Dog seizures – what can they mean and when to see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

This can have a serious cause – contact your vet today if any of the warning signs below apply, or if you are unsure. Possible causes include toxins, severe head injuries, heatstroke, very low blood sugar and infections affecting the brain.

When to contact a vet What to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

A seizure is happening now
Your dog has started to come round after a seizure
Regular seizures despite anti-epileptic drugs

What you can do now

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

Don't

Do not transport your dog during a seizure unless your vet specifically tells you to
Do not give any human medicine
Do not wait if it gets worse

What it can mean

A seizure is abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause uncontrolled body movements.^[1] Some seizures cause full-body convulsions, while others cause milder twitching in one part of the body.^[1] Possible causes include genetic factors, toxins, severe head injuries, severe heatstroke, very low blood sugar, infections affecting the brain, low blood calcium and brain tumours.^[1] The cause of idiopathic epilepsy is unknown.^[1] A single seizure may not be followed by another.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Collapse
Loss of consciousness
Jerking movements
Paddling legs
Tense or cramped muscles
Eyes rolling back or moving side to side
Drooling or frothing at the mouth
Peeing and pooing

Possible causes

Genetic factors
Idiopathic epilepsy
Toxins
Severe head injury
Severe heatstroke
Very low blood sugar
Infections affecting the brain
Low blood calcium
Brain tumours

What the experts say

“It’s known to be genetic (passed from parent to puppies) in several breeds of dogs ; The cause of idiopathic epilepsy is unknown ; Toxins such as caffeine, chocolate, rat poison and slug bait can all cause seizures ; Severe head injuries can cause seizures ;”
— 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 is a seizure?

A seizure is abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes uncontrolled body movements.^[1]

What signs can happen with a seizure?

Signs can include collapse, loss of consciousness, jerking movements, paddling legs, tense or cramped muscles, eyes rolling back or moving side to side, drooling or frothing at the mouth, and peeing and pooing.^[1]

Can a dog have only one seizure?

Yes. If your dog has had only a single seizure, they might never have another.^[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