Epilepsy in Dogs and Cats: A Pet Parent’s Guide

Did you know that 1 in every 20 dogs and 1 in 100 cats will have a seizure in their lifetime? Some will never experience another seizure, while others will have them from time to time, as often as multiple times per day.
The medical term “epilepsy” describes recurring seizures as a symptom. Seizures can be caused by an inherited condition that the pet will have had since they were born. Some pets develop epilepsy after trauma, like being hit by a car, or after exposure to a toxin.
When your cat or dog has a seizure, especially for the first time, it’ll likely be scary and confusing for both you and your pet. While seizures are a serious health event, they’re nothing to be afraid of. You can learn how to help your pet during a seizure and how to find treatment options to keep their epilepsy under control.

What Happens When a Cat or Dog Has A Seizure?
The brain contains bundles of nerve cells called neurons that send out signals, controlling the functions and movements of the body. During a seizure, the neurons are firing off many signals at once. It’s often described as “an electrical storm within the brain.”
A seizure typically lasts around 30 seconds to two minutes. However, if you’re a concerned pet parent witnessing it, a seizure may seem to last much longer.

Generalized seizures (also known as grand mal seizures) are more common in dogs. They affect the entire body. Symptoms of generalized seizures include:

• Falling over/collapsing
• Involuntary convulsions or tremors
• Drooling
• Foaming at the mouth
• Involuntary urinating and/or defecating
• Loss of awareness of surroundings
• Seeming disoriented or confused before and/or afterward

Partial seizures, also known as focal seizures, are more commonly seen in cats, and affect just one part of the brain. They often go undiagnosed because they are not as easy to recognize. Symptoms of partial seizures include:

• Conscious and aware of surroundings, but may seem confused
• Unusual movements limited to one part of the body
• Seeming frozen in place
• Snapping in the air as though catching invisible flies

What To Do When Your Cat or Dog Has A Seizure
If your pet has a seizure, stay with them and document it for the vet by taking a video and taking note of how long it lasts.
Avoid touching your pet unless necessary to keep them safe. You may cushion them with pillows or blankets if they’ve collapsed on a hard surface. Contrary to popular belief, people and animals are not at risk of swallowing their tongues during a seizure. Do not place anything near or inside your pet’s mouth, especially because some pets may bite during an episode.
If your pet has never had a seizure before, if they have two or more seizures in 24 hours, or if an episode lasts longer than five minutes, seek emergency veterinary care.

What Causes Seizures in Pets?
Epilepsy presents differently in cats and dogs.
Seizures are much more common in dogs. In dogs, the most common cause of seizures is idiopathic epilepsy, or seizures with no known cause. Idiopathic epilepsy is thought to be genetic, and it’s more common in certain breeds including German Shepherds, Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Standard Poodles, Border Collies, and Beagles.
Cats are rarely diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. The most common cause of seizures in cats is exposure to permethrin, an active ingredient in dog flea preventatives. Dog flea preventative products should never be used on cats, and in multi-pet homes, keep cats and dogs separated until the dog’s flea treatment has dried.

Common causes of non-idiopathic seizures in pets include:

• Low blood sugar
• Stroke
• Brain tumor
• Brain infection
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Poisoning/toxin exposure
• Congenital malformation
• Head trauma

How Are Seizures in Pets Treated?
Your veterinarian will observe concurrent symptoms and run a series of tests to rule out possible factors. If there is no apparent cause, your pet may be diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy.
Your cat or dog may need to be on anticonvulsant medication for pets for the rest of their life. It may take a few months to find a medication schedule that works for your pet. Many pets experience fewer, less severe seizures or even go into remission with treatment.