Dog or Cat Having a Seizure: What to Do Right Now
Watching your pet have a seizure is frightening. Try to stay calm — what you do in the first few minutes and what you note down help your vet decide on treatment.
During the seizure
Time it. Check the clock when it starts and when it ends.
Film it if you can. A video of the seizure is very important for the vet's assessment.
Keep your pet away from stairs, bed edges, or objects that could hurt them.
Don't put your hand or anything else in their mouth.
Dim the lights and keep things quiet.
After the seizure stops
Your pet may seem confused, wobbly, or disoriented for a while. Let them rest somewhere quiet and safe, and watch whether they become alert and stable again.
What your vet will want to know
Duration: When did it start, and how long did it last?
History: Is this the first seizure, or has it happened before?
Current state: Alert and stable, or still confused and wobbly?
Video: A recording, if you have one.
Possible poisoning: Could your pet have swallowed something toxic?
It's an emergency if
The seizure lasts more than 2 minutes
Seizures happen more than once in 24 hours
Your pet is unconscious or doesn't return to normal afterwards
The seizure follows possible poisoning
In these cases, don't wait for an appointment — contact us right away, or go straight to the nearest 24-hour emergency vet, especially outside clinic hours.
Even a short seizure needs a check-up
A first seizure — even a brief one where your pet seems to recover — should still be checked by a vet to find the cause.
Help from Modernvet
Contact the Modernvet team through the app or WhatsApp and send the seizure video. We'll assess how urgent it is and help schedule an exam. Seizures are always treated as top priority at Modernvet.
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