Epilepsy in dogs – signs and when to see a vet

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your dog has this – it can become serious. Epilepsy is a nervous-system condition in dogs; the idiopathic form can cause repeated seizures.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet today.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show your vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common cause of repeated seizures in dogs.^[1] Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy may appear perfectly normal between episodes.^[1] Emergency treatment for a seizure might include a combination of anti-epileptic drugs given directly into the bloodstream to stop it.^[1]

Signs

Restlessness
Tremors
Weeing
Barking
Salivating
Staring into the distance

Between six months and six years old

Causes and risk factors

Beagle
Dachshund
German Shepherd
Cocker Spaniel
Collie
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Australian Shepherd

How a vet finds out

Physical examination
Urine tests
MRI
Questions about what has happened
Ruling out other causes

How vets treat it

Diet change
Anti-epileptic drugs
Specialised diets
Trigger avoidance
Emergency treatment with a combination of anti-epileptic drugs given directly into the bloodstream to stop a seizure

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“Overview. Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common cause of repeated seizures in dogs. Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy tend to start having seizures between six months and six years old, and appear perfectly normal between episodes.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What signs can epilepsy cause in dogs?

Signs can include restlessness, tremors, weeing, barking, salivating and staring into the distance.^[1]

How will a vet find out if my dog has epilepsy?

Your vet may examine your dog, ask questions and rule out other causes. Idiopathic epilepsy does not cause changes that can be picked up on tests.^[1]

How may a vet treat epilepsy in dogs?

Treatment may include anti-epileptic drugs, specialised diets and trigger avoidance. Emergency treatment might include a combination of anti-epileptic drugs given directly into the bloodstream to stop a seizure.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages