If your dog is having a seizure right now: start a timer, clear hazards, dim lights, and do not put your hands near their mouth. Call an emergency vet immediately if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
For related reading, see TPLO Surgery for Dogs: Symptoms, Cost, Recovery, and Alternatives (2026 Guide).
What to Do When Your Dog Has a Seizure
For veterinary context, see this reliable source.
Follow these 8 steps in order.
- Start a timer the moment the seizure begins. A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is a medical emergency.
- Stay calm. Your dog cannot respond to you during the seizure, but your presence helps during recovery.
- Clear the immediate area. Move furniture, sharp objects, and other pets away from your dog.
- Dim the lights and turn off the television or music. Reducing stimulation shortens post-seizure distress.
- Do not put your hands near your dog's mouth. Dogs cannot swallow their tongue. You risk a serious bite.
- Do not restrain your dog. Holding them down increases injury risk for both of you.
- Move your dog away from stairs, pools, and elevated surfaces if they are close to one. Do this by guiding, not grabbing.
- Record a video on your phone if possible. Footage of the seizure provides your vet with critical diagnostic information.
When Is a Dog Seizure a Medical Emergency?
Call an emergency vet immediately in 4 situations.
- The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes (status epilepticus). This is a life-threatening neurological emergency.
- Two or more seizures occur within 24 hours (cluster seizures).
- Your dog does not regain consciousness after the seizure ends.
- The seizure follows possible toxin ingestion or head trauma.
Contact your regular veterinarian the same day for any first-time seizure, even one that resolves within 3 minutes. A first-time seizure in any dog warrants a diagnostic workup to identify the underlying cause.
Emergency contacts:
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435 (24/7)
- Pet Poison Helpline: 800-213-6680 (24/7)
- Search "emergency vet near me" for the nearest 24-hour clinic
What to Do After a Dog Seizure Ends
Follow these 5 steps once the seizure stops.
- Speak quietly and calmly to your dog. They may be confused, temporarily blind, or disoriented for up to 30 minutes after the seizure.
- Place a cool, damp towel on your dog's paws. Seizures raise body temperature, and gentle cooling reduces the risk of hyperthermia.
- Do not offer food or water immediately. Wait until your dog is fully alert to avoid choking.
- Keep your dog in a quiet, dimly lit room. Rest is essential during the post-ictal (recovery) phase.
- Write down the seizure time, duration, and any symptoms you observed before and after. This information is critical for your veterinarian.
Do not transport your dog until the seizure has fully stopped unless directed by a vet.
What Causes Seizures in Older Dogs?
Seizures in dogs over 6 years old are most commonly caused by structural brain disease, metabolic disorders, or organ dysfunction. Idiopathic epilepsy, which is the most common cause of seizures in younger dogs, is uncommon as a new diagnosis in senior dogs.
There are 5 main causes of seizures in older dogs.
- Brain tumors: A first-time seizure is one of the most common signs of a brain tumor in dogs aged 5 and older. In 75% of dogs diagnosed with a forebrain tumor, a seizure was the first reported clinical sign. Brain tumors can be primary (originating in the brain) or secondary (spread from elsewhere in the body).
- Metabolic disorders: Kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes can cause toxin build-up or blood sugar imbalances that trigger seizures. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a common seizure trigger in diabetic dogs.
- Stroke: Blood flow disruption to the brain causes sudden-onset neurological signs, including seizures.
- Cushing's disease: Large pituitary tumors associated with Cushing's disease can place direct pressure on the brain and cause seizures.
- Infections and inflammation: Encephalitis (brain inflammation) and meningitis trigger seizures through direct disruption of brain activity.
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine states that dogs over 6 years old experiencing their first seizure are more likely to have a metabolic disorder or structural brain lesion, such as a tumor or a stroke, than idiopathic epilepsy. Diagnostic workup includes blood tests, urinalysis, neurological examination, and MRI or CT imaging.
Seizures in dogs between 6 months and 6 years old are most commonly caused by idiopathic epilepsy, a genetic condition that affects 2% to 5% of all dogs.
What Are the Signs of Poisoning in Dogs?
Signs of poisoning in dogs appear across 5 body systems. Toxin exposure can directly cause seizures and requires immediate veterinary attention.
Neurological signs:
- Seizures or muscle tremors
- Staggering or uncoordinated movement
- Dilated pupils
- Disorientation or hyperexcitability
Gastrointestinal signs:
- Vomiting (may contain blood)
- Diarrhea (may be dark or bloody)
- Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Loss of appetite
Cardiovascular signs:
- Pale gums (indicates internal bleeding or circulatory collapse)
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Weakness or collapse
Bleeding signs:
- Unexplained bruising or nosebleeds
- Bleeding gums
- Pinpoint red or purple spots on the belly, inner ear, or gums
Respiratory signs:
- Labored or rapid breathing
- Open-mouth breathing
Common toxins that cause seizures in dogs include chocolate, caffeine, xylitol, and antifreeze. Rat poison (anticoagulant rodenticide) causes internal bleeding and may not show symptoms for several days after ingestion.
