Epilepsy in Dogs: Signs, Causes and When to Call the Vet

Epilepsy in dogs is a long-term condition that causes repeated seizures. The Kennel Club describes it as the most common long-term neurological disorder in dogs, affecting roughly 0.6 to 0.7% of UK dogs, and the PDSA puts idiopathic epilepsy (no known cause) at about 1 in 200. The PDSA says most seizures last one to three minutes. Contact your vet after any seizure; a long or repeated one needs urgent help.

At a glance

• What it is: a chronic condition causing repeated seizures, usually lifelong.
• Who it affects: any dog, though the most common type usually starts between about six months and six years of age.
• Urgency: contact your vet after any seizure. Immediately if one lasts more than two minutes or there is more than one in 24 hours. Over five minutes is an emergency.
• Vet needed? Yes, for diagnosis, medication and regular check-ups.

Signs to look for

The PDSA describes three phases:

• Before: restlessness, tremors, barking, drooling or staring into the distance, from seconds to about an hour beforehand.
• During: in a full-body (generalised) seizure, typically one to three minutes, a dog falls, loses consciousness, thrashes their legs, drools or foams, and may wee or poo. Some dogs have focal seizures with milder signs, such as facial or leg twitching.
• After: most recover within minutes, but some take up to a couple of days, with confusion, unsteadiness, low energy and reduced appetite.

Causes and risk factors

The Kennel Club describes three broad groups. In idiopathic epilepsy (idiopathic means no cause is found), often assumed to involve genetic and environmental factors, the dog is usually aged about six months to six years. Structural epilepsy comes from an identifiable brain problem, such as infection, injury or a tumour. Reactive seizures have temporary causes such as Addison’s disease, liver disease or diabetes.

The Kennel Club says idiopathic epilepsy also affects breeds not on its list. Basset Hounds and collies appear on both the Kennel Club’s and the PDSA’s lists. The PDSA says some dogs have triggers, such as stress, excitement, hot weather or routine changes.

When to call your vet

The PDSA says to contact your vet after any seizure, even if your dog seems fine or is already on medication. Contact them immediately if your dog has more than one seizure in 24 hours or has been seizing for more than two minutes. A seizure lasting more than five minutes (status epilepticus) needs immediate emergency veterinary treatment, according to the Kennel Club, and the PDSA says it can cause permanent damage to the brain and other vital organs. Ring your practice or its out-of-hours service, or find one with our guide to finding a vet near you.

While you get to the vet, the Kennel Club advises staying calm, moving furniture out of the way and never putting anything in your dog’s mouth, including your hands. The PDSA adds that dogs can’t swallow their tongue, though they can bite it, and also says to keep your hands away from the mouth. Our sick dog symptoms guide covers other signs that can’t wait.

How vets diagnose it

There is no single test for idiopathic epilepsy, so the PDSA says it is diagnosed by ruling out other causes. The Kennel Club says testing may include blood and urine tests, an MRI scan of the brain and a spinal fluid test, and the PDSA mentions MRI if other causes are suspected. The PDSA says you will need to keep a seizure diary (what happened, when, how long), which will help your vet.

What vets generally do about it

Treatment is decided by your vet. The Kennel Club says epilepsy usually can’t be cured, and the aim is fewer and less severe seizures with a good quality of life. The PDSA explains that vets usually start daily anti-epileptic medicines when a dog has had more than two seizures in six months, a seizure lasting over five minutes, or severe after-effects lasting more than 24 hours. The PDSA says most dogs don’t stop having seizures completely on medication, but the seizures tend to be a lot less frequent and severe, and anti-seizure medicines can cause significant side effects. Both sources say never to stop them suddenly without your vet, as this can cause withdrawal seizures. The PDSA and the Royal Veterinary College also mention diets enriched with medium chain triglycerides (a type of fat), so ask your vet whether one suits your dog.

Living with it and prevention

The PDSA suggests attending regular check-ups and discussing costs openly with your vet, as treatment can be expensive. See our guide to UK pet insurance before you need it. The PDSA says epilepsy may be linked to higher anxiety in some dogs, so speak to your vet about any behaviour changes, and see our guide to a dog that is anxious, overstimulated or bored. The PDSA says most dogs with idiopathic epilepsy can be well controlled with medication, though a small number don’t respond.

The Kennel Club says dogs with epilepsy shouldn’t be bred from, and the PDSA suggests asking breeders about the health of parents and earlier litters.

Related conditions

• Addison’s disease
• Liver disease
• Diabetes
• Vestibular disease

Back to the dog illnesses and conditions A-Z.

Specialist help

The Royal Veterinary College’s canine epilepsy research lists an RVC Pet Epilepsy Tracker app, and says the RVC works with the Epilepsy Society on smartphone tools to help owners and vets record seizures.

Sources

• PDSA, Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs
• The Kennel Club, Epilepsy in dogs
• Royal Veterinary College, Epilepsy in companion animals

This page is general information, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your dog, speak to your vet. Written by Georgiana & Figo, who are dog owners, not vets. Have a look around Calmshops for everyday dog essentials.