What Are the Causes of Dog Seizures

Is there anything more agonizing than witnessing your dog having a seizure? The overwhelming sense of helplessness you experience may weigh heavily on your heart, but the best thing you can do is keep yourself calm and your pup safe while you wait for it to end. Though it can seem like an eternity, most dog seizures will be over within 30 seconds to a minute.

Once it has stopped, your pet should be taken to your veterinarian or the nearest emergency facility for evaluation. That said, understanding a little more about seizures in dogs can help you be a little more prepared.

Causes of Seizures in Dogs

Dog seizures are unusually strong bursts of electrical activity in the brain that result in loss of consciousness and convulsions of the body and limbs. However, in cases of partial or focal seizures, the dog will typically remain conscious and may have abnormal movements of just a single body part, such as an ear or limb.

There are many reasons why dogs have seizures. Different types of dog seizures include:

Idiopathic (epilepsy with no identifiable cause, possibly genetic, is most common)
Symptomatic (resulting from structural changes within the brain such as congenital malformations, inflammation, infection, stroke, or tumors)
Reactive (resulting from metabolic disorders or exposure to toxins affecting the brain)

While toxicity may not be the number one dog seizure trigger, the ASPCA reports over 200,000 cases of pet poisoning every year in the United States. Toxins that cause dog seizures can range from smoke inhalation and salt ingestion to sago palms and killer bees.

What Toxins Can Cause Dog Seizures?

Alcohols

Some household alcohols considered toxins that cause dogs to have seizures are:

Ethanol (alcoholic beverages, raw bread dough)
Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol)
Methanol (varnishes, shellacs, paints, windshield washer fluids, adhesives)
Ethylene Glycol (antifreeze)

Animal Compounds

Common animal compounds known as toxins that cause dog seizures are:

Bufo Toad
Killer Bees

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, due to smoke inhalation, is another toxin that can cause dogs to have seizures.

Foods

Some household foods known to be potential toxins that cause dog seizures include:

Methylxanthines (caffeine, dark chocolate)
Salt Poisoning (excessive seawater, table salt or Play-Dough ingestion)
Xylitol (artificial sweetener)

Heavy Metals

Some toxic metals that have the possibility of causing dogs to have seizures are:

Lead (lead-based paint)
Zinc (pennies)

Illicit Drugs

Illicit drugs that can bring on toxic seizures in dogs include:

Amphetamines
Methamphetamines
Cocaine
Marijuana
Opiates

Medications

Common human medications that are potential toxins that cause dog seizures include:

Analgesics (Aspirin and Ibuprofen)
Antidepressants (SSRIs and TCAs)
Theophylline (asthma medication)
Chlorpheniramine (antihistamine)
5-Fluorouacil (cancer medication)
Beta-Blockers (cardiac medication)
Decongestants (Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine)
Muscle Relaxants (Baclofen, Carisoprodol, Methocarbamol, Tizanidine and Cyclobenzaprine)

Pesticides

Some everyday pesticide toxins that can cause seizures in dogs are:

Bromethalin (rodenticide)
Metaldehyde (snail bait)
Organophosphates and Carbamates (weed killers)
Pyrethrines and phyrethroids
Strychnine
Zinc Phosphate (mole bait)

Plants

Another common group of toxins that can bring on seizures in dogs is plants, including:

Brunfelsia ("yesterday, today, tomorrow")
Mushrooms (panther cap, fly agaric, gemmed amanita, Smith's amanita, warted amanita)
Humulus Lupulus (Hops)
Sago Palm

Household toxins that cause dog seizures

Dog Seizure Symptoms

Signs your dog is having a seizure may actually start before the seizure occurs. Some dogs might seem anxious, clingy, unsteady, or dazed and confused. Even afterward, your dog may be wobbly, disoriented, temporarily blind, or trying to hide.

But these are the most frequent symptoms of a dog having a seizure:

Collapsing
Stiffening
Muscle twitching
Jerking body movements
Paddling motions with their legs
Drooling
Chomping or tongue chewing
Foaming at the mouth
Loss of consciousness
Involuntary defecating or urinating

Dog with a head tilt

What to Do if Your Dog Has a Toxic Seizure

Despite the frightening display of a dog having a seizure, dog seizures are not painful. As difficult as it may be, avoid touching or holding your pup during an episode. It will not help, and you run a high risk of being bitten accidentally.

However, here are some things you can do if your dog is having a seizure:

Prevent your dog from falling off furniture or down stairs
Protect your dog from hurting itself on anything in the area
Time the seizure
Record a video of the event if possible
Call your vet

If your dog has more than two seizures in a 24-hour period or a seizure that lasts more than three minutes, it is considered an emergency. Take your dog to a veterinarian immediately. If a seizure is sustained for more than three minutes, do NOT wait for it to end. The longer the seizure goes on, the higher the risk of serious and potentially fatal complications.

If you think your dog is poisoned, this is also considered an emergency situation. Stay calm, but act quickly:

Call your vet or a veterinary poison control service (below)
Scour the home or property for potential exposure
Gather the remaining potential poison
If your dog has vomited, collect the sample

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC)
(888) 426-4435
24 hours a day, every day of the year
A consultation fee may apply

Pet Poison Helpline
(855) 764-7661
24 hours a day, every day of the year
$59 fee including follow-up calls

See a Veterinary Neurologist if Your Dog Is Having Seizures

If you have any questions or need any help, our veterinary neurologists at Southeast Veterinary Neurology are here for you and your best friend, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have locations in Miami, Boynton Beach and Jupiter, FL, with teams of expert and compassionate professionals at each one. Contact any of our locations to schedule a consultation for your pet.

Vet neurologists performing an exam

What Are the Causes of Dog Seizures

Source: https://sevneurology.com/blog/toxins-for-dog-seizures/