Veterinary emergencies always make pet owners feel much anxiety. However, you may not always be able to consult with an emergency veterinarian immediately, or you may have to manage chronic symptoms from your pet’s neurological conditions.
Seizures are, unfortunately, a recurring symptom from several neurological and physiological health problems suffered by household animals such as cats and dogs. These involuntary movements are frequently associated with some of the following health complications: distemper, brain infection, liver disease, meningitis, epilepsy, low blood sugar, and toxicity.
Seizures might vary wildly in length from one individual to another. You might notice your pet pacing or run in circles. Increased anxiety, disorientation usually precede a seizure characterized by muscle stiffening, loss of bowel control, trembling, or even loss of consciousness.
Your pet’s recovery period after a seizure might be utterly different from that of another individual, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a full day. Seizures themselves might only last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.
Try to write down how long they lasted to let your pet’s veterinarian know. Still, if the episode is prolonging beyond the 5-minute mark, or you suspect that the seizures might result from something your pet ingested, you should consider contacting an emergency veterinarian.
What You Can Do to Help
Sit Next to Your Pet
Sit close to them to ensure they won’t stand up and hurt themselves with anything or that there are no harmful objects near your pet. It might be best to avoid petting your dog during a seizure, especially if this is their first episode. Dogs will be disoriented afterward, and they could try biting at nearby individuals.
Lower Your Pet’s Temperature
During a seizure, your pet’s body temperature rises a lot! The constant muscle activity could increase the temperature reaching such levels that, if not corrected, may cause brain damage. It might prove helpful to manage the situation if you use cool, damp towels over your pet’s feet after the seizure ends. Wait until your pet is fully aware of who you are before doing anything that your dog might misinterpret.
Timing the Seizures
Whenever possible, time your dog’s seizures. Keeping a record might prove useful to your dog’s veterinarian when they provide your pet with treatment. It will also help you gauge your reaction better. If the seizure seems like it’s lasting beyond the 5-minute mark, get in contact with an emergency veterinarian for immediate help.
Try Keeping Calm
We know how difficult it is to sit and watch. The seizures themselves are very anxiety-inducing, but through it all, you should try to keep calm. Don’t cry out their given names or hold them too close; you might end up frightening your pet even more.
What an Emergency Veterinarian Can Do to Help
In the event you need to bring your pet to an animal emergency center like Brightcare Veterinary Group Animal Emergency Room for treatment, you can expect our emergency veterinarians and staff to be ready to provide the highest level of care your pet needs.
Remember to call ahead and let us know you are coming to better prepare for your arrival. You could also check this link for directions to our care center to determine if we are the best choice during your emergency. Always take your pet to the closest center that you can trust to give your dog proper care.
We can help control seizures with sedation. Injecting your pet with diazepam or another appropriate sedative will help reduce the severity of physiological complications. In severe cases, your pet might require hospitalization and IV fluids to help keep them hydrated during the seizures and recovery. Depending on your case, more actions might be necessary, but the qualified staff at the emergency care center will give you the information you need.
As a specialized neurological center, we can also help you determine if the seizures indicate more severe health complications related to your pet’s central nervous system. Diagnosis of epilepsy can help determine the appropriate care needed by your pet.
Keep in mind that all dog breeds are susceptible to epilepsy, but not all of them require treatment to overcome these seizure episodes. Consult with qualified professionals about your pet’s case and follow directions to make your pet’s life better.
Wrapping Things Up
Recognizing these symptoms will help you be better prepared for when they happen again and that you can help your pet avoid any additional damage.
Dogs frequently suffer from seizures and epilepsy. These complications are not exclusive to any particular breed and can also affect other household animals, like cats. Suppose your dog might be receiving specialized treatment, or you are just learning to manage the effects of seizures to help endure the emergency.
You should then make sure to have an emergency veterinarian in your frequent contacts to get the help you need when you need it and continue without additional problems.
Get in touch with our office if you need us, and make sure to help your dog whenever they need you. We will be happy to help if you need us.
