What can you do to help your dog?
When you notice that your dog is about to have, or is actually having a seizure, the first thing to do is stay calm. Below are some other important things you can do to help.
Make sure your dog is not in a position to injure itself
- If possible, remove any nearby objects that they could bump into, or get tangled in (such as coffee tables or electric cords)
- Try not to hold your dog’s head or move their tongue out of their mouth. They won’t swallow their tongue, but they could bite you as their movements are involuntary
Remove as many ‘sensory stimuli’ as possible
Darken and quieten their surroundings by:
- Turning the television off
- Dimming the lights
- Closing the curtains
- Reducing the noise level in the room
- Removing any other animals or young children from the room (where possible)
Try to time the length of the seizure
Generally a seizure will only last for a couple of minutes, although it may feel much longer. If your dog’s seizure lasts more than five minutes, or they have more than one seizure in a 24 hour period, you should contact your vet immediately.
Keep a seizure diary
Help your vet to identify any patterns in your dog’s epilepsy and recommend the most appropriate treatment options by keeping an accurate record of your dog’s seizures.
