Your Dog Is Having a Seizure: What to Do in the Moment
Watching your dog seize is frightening, but calm, correct action protects them. This guide covers what to do second by second, why you must never touch the mouth, when a seizure becomes a true emergency, and what to record so your vet can find the cause and start treatment.
Quick answer
Stay calm and note the time. Clear hard objects away and keep the area soft and quiet. Do not restrain your dog or put anything near or in the mouth. Time the seizure. Once it ends, keep your dog warm and quiet while they recover. Call an emergency vet immediately if a seizure lasts over 5 minutes, if seizures cluster back-to-back, or if it is the first one.
Watching your dog seize is frightening, but calm, correct action protects them.
During the seizure: what to do
Most seizures last under two minutes even though they feel far longer. Your job is to prevent injury, not to stop the seizure.
Clear hard objects away and cushion the space — do not restrain the dog during the seizure.
Move furniture, stairs, and hard objects away. Dim the lights, lower the noise, and speak softly. If your dog is near an edge or stairs, gently guide the body away by the hips using a towel or cushion — but do not hold the dog down or hug it. A seizing dog is unconscious and cannot control its jaw, so keep hands and faces clear.
Never touch the mouth
The old myth about pets swallowing their tongue is false. Putting fingers or objects in the mouth risks a serious bite and can injure your dog. Keep everyone's hands away from the head. Your dog may drool, paddle the legs, lose bladder or bowel control, and vocalise — all of this is normal and not painful in the way it looks.
Time it and film it
Note the start time on your phone; a stopwatch beats guessing, because seizures feel endless.
Note the start time — a seizure lasting over five minutes is an emergency.
If it is safe, film the episode. Video is genuinely useful to your vet for telling a true seizure from fainting, tremors, or a behavioural event, and for judging severity. Record what your dog was doing beforehand, anything they may have eaten, and how long recovery takes.
After the seizure
Once movements stop, your dog enters a recovery (post-ictal) phase — disoriented, restless, pacing, temporarily blind, extra hungry or thirsty. Keep the space calm, dim, and safe. Offer water only when fully alert to avoid choking. Overheating is a real risk after a long seizure, so a cool, quiet room helps. Even after a short, self-limiting seizure, book a vet appointment to investigate the cause — epilepsy, low blood sugar, liver disease, toxins, and tumours all need different treatment.
Quick FAQs
Should I move my dog during a seizure? Only if they are in danger, such as near stairs or water, and then gently by the hips with a towel. Otherwise leave them where they are and clear the surroundings.
Can a seizure kill my dog? A single short seizure rarely does, but prolonged (over 5 minutes) or clustered seizures are emergencies that can cause overheating and brain damage. Get to a vet fast.
Is my dog in pain during a seizure? No. Your dog is unconscious and unaware. The distress you feel watching is not what your dog experiences.
Do all seizures mean epilepsy? No. Seizures can stem from toxins, low blood sugar, liver or kidney disease, and brain tumours, especially in senior dogs. Your vet will run tests to find the cause.