Protection

• When your dog has a seizure, you must protect it from harming itself. Surround it with blankets and pillows to cushion it and keep it away from dangerous areas like stairs, walls, stoves, fireplaces and furniture with sharp corners. Dr. Dennis O'Brien, a veterinarian from the University of Missouri, warns that you should not use your hands, as the dog could accidentally clamp down on your hands with its jaws and injure you badly. He says that you don't have to try to prevent the dog from swallowing its tongue, as this will not happen during a seizure.
  
  

Reassurance

• Put your hand on the dog's body to offer reassurance. Stoke it gently and talk to it in a soft, soothing tone. Continue the stoking as the dog is coming out of the seizure. This will help keep it calm after the stressful experience. Don't put your hand near its mouth or you could be inadvertently bitten.
  
  

Follow-Up

• After the seizure, keep your dog in a quiet area. There should be minimal noise and traffic so the dog can rest and get reoriented. If this is its first seizure, use this time to write down details of when and how it happened and any unusual circumstances surrounding the incident. Call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic and give them the information. They can give you instructions on bringing the dog in. If the seizure continues for more than 15 minutes, take the dog in immediately, as Dr. O'Brien says this is an emergency.
  
  If this is not your dog's first seizure, handle it according to the treatment plan your veterinarian has given you. Dr. O'Brien says that if you need to give it medication, you can put it in food because dogs are often hungry when they come out of a seizure. If the seizure was caused by low blood sugar, give it corn syrup or honey.
  
  

Testing

• After your dog has its first seizure, your veterinarian can perform tests to help pinpoint the cause and create a treatment plan. After a physical examination, the vet may order blood and urine tests, X-rays or scans. He will also question you about the seizure and any potential triggers. Once he determines the exact cause, he can give you a treatment program to prevent or minimize future seizures. Dr. O'Brien says you should ask why the doctor is recommending specific tests for your pet.
  
  

Treatments

• Seizure treatments for dogs include medication and alternative methods. Phenobarbitol and primidone are the most commonly used medications to control a dog's seizures. However, they both have side effects that can cause other problems for the animal. Dogs may eat or drink excessively when taking these drugs, and they can also cause liver damage. Alternatives include diazepam and potassium bromide. The latter can be especially helpful for dogs that do not respond well to phenobarbitol. When a dog is on these medications, it will need to be monitored and have regular blood tests to make sure it is tolerating the drug without dangerous side effects.
  
  Acupuncture has shown some success in decreasing seizure frequency in dogs when it is used along with drug therapy. Although some dogs do not respond, others experience a significant increase in the time between seizures. K9 Web says one dog treated with Shen-men point acupuncture had a six-fold increase in the period between its seizures, while another that had suffered from monthly seizures had no problems for 200 days.
  
  Dr. Roger DeHaan, DVM, a holistic veterinarian, says that seizures in some dogs can be eased by taking vitamin B6, magnesium and manganese supplements. These should be taken along with medications rather than as a replacement for them. Pet nutritionist Darleen Rudnick says that vitamin C may also help, as can a good general vitamin and mineral supplement formulated for dogs.
  
  

Support

• If your dog has ongoing seizures, reach out to others in similar situations. They can help you through the ups and downs of dealing with this chronic condition, and members may also have treatment suggestions. Websites like Epi Guardian Angels (see Resources) have information, advice and support resources for dog owners dealing with epilepsy and seizures in their canines.