Seizures & Convulsions: First Aid 2025 🧠🐾

I’m Dr Duncan Houston BVSc, bringing you this 2025 first-aid guide for seizures and convulsions in dogs and cats. Sudden, uncontrolled movements—seizures—can be frightening, but safe, calm action can make a huge difference. This article helps you recognize signs, provide essential care, and know when to seek professional help.

What Is a Seizure?

A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal brain activity, causing involuntary muscle contractions, twitching, convulsions—sometimes with loss of consciousness or control of bladder/bowels. They can affect one part of the body (a focal seizure) or the entire body (generalized seizure).

⚠️ Danger: Seizures lasting longer than 3–5 minutes can lead to serious complications like brain swelling (cerebral edema), fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), or high body temperature (hyperthermia)—potentially life‑threatening.

Common Causes by Age Group

• Under 1 year: Congenital issues like hydrocephalus (fluid in the brain) or portosystemic shunts (liver vascular abnormalities).
• 1–5 years: Typically epilepsy—absence of external cause, managed with medications.
• Over 5 years: Often secondary to tumors, strokes, metabolic disorders (e.g., low blood sugar).

Notably, seizures and epilepsy are rare in cats.

Immediate Response: What to Do

1. Stay calm: Panicked owners can worsen the situation.
2. Protect your pet: Clear the area of obstacles, keep them off heights or water, and remove other animals.
3. Protect yourself: Avoid placing hands near the mouth—pets cannot swallow their tongue, and biting is a risk.
4. Record timing: Note seizure start and stop times; seizures over 3 minutes are emergencies.
5. Cooling: If a seizure lasts over 3 minutes, gently apply cool (not cold) water to ears, belly, and paws to reduce hyperthermia; seek immediate veterinary care.
6. Multiple seizures: Two or more in 24 hours—urgent vet attention needed.
7. Single short seizure (<3 min): Once the pet is fully recovered, contact your veterinarian asap for guidance.
8. No breathing or consciousness: Begin pet CPR immediately—ensure airway is open, push on ribs at center, and provide rescue breaths every 2 seconds.

What *Not* to Do

• Do **not** place hands in the pet’s mouth.
• Do **not** slap, shake, or try to wake the pet—they cannot be startled out of a seizure.

Special Considerations: Toy Breeds & Diabetic Pets

In small toy breeds (e.g., Yorkshires, Malteses) and diabetic pets, seizures may stem from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

• If pet is responsive and can stand: Offer a small meal.
• If seizing, unresponsive, or vomiting: Carefully apply honey or pancake syrup to gums (being cautious to avoid bites) and transport to vet or emergency center immediately—prolonged hypoglycemia risks irreversible brain injury.

What to Expect at the Veterinary Clinic

Your vet will:

• Collect bloodwork to identify metabolic, liver, kidney, or glucose issues.
• Order MRI/CT or specialty imaging if neurological causes like tumors are suspected.
• Discuss antiseizure medications such as phenobarbital, levetiracetam (Keppra), or potassium bromide.
• Recommend regular monitoring of blood concentrations to maintain medication safety and efficacy.

⚖️ Approximately 75% of dogs on therapy can achieve good seizure control.

Emergency First-Aid Kit for Seizures

Have these items easily accessible:

• Digital thermometer to monitor core body temperature
• Cool, damp cloths for cooling the pet
• Emergency contact list: vet, emergency clinic, Ask A Vet app

Long-Term Management & Monitoring

Keep a seizure log—date, time, duration, symptoms, triggers (like stress, lights), and post-recovery behavior. Bring this record to your veterinarian to fine-tune treatment plans. Regular medication blood-level checks are essential to avoid toxicity.

When to Seek Immediate Veterinary Attention

• Seizure >3–5 minutes
• Multiple episodes in a 24-hour period
• No full recovery between seizures
• Signs of metabolic issues—vomiting, weakness, trembling
• No breathing or unresponsiveness post-seizure

Use Ask A Vet for Real-Time Support 📱

During and after a seizure, Ask A Vet can help by:

• Guiding you through CPR steps and cooling procedures
• Advising whether to proceed to emergency care
• Helping you track seizure logs and manage medications over time

Available at AskAVet.com, the app supports pet parents with trusted veterinary oversight.

2025 Seizure Safety Checklist

• ✔️ Ready seizure log form and pen
• ✔️ Emergency cooling materials accessible
• ✔️ Vets and emergency contacts saved in phone
• ✔️ Ask A Vet app installed for immediate support
• ✔️ Bloodwork and imaging reminders in calendar

Final Thoughts: Empowered Care, Less Fear

Seizures can be alarming, but knowing what to do calms panic and ensures swift, safe care. Your awareness, preparedness, and collaboration with your vet and Ask A Vet can make seizures manageable and your pet healthier.

👉 Download the Ask A Vet App for Expert Support!

Whenever seizures or other emergencies happen, we’re ready with medical guidance. Visit AskAVet.com for reliable, compassionate veterinary support anytime. 💟

—Dr Duncan Houston BVSc