogs, Cornell says complete disappearance of seizures is rare, though many dogs achieve good control with medication.
Which Dog Breeds Are Prone to Seizures?
Breed predisposition shows up clearly in the sources: epilepsy is more common in purebred dogs than in mixed breeds, according to Cornell and the University of Missouri, which reports a significantly greater prevalence in purebreds. Cornell names these breeds among those with more frequent epilepsy:
- Beagles
- Border Collies
- Golden Retrievers
Are seizures common in dogs overall? The sources we used give no single prevalence figure.
What breed of dog is most prone to seizures?
No primary source we used names one single most-prone breed. Cornell lists Beagles, Border Collies, and Golden Retrievers among breeds with more frequent epilepsy, and a 2025 US cohort cautions that breed counts may reflect how common a breed is.
We found no breed figure in these sources for German Shepherd seizures, seizures in Labrador dogs or Lab dogs, or seizures in Boxer dogs.
Seizures in Senior Dogs
New seizures in older dogs usually point to a different cause than epilepsy. Cornell reports that dogs over 6 years old at their first seizure are more likely to have a metabolic disorder or a structural brain lesion such as a tumor or stroke.
- The PMC emergency review notes that tumors and degenerative brain disease are more common in geriatric patients.
- Reasons for seizures in older dogs therefore include liver or kidney disease, brain tumors, and stroke, from the causes VCA and Cornell list.
- Because idiopathic epilepsy usually starts between 6 months and 6 years, canine seizures in older dogs deserve a full workup.
Puppy seizures sit at the other end: Cornell's idiopathic epilepsy onset range starts at 6 months, and the sources we used give no separate guidance for younger puppies. Trembling is not always a seizure in seniors; our old dog trembling guide covers other causes.
Senior dog seizures and when to put down a dog are decisions for you and your vet. VCA frames the goal of treatment as reducing seizures to support a good quality of life, and that same measure guides end-of-life conversations.
When Is a Seizure an Emergency?
A seizure is an emergency when it lasts more than five minutes or when seizures come in clusters. VCA says a seizure that does not stop within five minutes is status epilepticus and needs a veterinarian immediately, and Cornell says to go to the clinic immediately if your dog has been seizing more than five minutes.
Dog seizures, when to worry:
- A seizure longer than five minutes.
- Seizures in clusters, or seizures without recovery in between.
- A first seizure, which Cornell says warrants an exam.
- Any seizure after possible toxin exposure.
The University of Missouri also flags seizures lasting more than five minutes or occurring in clusters as needing prompt care. Our emergency vet cost guide explains what to expect at the clinic.
Do dogs have seizures before they pass away?
No primary source we used describes seizures as a sign of dying, and we found no mortality figure. What the sources do say is that status epilepticus, a seizure over five minutes, requires urgent treatment. None of these sources gives figures on how seizures affect survival or lifespan.
Questions about dog seizures and when to put down belong with your vet, who knows your dog's diagnosis and how well its seizures are controlled.
Seizures in Dogs FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a dog be ok after a seizure?
Yes. Many dogs recover after the post-ictal phase, which Cornell says lasts minutes to hours, and Cornell notes your dog may never have another seizure. A first seizure still warrants a vet exam.
What are the five warning signs of a seizure?
No primary veterinary source defines a list of five warning signs. VCA describes a pre-ictal phase of altered behavior, such as hiding, seeming nervous or restless, or seeking out the owner, followed by the seizure itself with falling, stiff legs, and paddling.
How long does a dog seizure last?
Most seizures in dogs last about one to two minutes, according to VCA. A seizure that goes past five minutes is status epilepticus and needs a veterinarian immediately.
Can seizures in dogs be cured?
Usually not, but they can often be controlled. Cornell says complete disappearance is rare and lifelong medication is typically needed, while many dogs achieve good control. VCA notes treatment may not prevent every seizure.
Should I take my dog to the vet after one seizure?
Yes. Cornell says a first seizure warrants an exam, even if your dog seems normal afterward. Your vet will usually start with bloodwork to look for metabolic causes, then decide whether more tests are needed.
Editor
The Webvet Editorial Team is the in-house group of pet-care editors and writers behind Webvet, operated by Smart Pet Collective. The team researches, writes, and maintains Webvet's pet health, behavior, and medication content. Every article follows a defined editorial process: research from reputable veterinary and scientific sources, careful drafting, mandatory review of medical content by a credentialed veterinarian, and dated publication. Health and medication articles are medically reviewed by a licensed veterinary professional before they go live and are kept current over time.
Veterinarian · BVMS MRCVS
Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, is a veterinarian with nearly 30 years of experience in companion animal practice. Dr. Elliott earned her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from the University of Glasgow. She was also designated a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Married with 2 grown-up kids, Dr. Elliott has a naughty Puggle named Poggle, 3 cats and a bearded dragon.
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