What to Do When Your Dog is Having a Seizure

Watching your dog experience a seizure can be a very scary experience. However, to ensure that you don't cause further harm to your dog, it is extremely important that you know what to do (and what not to do) when your dog is having a seizure. Here are a few simple guidelines.

Do not Try to Restrain Your Dog!

This is one of the most common errors that many pet owners make when their dog is having a seizure. It has been confirmed by veterinarians that a dog will not usually experience pain during a seizure, so it is not necessary to try to stop the seizure. A seizure is simply a spastic contraction of your dog's muscles. Attempting to restrain your dog during a seizure can result in injury both to you and your pet. The most important thing is to keep the dog from falling and hurting himself.

Keep the Area Around Your Dog Clear

While your dog is having a seizure, try to move away any nearby objects that may cause your dog further injury. If necessary, blockade any possible dangerous areas around your dog, such as stairs.

Very Important!

Do NOT try to reach into your dog's mouth in an attempt to keep them from "swallowing their tongue"! Since your dog is having seizure convulsions, this will only provide further stress, and may result in your dog biting your hands involuntarily.

Stay Calm

This is another very important part of dealing with your dog's seizures. Try not to panic, and instead, talk to your dog in a gentle, comforting tone of voice. Being stressed, or taking loudly will only increase the severity of the situation for your dog, so try to do your best to be relaxed.

Remove Other Pets From the Area

When your dog is having seizure convulsions, it's possible that they may try to bite or attack nearby people or animals. Keep your hands clear of the area around your dog's head, and be sure to keep any other pets away from your dog during the seizure.

Take Notes

This may seem like the last thing you should be doing. However, try to identify the characteristics of your dog's seizure. This can be a very important part of helping your veterinarian to figure out what is causing seizures in your dog.