Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM • Chief Executive Officer, RexVet • 2026-07-04 • 11 min read
Dog Seizures: Causes, What to Do & When It's an Emergency — FL, NY & VA
A seizing dog is terrifying — 5 real causes, exactly what to do in the first 5 minutes, and when it's an ER emergency. FL/NY/VA licensed vets by $64.99 video.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM
Watching a dog have a seizure is one of the most frightening things a pet parent can experience. The dog collapses, paddles their legs, drools, sometimes urinates or defecates. Most seizures last 30 seconds to 2 minutes and the dog recovers. But some are the first sign of an emergency. This guide is for FL, NY, and VA dog parents to know exactly what to do in the first 5 minutes and when to skip straight to the ER.
The 5 real causes
- Idiopathic epilepsy — genetic, most common cause. Onset between 1 and 5 years of age. Common in Border Collies, Labs, Goldens, Beagles, German Shepherds. Well-controlled on medication.
- Toxin exposure — chocolate, xylitol, human medications (ibuprofen, ADHD meds, SSRIs), marijuana, mushrooms, pesticides, antifreeze. Sudden onset in a previously-healthy dog.
- Metabolic disease — liver shunt (young small breeds), low blood sugar (toy breed puppies, insulinoma in older dogs), electrolyte imbalance, kidney failure.
- Brain tumor — senior dogs (over 8 years) with sudden new-onset seizures. Meningioma most common. MRI needed for diagnosis.
- Infection — distemper virus (unvaccinated puppies), tick-borne disease (Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme with neurological form), fungal or bacterial meningitis.
What to do during the seizure — first 5 minutes
- Stay calm and start timing — most seizures last 30 seconds to 2 minutes
- Do NOT put your hands near the dog's mouth — bite risk is high, and the myth that dogs swallow their tongue during seizures is false
- Clear the area of hard furniture, stairs, water — prevent injury from paddling
- Dim the lights and reduce sound if possible
- Take a video with your phone — invaluable for the vet
- Move small children and other pets to another room
- Do NOT try to move the dog unless they're in a dangerous spot
Red flags — ER RIGHT NOW
- Seizure lasting more than 5 minutes (status epilepticus) — brain damage risk
- 2 or more seizures within 24 hours (cluster seizures)
- Dog doesn't fully recover between seizures
- First-ever seizure — cause needs identification
- Known toxin exposure (chocolate, xylitol, human meds, marijuana)
- Body temperature above 105°F post-seizure (hyperthermia)
- Senior dog (over 8) with new-onset seizure — brain tumor workup
After the seizure (the postictal period)
After a seizure, dogs typically enter a postictal period lasting minutes to hours where they may be disoriented, pace, seem blind or confused, or seek comfort. This is normal. Keep them in a quiet dim space. Do not offer food or water for at least 30 minutes (aspiration risk). Note the recovery time — postictal periods longer than 4 hours warrant a vet visit even if the seizure itself was brief.
The seizure diary — this is what your vet needs
- Date and time
- Duration (from start of paddling to when dog is standing again)
- Postictal period length (until dog is fully normal)
- Trigger if identifiable (loud noise, exercise, hormonal cycle in intact females)
- Recent food, medications, or toxin exposure
- Video if you can catch one
The workup for a first seizure
- Full physical + neurological exam
- Bloodwork (CBC, Chem, thyroid) — rules out metabolic causes
- Bile acid test — rules out liver shunt in young dogs
- Tick disease panel — 4Dx test, especially in VA / rural exposure
- Toxin history — thorough medication and environment review
- MRI or CT scan — if senior dog or focal signs suggesting mass
- CSF tap — if infection suspected
Treatment options
- Phenobarbital — first-line, ~70% control rate, needs bloodwork monitoring (liver enzymes)
- Levetiracetam (Keppra) — good safety profile, no liver monitoring, more expensive
- Potassium bromide — added when single-drug fails, slow-acting
- Zonisamide — newer option, well-tolerated
- Emergency rescue: rectal diazepam or intranasal midazolam for owner administration during cluster seizures
Florida: heat + tick disease + marijuana
Florida heat can worsen seizures (heat stress) and cause seizures via heatstroke. FL marijuana exposure is a common toxin cause — dogs eating discarded edibles or gummies. Tick diseases (Ehrlichia) can cause seizures via neurological involvement — a 4Dx test on any new-seizure FL dog is worth it.
New York: xylitol + apartment toxin exposure
NYC dogs face heavy xylitol exposure (sugar-free gum, candy, peanut butter). Even small amounts cause hypoglycemia and seizures. NYC apartment cleaning products, pesticide exposure in older buildings, and discarded medications are common toxin sources. Rat bait in apartment buildings causes seizures via bromethalin.
Virginia: tick disease + rural exposure
VA has one of the heaviest tick burdens in the US. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichia, and Lyme disease neurologic form can all cause seizures. Rural VA also has wildlife exposure (raccoon rabies, distemper) and hunting-dog fungal exposure. Any VA dog with new-onset seizures needs a tick disease panel plus rabies vaccine status verification.
How telehealth fits
$64.99 RexVet video visits with FL/NY/VA-licensed vets help with: reviewing seizure diaries, adjusting phenobarbital or Keppra doses, coaching toxin exposure decisions (call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 first — always), and epilepsy maintenance. Active seizure, cluster seizures, status epilepticus, first-ever seizure, or senior dog with new-onset seizure → ER immediately.
Emergency signals
When to contact a veterinarian
- Seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
- 2 or more seizures within 24 hours
- Dog doesn't fully recover between seizures
- First-ever seizure — needs workup
- Known toxin exposure
- Body temperature over 105°F post-seizure
- Senior dog (over 8) with new-onset seizure
Frequently asked questions
What should I do when my dog is having a seizure?
Stay calm, start timing, do NOT put your hands near the mouth (bite risk), clear the area of furniture and stairs, dim lights, take a video, move children and other pets away. Most seizures last 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Seizures over 5 minutes are ER emergencies.
Can a RexVet online vet help with my dog's seizures?
Yes for epilepsy diagnosis workup guidance, seizure diary review, phenobarbital / Keppra dose adjustments, and toxin exposure triage. $64.99 video visits with FL/NY/VA-licensed vets. Active seizure, cluster seizures, first-ever seizure, or status epilepticus → ER immediately, not telehealth.
When is a dog seizure an emergency?
Seizure lasting more than 5 minutes (status epilepticus), 2 or more seizures within 24 hours (cluster), dog doesn't recover between seizures, first-ever seizure, known toxin exposure, or senior dog with new-onset seizure. All same-day ER.
Can my dog swallow their tongue during a seizure?
No — this is a myth. Dogs cannot swallow their tongues. Putting your hands near a seizing dog's mouth risks a serious bite (dogs are unconscious and cannot control jaws). Focus on protecting the dog from injury from paddling and timing the seizure.
What's the difference between epilepsy and other seizure causes?
Idiopathic epilepsy is a diagnosis of exclusion — a genetic condition affecting dogs 1 to 5 years old with normal exams and bloodwork. Toxin, metabolic, tumor, and infection causes are ruled out first with a workup (bloodwork, tick screen, sometimes MRI).
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About the author
Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM
Chief Executive Officer, RexVet
Licensed veterinarian and CEO of RexVet (Rex Vets Inc.). Practicing across Florida, New York, and Virginia via licensed telehealth. Reviews every clinical article on RexVet before publication.