My young puppy had a seizure. Are her odd behaviors signs of epilepsy?

That's a great question and one we do not have a lot of information to provide a definitive answer. It is actually uncommon for owners to report a pre-ictal phase. In the rare cases that do, typically it is head twitching lasting less than a minute prior to octal period. Now the post-ictal period can last from hours to days (up to 72 hours in my experience). In your pet's case, it may be that she has a prolonged post-ictal phase and then begins to seizure. If your pet began having seizures after the age of 7 years, then it is less likely she has idiopathic epilepsy or liver disease (though hepatic encephalopathy must be ruled out). Patients that have late onset seizures (>7y) are most likely to have intracranial disease such as an inflammatory condition or tumor. I would advise you to document the episodes and consult your veterinarian to discuss diagnostic tests and treatment.

Hello. This sounds very suspicious of a seizure. The average age of onset of seizure activity for epileptic dogs is from 2-4 years of age. Since this is a first time occurrence...or the first that you have witnessed....you may have to wait and see if it happens again. It may help your veterinarian if you can video the episode if it happens again. It is always a good idea to have your veterinarian examine her to make sure there are no other problems and discuss the possibility of seizures. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Bailey definitely may have had a seizure. Other signs of seizures would be strange behavior before the seizure, the seizure itself can include shaking or tending of all the muscles, Bailey may urinate or defecate during as well. I recommend keeping a close eye on her and trying to film this if it happens again to show your vet. They can determine the cause of the seizure with blood work and more advanced imaging such as a CT scan. If seizure activity is confirmed, Bailey will likely be placed on anti-seizure medication. I hope all is well!

Hello, The time right before a seizure is called the "pre-ictal period" and is often associated with a change of behaviors right before the seizure. This period is usually short, about 20 minutes to one hour, but can be longer in some cases. In people, it is often termed an "aura" and is associated with reported changes in sensation- sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. In dogs, we can't exactly know what they're feeling, but we do often see compulsive or nervous behavior before seizures, telling us they are experiencing a similar pre-ictal period. If he has any swelling, pain, redness, or discharge around his anal area, I would recommend having a vet check to ensure he doesn't have a medical problem that could be causing him to pay attention to the area. Otherwise, I would continue to monitor and record his behavior, as you learning to identify his pre-ictal stage can help you get him into a safe area before he has a seizure. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

The signs you are describing sound like Coco may have had a seizure. She may have been confused afterwards, which is known as the post ictal period, and can consist of her seeming a little "off". Seizures can be caused by epilepsy, brain inflammation or tumors. I recommend keeping a close eye on Coco, and try to film any future episodes to show your vet. If these continue, Coco should be seen right away, as she may need anti seizure medication. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, Yes, it can be normal for dogs to experience a change in behavior and attitude for a few days before and after a seizure. These are called the pre and post ictal phases when the brain is preparing and recovering from the seizure. Knowing that she has normal blood work helps to support this. Keeping a journal of Bell's seizure activity and behavior changes can help you over time better predict and anticipate this. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that Luna is having this problem. There are many different things that can cause seizures - it's certainly possible that she may have epilepsy, but other possible causes would include a systemic illness like liver or kidney disease, a central nervous system problem such as meningitis or a brain tumor, or exposure to some type of toxin. Bloody diarrhea is not a sign of epilepsy and is not normally associated with seizures in general, so this may be a separate problem. I would recommend taking Luna to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to. He/she can do a complete neurologic exam and may also recommend blood work or other testing if needed to help determine what is causing her seizures. If she does have epilepsy, your veterinarian can prescribe medication to help control her seizures.