Bam Bam's Holistic Pet Center

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Dogs and cats can have seizures or convulsions, just like people.  Seizures in pets can be caused by a number of different conditions.  For example, brain tumors are a common cause in older pets, who often have other signs such as walking in circles or stumbling.  In certain conditions of the liver or kidneys, toxins build up in the blood, causing seizures.  Seizures can also be caused by encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain that often results from infection.  In addition, if a blow to the head is severe enough to result in unconsciousness (eg, being hit by a car), it can create a scarred or irritated area of the brain, and seizures can develop weeks or months later.

An important thing to remember if your pet has a seizure is not to panic.  Your pet is unconscious and not in any pain.  (People that have seizures describe feeling dazed, tired, or confused after having a seizure, but that the seizure itself is not painful.)  Make sure that your pet is on the floor on a soft surface so that it can't injure itself by falling off furniture or down a flight of stairs.  Do not try to open your pet's mouth or put your fingers in it.  It is not possible for your pet to "swallow its tongue."  During a seizure, you may see muscle spasms, and your pet may "paddle" their legs or extend them in a rigid fashion.  Many pets lose control of their bladder or bowel.

If an underlying cause for the seizures is found, treatment is directed at correcting the source of the problem in your cat or dog.  If no specific cause can be found, but your pet has a short seizure only every few weeks or so, no specific treatment may be needed.  If your pet has seizures more frequently, your vet will likely recommend medication to decrease the severity and frequency of seizures.  Sometimes, different drugs need to be tried, as well as different dosages, depending on how your pet responds to the medication.  Keeping a record of your pet's seizures, including when (the time of day) and how often your pet has a seizure is extremely helpful in monitoring treatment.