If poisoning is suspected, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 before inducing vomiting. Do not induce vomiting without veterinary instruction.
What Are the Signs of Internal Bleeding in Dogs?
Internal bleeding in dogs produces no visible wound. The signs below require emergency veterinary care.
There are 7 signs of internal bleeding in dogs.
- Pale, white, or bluish gums: The most important single indicator. Healthy gums are pink. Any other color indicates a circulatory emergency.
- Rapid or labored breathing: The body compensates for blood loss by increasing breathing rate.
- Sudden weakness, lethargy, or collapse: Blood loss reduces oxygen delivery to muscles and organs.
- Distended or painful abdomen: Blood pooling in the abdominal cavity causes visible swelling and pain on palpation.
- Cold extremities: Cold ears, paws, or tail indicate reduced circulation and potential shock.
- Vomiting blood or blood in stool: Indicates bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Visible bruising: Bruising on the skin without an obvious external injury, particularly over the abdomen, can indicate internal hemorrhage.
Internal bleeding causes include traumatic injury (falls, vehicle impact, bite wounds), splenic rupture, anticoagulant rat poison ingestion, and cancer. Splenic rupture can occur suddenly with no prior warning signs. A dog that appeared healthy may collapse rapidly.
Any combination of pale gums, weakness, and abdominal distension is a veterinary emergency. Do not wait to see if your dog improves.
What Are the Signs of Stomach Blockage in Dogs?
A stomach or intestinal blockage occurs when a foreign object prevents food, fluid, or gas from passing through the digestive tract. It becomes life-threatening within hours if untreated.
There are 8 signs of stomach blockage in dogs.
- Repeated vomiting: The most consistent sign. A dog with a blockage vomits repeatedly and cannot keep water down.
- Loss of appetite: Complete refusal to eat following vomiting is a major warning sign.
- Lethargy: Unusual tiredness or reluctance to move alongside digestive symptoms.
- Abdominal pain: Hunching, reluctance to be touched on the abdomen, or a tense belly.
- Abdominal distension: A visibly swollen or bloated abdomen.
- Diarrhea followed by no stool: Early obstruction may cause diarrhea. As blockage becomes complete, stool stops entirely.
- Drooling: Excessive drooling alongside nausea and vomiting.
- Pale gums, racing heartbeat, cold paws: These signs indicate shock and late-stage obstruction. Treat as an immediate emergency.
Intestinal blockages require surgical intervention in most cases. Foreign objects commonly responsible for blockages include bones, toys, corn cobs, fabric, and fruit stones such as peach pits.
If your dog vomits repeatedly, refuses food for more than 4 hours, and shows abdominal pain, contact your veterinarian without delay.
Emergency Vet Resources
There are 3 ways to find emergency veterinary care for your dog.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A consultation fee of $65 to $75 applies. Covers poisoning, toxin ingestion, and medication overdose.
- Pet Poison Helpline: 800-213-6680. Available 24/7 with a per-incident fee.
- Emergency vet locator: Search "emergency vet near me" on Google Maps or use veterinaryemergencygroup.com to find the nearest 24-hour clinic.
When calling an emergency vet, state the following immediately: the dog's age and weight, what symptoms are present, when symptoms started, and any substances the dog may have ingested. This information allows the vet team to prepare before your arrival.
Helen L. Corlew runs a team of Samoyeds, Alaskan malamutes and Alaskan huskies. I am a Tellington TTouch practitioner and use this mode of work with training and living with my dogs.
Helen Corlew founded Prairie Isle Dog Trekking in Petersburg, North Dakota in 2010, and has spent the fifteen years since doing something most people only read about: teaching real dog sledding on real prairie terrain, at the edge of a landscape that doesn’t apologize for being difficult.
She is not a weekend enthusiast. She harnesses working dogs in January cold, trains handlers who have never touched a sled, and has built one of the only hands-on mushing education programs on the Northern Great Plains — from a single address on Highway 2, with no marketing budget and no shortcuts.
Her writing on Prairie Isle Dog Trekking reflects the same philosophy. Whether she is covering trail safety across the Rockies, breed behavior in extreme conditions, or what it actually takes to trek with a dog in the Alps, Helen writes from the position of someone who has done the work before writing the sentence.
She lives and runs dogs in Nelson County, North Dakota.
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