What Causes Seizures in Dogs?
| Print | By Dr. Lauren Brickman | May 11, 2009 11:33 AM

What Causes Seizures in Dogs?

Q: I have a 4 year old toy Yorkie-toy Fox Terrier mix who has had 2 seizures since September. The first was during a thunderstorm - he takes Acepromazine (ACE) for those - about 45 min. after his dose. The vet told me it was probably due to the storm and excitement. Then about 3 weeks ago he had another one, at home during a quiet evening. What causes seizures in a healthy dog?

A: Acepromazine (ACE) is a drug that lowers the seizure threshold in dogs. This means that this drug can cause a seizure in a dog that has an underlying seizure disorder. Has your dog only had seizures after Acepromazine? It is possible that your dog is an epileptic and may eventually need treatment. In the meantime, the use of Acepromazine should be discontinued. For thunderstorm sensitivity your vet can prescribe a drug in the valium family which will calm your pet and is safe for use in animals with seizure disorders. Good luck and please let me know how your dog is doing.

Comments (13)

Barbe March 29, 2009 3:06 PM

My Yorkie, Buddy, had seizures. He was hypoglycemic (sp) and I was advised to put syrup around his mouth when seizures started. Since his death, while I was in the hospital, I have read other means of controlling the hypoglycemia. You might investigate that issue. Good Luck to You. I now have a female, Sasha, and her son, Rascal, who have not been affected by this disease.

JAN May 18, 2009 3:17 PM

We have a 6 year old Yorkie and he has had several epsidoes of seizures and has been tested for many causes, but everything has came back negative. What do you do in a case like this? He does get execited easy.

yvonne May 21, 2009 1:51 PM

Our 1 yr old Yorkie, Katy, had a seizure in the wee hours of the morning. She was unresponsive, eyes wouldn't blink, and her body was arching back. We just held her and talked to her, till her body relaxed. She threw up (brown stuff) shortly after that. This morning she has thrown up twice, yellow & foamy stuff. She doesn't feel well, she is just laying down and sleeping. I've gotten her some pedialyte, and gave her some with a syringe. Our Vet is closed today, that's why I haven't taken her in yet. Does anyone have any input? Thank You!

Lynn May 23, 2009 11:54 AM

I have a 3 year old Maltese, he has recently had a couple of seizures, panting, shaking and rolled on his back. One time he was coughing and throwing up. The vet came by to check him and thought it was an allergic reaction to something and treated him as so. That was 3 weeks ago and he has had no systems since. Until last night,, he started shaking and rolled on his back. Being a small dog, there is always the chance that his sugar is low so I gave him some High Cal paste and a dose of his allergy medicine. After about 15 minutes he seemed normal again. I kept an eye on him all night, he sleep well and his breathing was back to normal with no signs of shaking. Any idea what I should do, this is a holiday weekend and no change of getting the vet until Tuesday. thank you

julie May 27, 2009 1:11 PM

ive got a 11 year old toy yorkie hes been on medication for epalepsy for sum years now with regular vet checks hes ben fine and full of mischeif and no more fits

Emma August 3, 2009 2:07 PM

I have a 8 year old female (curly hair) Yorkie, who developed seizures at age 2, after an assault (from a neighbor man who kicked her for barking when he was in our home for the 1st time, though he denies it; and her seizures began a month later) and recently she fell gravely ill overnight from unknown causes. She also has bad breathe from decaying teeth. I was bathing & treating her (for fleas) when I observed initial weakness; which I thought was another seizure about to come on, that didn't. I laid her down for the night & noticed she hadn't moved from the same spot all night. She'd became very weak and stopped eating & drinking; and is down to skin & bone; maybe a mere 2 lb - from 5! She developed an immunity to the once a month treatments at age 2.5. So it's been very difficult trying to find something that works; that I can afford for her. I initated an antibiotic (amoxicillin; found at a local Farmers Co-op) and Pedialyte, and she is slowly coming back around; finally ate a small meal & is urinating & defacating again; though not as she was before. I'm still so very concerned. I don't want to lose her; she's family; (you know what I mean). Yet, I can't afford her vet care any more, since my husband passed away 2 years ago, and left us in utter poverty. And, I can't bring myself to give her up to another who may be more able to provide her over all care needs. She's been my campanion - I was there at her birth! These recent symptoms just came out of nowhere, and I'm wondering if it's been cultivating over time? Is there anything more that I can do for her, to help her get well?

Cynthia September 25, 2009 12:29 AM

I have a 12 year old yorkie mixed with maltese and he had 1 seizure last week. Since then, nightly, he gets where he doesn't seem to know me or where he is at. He will go and sit in a corner. This happens mostly at night time. Sometimes he spits up a foam sometimes and then he will be out of it for awhile. Then by the next afternoon, he is fine until night again. Please help me.

Honey October 9, 2009 9:21 AM

Your dog may have an infection and need treatment. I have a cat who's epileptic and gets seizures. But the seizures increase when she's ill.

Belinda October 13, 2009 11:24 PM

Cynthia & Emma..Please try a little corn syrup at the first sign of odd behavior. Hypoglcemia is common, but please don't ignore this. You MUST get a vet's advice. Try to explain your financial situation to the vet. My vet took payments BUT YOU must keep your word and send your money in!! Most vets are in the business because they truely love animals and only want to help the animal!!

michael October 22, 2009 3:55 AM

my yorkie has tremors while he sleeps and otherwise I would like to know why he is trembling

amber October 27, 2009 10:00 PM

I have a one year old teacup yorkie, she began to have seizures at when she was only a few months old. We did blood work and it was discovered that she has a liver shunt which makes it hard for her body to break down and digest proteen, in turn her body cannot handle it and she has seizures. We have been able to manage it with medication. You might want to check into that. GOOD LUCK!

paget October 28, 2009 7:04 PM

I have an 9 week old cavachon (cavalier-bichon mix) who started having seizures the day after we got her home.So far she has had 4 seizures, all in her sleep. Still running tests...waiting for the liver bile test to come back, which would indicate liver shunt. Very stressful time. A new puppy shouldn't come with this stress!

Pippa November 20, 2009 7:46 AM

I have a 12 year old Parsons Jack Russel. He had a seizure yesterday but we do not know why. He seems fine today. He's being treated for Ulcerated Dermatitus in his bum but I don't kow if this is the cause of the seizure or if it is something else. He is also suffering from Cataracts. I don't know what to do but I am very worried for him.

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