Well the first step as I suggested before is actually to move anything away from them that they might hurt themselves on. Whenever your dog exhibits odd behavior or seizures it is wise to seek veterinary advice.
And remember stay calm.
What do you do when an old dog has a seizure. What To Do If My Old Dog Is Having A Seizure. Watching your old dog have a seizure is scary and many pet owners freeze in the moment because of this. To help you best prepare for any future seizures in your dog lets discuss what you should do step by step.
Your senior pup will likely be confused and scared when they come to and they will need a confident owner to help. If your older dog sudden starts having seizures dont delay take him in for a physical checkup immediately. An MRI or CAT can reveal if there is a tumor in the brain or not.
If the cause of seizures is a brain tumor as in my dogs case anti-convulsive drugs will not control the seizures. Medical treatment of old dog seizures is aimed at reducing the frequency of the seizures and keeping your dog comfortable. Sometimes anti-seizure medications will be recommended but medication may not be used in every situation.
If your dog has had seizures before and you think one is coming on try to move the dog to a safe soft area where there are no sharp objects or hard floors. The best thing you can do is to remain calm and try to keep your dog and yourself out of danger. Never put your hands near or in your dogs mouth during a seizure.
If you notice that your dog is having a seizure give him space and make sure that he has a clear area to let the seizure run its course. Your dog will experience involuntary muscle contractions and may start foaming at the mouth. The seizure should end within a few minutes so just hold tight and be prepared to care for your dog afterward.
And remember stay calm. Your dog will need you. If your dog continues to seizures has a second seizure please contact your veterinarian or local veterinary emergency clinic.
When Your Seizure Dog Should See Your Veterinarian Your dog should see a veterinarian if any of the following occur. Any Seizures that lasts longer than 5 minutes. However since dogs develop a tolerance rather quickly diazepam is not typically selected for the continued management of seizures.
Gabapentin A drug I know is used by so many senior dog parents to help manage pain it can also be helpful. Take your dog to the vet immediately once the seizure has ended. When it comes to old dog seizures an early diagnosis is always best.
Do not let the condition go untreated at the first sign of a seizure contact your vet. Your vet will perform a physical exam of the dog and if possible prescribe medicine to prevent and control the seizures. Always call your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian after your dog has a seizure even if your dog seems to be acting normally.
Most of these diseases can be treated but for that you need to go to a vet. Determining the exact cause of old dog seizures requires extensive blood work among other tests. Do not hesitate to look for a vet as soon as your dog has the first episode.
The key to curing your dog is. If your dog has a seizure near stairs or the edge of the bed carefully push him to a safer location or place something in front of him that will prevent him from falling without hurting him. Dogs may become panicked before or after a seizure and may run around without thinking or looking at where theyre going.
What should you actually do to help your dog having a seizure. Well the first step as I suggested before is actually to move anything away from them that they might hurt themselves on. This might be something they could bash into or something that could fall on them.
Think of things like table legs and other furniture. The next thing is something NOT to do when your dog has a seizure. Leave your dog alone during a seizure unless its in a location where it could be injured.
If you end up having to move the dog gently pull it by the hind legs to a safe location. Its OK to pet or comfort your dog during a seizure but keep your hands away from its mouththe seizure could cause the dogs jaws to clamp down on your hand. If your dog has more than one seizure in a 24-hour period or has a seizure that lasts more than a few minutes take him or her to the veterinarian immediately.
Its a good idea to keep a journal that documents their symptoms as well as the date time and length of any seizures to help your vet determine if theres a pattern. If you have had your dog since he was a puppy and seizures are just beginning to arise in his older years an underlying medical issue is the most likely cause. Whenever your dog exhibits odd behavior or seizures it is wise to seek veterinary advice.
If your dog has more than two seizures within the first week of onset your veterinarian will probably consider a diagnosis other than idiopathic epilepsy. If the seizures occur when the dog is younger than six months or older than five years it may be metabolic or intracranial within the skull in origin. This will rule out hypoglycemia in older dogs.
Focal seizures or the presence of neurologic. Recent started seizures with negative diagnosis but whenever it occurs my dog turn twist his neck see his back legs for 2 minutes seizure occurs why. An old dog that starts to seizure usually has a brain tumor infection or a metabolic disease.
Your vet should do a full work up with bloodwork to help diagnose. Your vet can also start him on. Call your vet immediately if your dog has been having a seizure for longer than 5 minutes or they have had more than one seizure in a row.
Always call your vet for advice if your dog has had a seizure even if they have recovered and seem perfectly normal. Always let your vet know if your dog is still having fits whilst on medication to control them.