What To Do If My Dog or Cat is Having a Seizure?
For Pet Owners
Watching your pet experience a seizure is a terrifying moment. It is easy to go straight into crisis mode and forget how to respond. At Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists (GCVS), our goal is to educate pet parents in understanding how to react, what to do afterward, and to know when emergency care is needed.
What's a Seizure?
A seizure in dogs and cats is like a sudden “electrical storm” in the brain. Normally, the brain sends organized signals to control the body, but during a seizure, those signals become confused and chaotic for a short time.
In dogs and cats, seizures can look different, but seizures are usually a sign that something isn’t quite right neurologically.
What Are Signs Your Pet Might be Having a Seizure?
In Dogs, you might notice:
Collapsing or stiffening
Jerking movements
Drooling or foaming at the mouth
Loss of control over bladder or bowels
Disorientation
In Cats, seizures can look a little different:
Sudden falls or body twitching
Facial tremors or chewing motions
Out-of-nowhere aggression or loud vocalization
Drooling
Twitching limb or loss of balance
After a seizure, many pets might seem dazed or confused for several minutes. Some may pace or appear temporarily blind.
What to Do If Your Dog or Cat Has a Seizure
1. Time it
Grab your phone and note how long the seizure lasts. If it goes beyond 5 minutes, head to your nearest veterinary ER immediately.
2. Create a safe space.
Move furniture and any sharp objects away so your pet doesn’t get hurt. Never try to put your hands near their mouth. They may bite without meaning to.
3. Keep the noise and lights low.
Turn off your TV or bright lights. A quiet, dim space helps reduce stress, especially important for cats, who are sensitive to sensory overload.
4. Don’t try to restrain them.
It’s natural to want to help but trying to hold them down could cause injury. Let the seizure run its course unless they’re in immediate danger.
5. Comfort them after it ends.
Your pet might be confused, shaky, aggressive, or scared. Speak gently and stay close while they recover. Offer calm reassurance and let them rest in a familiar, quiet spot.
When to Go to the Emergency Vet for a Seizure
Locate your closest 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital if your pet:
Has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes
Has more than 3-4 seizures in a 24-hour period
Does not fully recover or seems confused, weak, or disoriented between seizures
Is experiencing their first-ever seizure
Has existing medical conditions
Is a very young or a senior pet
If you aren’t sure whether to take your pet to an emergency hospital, it’s recommended to contact your primary veterinarian to consult on the next steps.
GCVS Houston and GCVS NASA Parkway’s Emergency Room is open 24/7.
How Are Seizures Treated?
Our board-certified veterinary neurologists start by figuring out why your pet is having seizures so we can treat them safely and effectively. That process usually begins with a physical exam and routine blood work to assess your pet’s overall health. From there, we may recommend advanced brain imaging (MRI/CT) to look more closely at the nervous system. In certain cases, spinal fluid analysis is also recommended to see if inflammation or infection is present.
Once we understand the underlying cause, we develop a treatment plan tailored to your pet. This often includes anti-seizure medication to help prevent future episodes, along with regular monitoring and follow-up testing to make sure the medication is working well and keeping your pet safe. Sometimes, small lifestyle changes, like reducing stress or avoiding specific triggers, can also support long-term seizure control.
Our goal is always the same: to give your pet the best chance of a comfortable, happy, and healthy life.
Talk with your primary vet about a referral to the Neurology team at GCVS Houston if your dog or cat experiences a seizure. Our board-certified neurologists are here to guide you and provide advanced care when it’s needed most.
