Seizures can occur in dogs for several reasons, with trauma, poisoning, and liver disease being the most common. They are also common among dogs that have anemia and blood sugar imbalance. Whatever the case may be, such a condition should be taken seriously by pet owners.
If your dog experiences occasional convulsions, stiffening, loss of consciousness, and other symptoms, special care is needed to treat the condition. Depending on the advice of your vet, you may consider the following:
1. Stay calm
If your dog experiences a sudden fit, it’s important to keep yourself composed and focus on how you are going to help. You may feel desperate seeing your dog having a seizure, but panicking won’t do much in giving immediate relief to your dog. Take a deep breath and see if there are people nearby who can help.
2. Keep your distance
While providing assurance can help in keeping your dog calm, you will need to do so without putting yourself at risk. In severe seizures, your dog may bite or scratch anything near them. For this reason, avoid stroking their fur or placing your hand on their head, and speak to them from a distance. The sound of your voice provides reassurance and a sense of security.
3. Keep them safe
Seizures can occur anywhere and at any time. Whether you are at home or at the park, you will need to make sure your pet is safe from anything that might cause accidental injury. If you are at home, you may need to slide your pet into an open space and away from furniture and fixtures. If the seizure happens during a walk in the park, you may need to drag your pet to the side. In case that’s not possible, you can tell passersby to keep their distance.
4. Use the prescribed medication
Your vet may have prescribed certain drugs to treat a sudden seizure. Considering how frequently your dog experiences convulsions, it’s important to bring along anticonvulsants that have been approved by the vet. If this is common with your pet, you have been prescribed medication such as zonisamide, but there are other treatment options. Just be sure to have the vet weigh in on natural options like CBD oil. You can check out an online guide to CBD for pets before you present it to your vet.
5. Seek immediate medical attention
Seizures may last for a few seconds to a few minutes. However, if your dog doesn’t calm down after five minutes, you will need to take them to your vet immediately. Convulsions can cause your dog to overheat and worsen the situation. Be careful when transporting them to the vet. To ensure safety, you can place your dog in a box with the lid off. You can also put cold water on their paws to keep their temperature from rising while you drive to the vet.
By knowing what exactly you need to do, you can help your dog overcome a seizure and prevent complications that deal further damage.