Seizures in dogs can be alarming, leaving pet parents feeling helpless and unsure of what to do next.
While they are relatively common in dogs, knowing how to respond can make a significant difference in your pet’s safety and recovery.
Understanding what to do after a dog has a seizure helps ensure proper care, reduce risks, and track long-term patterns for better management.
Using tools like the Maven Pet smart collar, with real-time health monitoring, can be invaluable for tracking post-seizure symptoms, monitoring recovery, and identifying seizure patterns over time.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to take after your dog has a seizure and how to manage their long-term health.
What to Do After a Dog Has a Seizure
Do you know what to do after your dog has a seizure?
When your dog experiences a seizure, following these steps can help ensure their safety and comfort:
1. Stay Calm and Ensure Your Dog’s Safety
Panicking can make it harder to provide proper care. Focus on ensuring your pet’s safety by moving any objects, furniture, or hazards out of the way to prevent injury. If your dog is on a bed or couch, ensure they don’t fall off.
2. Do Not Touch Their Mouth
Despite common myths, dogs cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure. Attempting to put your hands in their mouth could lead to accidental bites, so keep a safe distance while ensuring their environment is free from obstacles.
3. Time of the Seizure
Using a stopwatch or checking the clock can help you track the length of the seizure. A typical seizure lasts between a few seconds to a couple of minutes. However, if the seizure exceeds 5 minutes, contact your vet immediately.
4. Comfort Your Dog During the Post-Ictal Phase
After a seizure, your dog enters the post-ictal phase, that is, the recovery phase.
Your pet may appear disoriented, confused, or restless so speak to them in a calm and reassuring voice to help them feel safe. A quiet, dimly lit environment can aid in their recovery and reduce additional stress.
5. Offer Water But Do Not Force Them to Drink
Once your dog starts regaining awareness, offer fresh water, but do not force them to drink. Let them take their time, as forcing water may lead to choking or stress.
6. Observe for Additional Symptoms
Monitor your dog closely for lingering symptoms such as excessive drooling, pacing, or temporary blindness. If your dog experiences multiple seizures within a day, talk to your vet immediately.
Monitoring Post-Seizure Symptoms with Maven Pet
Tracking your dog’s health and behavior after a dog has a seizure is essential for early intervention. Focusing on pet wellness, Maven Pet can help you monitor post-seizure symptoms efficiently through its advanced health-tracking features.
Maven Pet
Health Monitor
#1 Vet-recommended pet monitor! Tracks activity, rest, respiratory rate, water intake, scratching and other health indicators 24/7
Post-Seizure Activity Monitoring
Maven Pet detects changes in lethargy, reduced mobility, and signs of disorientation, helping you identify abnormalities in your dog’s recovery process.
Sleep Pattern Tracking
Changes in sleep behavior, such as restlessness and disruptions in sleep cycles, can indicate post-seizure distress. Maven Pet’s health monitor helps track these variations and provides essential insights that allow you to intervene quickly.
Seizure Frequency and Severity
Maven Pet’s app offers a journaling feature, which you can use to log seizure episodes. By doing so, you and your vet can recognize patterns in seizure frequency and severity. This Maven Pet feature helps you be more proactive in taking care of your pet’s health.
The Health Symptoms Journal
The app’s journaling feature also allows you to document important details, such as seizure duration, intensity, and behavioral changes post-seizure. This tool also helps track recovery progression and provides data-driven insights for your vet to analyze.
Additionally, Maven’s AI-vet feature analyzes health trends and notifies you if there are concerning signals, making it easier to manage your dog’s condition effectively.
Long-Term Care for Dogs with Seizures
Managing a dog with seizures requires a structured approach, including dietary consistency, stress reduction, and regular veterinary monitoring. Here are key strategies to help keep your pet healthy:
1. Maintain a Stable Diet and Feeding Schedule
Sudden dietary changes and low-quality food can trigger or worsen seizures in some dogs. Providing high-quality, balanced nutrition supports neurological health and minimizes potential seizure triggers.
2. Minimize Environmental Stressors
Dogs with seizure disorders may be more sensitive to environmental changes. Avoid loud noises, sudden changes, and chaotic environments that can induce stress. Keeping a predictable daily routine helps your dog feel more secure and stable.
3. Schedule Regular Veterinary Check-Ups
Routine veterinary check-ups are essential for adjusting medications and treatment plans as needed. Your vet can also help identify potential seizure triggers and provide recommendations tailored to your pet.
4. Recognize and Monitor Triggers
Common seizure triggers include certain foods, chemicals, flashing lights, or stress. Using Maven Pet to track subtle health changes and behavioral patterns can help pet parents identify these triggers and take preventative measures.
Partner with Maven Pet for Pet Wellness
Seizures in dogs can be frightening, but with the right knowledge and tools, pet parents can provide the best care possible. Understanding what to do after a dog has a seizure ensures your pet’s safety and supports their long-term well-being.
With Maven Pet, you can actively monitor your dog’s health, detect seizure patterns, and receive AI-driven insights for proactive care.
Take charge of your pet’s well-being—learn more about the Maven Pet smart collar technology and how it enhances pet health monitoring.
Maven Pet focuses on improving the quality of life of our pets with technology, using artificial intelligence (AI) to enable proactive pet care. By accurately collecting and monitoring pet data 24/7 and flagging any irregularities, Maven Pet empowers pet parents and veterinarians to stay ahead of potential health issues, ensuring the well-being and longevity of our beloved companions.
