Dog Convulsions and Epileptic fits

When your dog is suffering an epileptic fit it will first of all go rigid and with its paws outstretched being to experience muscle twitches and spasms. Your dog will normally be quite unconscious of what is occurring at the moment and you will also not be able to stop the occurrence once it begins. Nearly all epileptic fits occur when the dog is resting and not when it is exercising. Although it is very traumatic for owners to see their dog suffering these fits the dog itself is quite unaware and doesn't normally experience any pain from the spasms. If the attack occurs inside the house then you should calmly tell everyone to be quiet, turn off the TV, dim the lights and/or close the curtains all with the intent to make your dog feel as calm and secure as possible. This means that you will also need to control your own emotions and feelings so as not to pass any negative vibes onto your dog. If your dogs suffers an attack outside then you should do your best to shade it from the sun or any other lights. Again do not attempt to move your dog while it is suffering an attack, unless to leave it would be life threatening. Most fits only last for a few minutes but during this time you should be keeping track of what is occurring so that you can report the incident in full to the veterinarian. Once your dog comes out of it he will probably be disoriented for a few minutes and may even suffer some momentary impairment to his sight. Many dogs feel hungry and thirsty when coming out of a fit. Be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as possible after the fit and if it was extreme you may be asked to bring your dog in for a check immediately. Either way you should most definitely have your dog checked within a week of the fit. Since the veterinarian will ask you many questions about what your dog was doing before, during and after the fit, it would be a good idea to note down any specifics before you forget.