What Causes
Seizures in Dogs?

Risk factors and common causes

Genetics. Some breeds are simply more prone to seizures: Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, Finnish Spitz, Keeshonds, Belgian Tervurens, Vizslas, Beagles, English Springer Spaniels, and Irish Wolfhounds among them. When the cause is genetic, the episodes usually begin in the younger years, sometimes as late as five or six. Once every other known cause has been ruled out, the diagnosis is idiopathic epilepsy.

General health. Seizures often ride along with something else going on: liver disease, kidney trouble, a brain tumor, a stroke, high blood pressure. If your dog has any of these, keep a closer eye than usual; you know your dog's normal better than anyone. Even a swing in blood sugar, low or high, can set one off, so what's in the bowl deserves a close look. The more natural, the better.

Toxic substances. Poison is another major cause, and we do not just mean the cleaning cupboard. Many chemicals the body registers as poison arrive marketed as safe or helpful. A lot of it comes in a box with a smiling dog on it. Many heartworm preventatives contain toxins that can cause seizures. Flea and tick treatments carry chemicals linked to the same thing; the FDA issued a safety alert about one whole class of them in 2018, noting seizures in dogs with no prior history. Food additives, some preservatives and colorings, and wheat gluten are large factors. Even vaccines can trigger a seizure, from the substance itself or from the carriers that come along with it. Stress is a trigger too, and it's often eased by the same support that helps the body clear toxins.

Usually, a combination. It's rarely one thing. Families tell us about a pretty typical month: the heartworm dose and the flea-and-tick dose, a commercial biscuit for being a good boy, and a bowl of big-brand kibble at every meal. Nobody meant any harm by it; the load just kept climbing. Stress counts too: over-excitement, a sudden change in routine, a tense house, fireworks on the Fourth of July. That's why we ask about the whole month.

Natural alternatives exist. There are natural ways to handle fleas and worms; your vet's office probably won't bring them up. Practices are called on by sales reps with the newest food or treatment, and the industry promotes its own brands. Your vet isn't the enemy; most were trained on medicine and not much on nutrition. Ask questions anyway, and do your own reading.

That's not the whole list. Plenty of families feed well, skip the chemicals, refuse to over-vaccinate, and still face this. For those families, the answer is usually nutrition. Time and again, it's a better diet plus natural supplements that brings the episodes down, sometimes all the way. Start with our recommended foods guide.

While a seizure is happening

A seizure is a burst of uncontrolled electricity in the brain, and the start of one can look very strange. A dog may stare off into space as if dazed, or chase something that isn't there. Episodes run from a few seconds to a few minutes.

The early signs. The dog was fine, and then he wasn't. Looking back, there were usually small signs: panting or drooling for no reason, shaking or tremors, frothing at the mouth, a paddling motion with the feet, or brief absent spells where the dog seems to go blank for a moment. Any of these, showing up now and then, is worth writing down with the date. They can mean the load on the nervous system is climbing, and that's when prevention does the most good.

Stay calm. Only move your dog if he is somewhere he could hurt himself, and do it by gently pulling the hind legs. Keep your hands away from his mouth. Time it. A seizure that passes five minutes, or a second one the same day, is an emergency. Depending on the severity he may lose control of his bladder or bowels; that's normal, and he can't help it. A cool wet washcloth on the paws helps cool and calm him.

Afterwards. Comfort him with extra love. You don't need to scoop him up and race to the clinic; the car ride is hard on him too, and it can wait. Once he has settled, call your vet and describe the episode: the warning signs, how long it lasted, what he did after. It's rare for a vet to see one first-hand, so your details really help.

Where Nzymes can help

The Back to Balance BundleAntioxidant Treats and Tracite Minerals together, with the interactive guide for every stepSee the program →

We began in 1999 with one product and one simple idea: an Antioxidant Treat that helps the body produce large quantities of its own metabolic enzymes. The job of those enzymes is to flush out the toxins that build up in the cells. That simple, natural process has made a real difference for dogs with neurological conditions, and for many other conditions besides. Since then, thousands of dogs have done better than anyone expected.

For a seizure dog we pair the Treats with Tracite Minerals. Here's why: most dogs are also short on the trace minerals their nerves need to carry a steady signal, and anti-convulsants strip those minerals further. That is the Back to Balance Bundle. Medication raises the threshold for a seizure; this lightens the load underneath it. The two work alongside each other, never one instead of the other, and the program page's Lighten the load section covers the two habits that go with it: what's in the bowl, and how you handle fleas and worms.

Not sure whether what you saw was a seizure, or whether this fits your dog? Tell us what you saw, how long it lasted, and what your dog is eating. We'll tell you what it sounds like and where to start. Book a free consultation →