Old Dog Seizures: Why They Happen & What To Do

Caring for an older buddy can be a blessing and challenge all the same – but let’s admit it: dealing with panting, shaking, or even seizures in old dogs can be pretty scary! So we’ve covered more about what these behaviors mean, how to handle old dog seizures, and how monitoring your dog’s sleep can help you catch on to a health issue early.

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Shaking in old dogs

Just like humans, dogs can suffer from seizures too. In fact, seizures are among the most commonly-reported neurological conditions in dogs.¹ And since dogs tend to live shorter lives than us humans, they do also age more rapidly than us.

But while it’s common for dogs to develop tremors in their hind or front legs as they get older, shaking can also indicate that the dog is:

• In pain
• Excited
• Nauseous
• …or suffering from a more serious illness

And here’s some reassuring news: only a small percentage of dogs are likely to experience seizures in their lifetime.²

What might cause my dog to shake more than usual?

You might find your senior dog shaking as a result of excitement – or some of these more concerning reasons:

• Old age
• Pain
• Poisoning
• A neurological disorder
• Kidney failure
• Adrenal gland disease
• Anxiety

As in the case with panting, if you suspect that your old dog is shaking too much or abnormally, take a trip to your vet who will be able to complete a full health assessment of your dog.

⚠️ Besides occurring while they’re up and about, your dog might also experience shaking or twitching while asleep. Which, with time, can mess up their sleep cycles – and worsen their health down the line. A Sleep Tracker for dogs can help you pick up on these disturbances quicker and easier, so you can take action early on.

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Old dog seizures

Seizures in old dogs are not a typical sign of aging. Only a small percentage of dogs will experience a seizure at some point in their lives. Seizures can occur in dogs of all ages – and both while they’re awake or asleep.

But before we all panic – old dog seizures are still different from them twitching or shaking while asleep. (Which may be due to completely benign reasons, like your dog simply dreaming or reacting to a sound, while still asleep.)

⚠️ However, if you’re noticing them twitching while asleep, it may be a result of a seizure as well.³ So here are some of the key differences between regular sleep – or if your dog is experiencing a seizure:

Causes of seizures in dogs

• Environmental causes
  For example, if your dog ingests a poisonous toxin
• Illness
  Such as brain tumors, epilepsy, brain trauma, liver disease, kidney failure, diabetes, or Cushing’s disease
• Genetic predisposition
  Certain breeds are more likely to experience a seizure than others.

Which dog breeds are prone to seizures?

The condition of idiopathic (or primary) epilepsy, for example, is a major cause of seizures in dogs. It is most often inherited in these dog breeds:

• Australian Shepherds
• Belgian Tervuren
• Beagles
• Bernese Mountain Dogs
• Border Collies, Border Terriers
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
• Dachshunds
• English Springer Spaniels
• Finnish Spitz
• German Shepherds
• Golden Retrievers and Labradors
• Irish Wolfhounds
• Keeshond
• Lagotto Romagnolos
• Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens
• Shetland Sheepdogs
• Standard Poodles
• Vizslas³.

⚠️ Watch out though: epilepsy – as well as non-epileptic seizures – can occur in dogs of any breed or age! So even if your dog falls into one of the breed categories above, it does not necessarily mean that he or she will suffer from a seizure at some point in life. Other factors may also play a role – like, for example, your dog’s sex. (With male dogs being more susceptible to seizures than female dogs⁵.)

Most importantly, you should learn how to recognize when your dog is having a seizure, so that if this condition affects your dog someday, you’ll be prepared to take the appropriate action to ensure his safety.

Symptoms of seizures in old dogs

If your dog experiences a seizure while awake, it may typically include:

• Collapsing – often falling to the side
• Jerking or stiffening
• Muscle twitching
• Loss of consciousness
• Chewing the tongue or chomping
• Drooling or foaming at the mouth
• Urinating or defecating

Witnessing your buddy have a seizure can be heart-wrenching – and it’s understandable if you feel helpless or unsure what to do. So here are some steps you can take to handle it.

What to do if your dog has a seizure

If your dog is experiencing a seizure, here’s what you should do to ensure the best outcome:

• Stay calm.
• Remove any objects nearby which could potentially hurt your dog.
• Keep away from the dog’s head and mouth and do not put anything in their mouth.
• Time the seizure if possible.
• Cool your dog down by putting a fan on them or cold water on their paws.
• Talk softly to your dog to help him calm down. Avoid touching them.
• Take your dog to the vet immediately once the seizure has ended.

When it comes to old dog seizures, an early diagnosis is always best. Do not let the condition go untreated – at the first sign of a seizure, contact your vet. Your vet will perform a physical exam of the dog, and if possible, prescribe medicine to prevent and control the seizures.

Where Sleep Tracking helps you catch on to a seizure early

Now if you’ve followed these steps, you can successfully intervene if your buddy has a seizure while awake. But how about when they’re sleep? (And especially since you need to get their own sleep?)

💡With a Sleep Tracker for dogs, you can monitor how well your buddy’s sleeping, how often their sleep might’ve been disturbed, and any change in their sleep cycles. So you can take action and get them to a vet before their health takes a turn for the worse.

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And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.

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Your furry friend’s health and wellbeing means as much as to us as it does to you. So we’ve made it a priority to only share medically-relevant content on our blog.

This post was checked, double-checked, and medically verified by Georgia-based vet, Dr. Dwight Alleyne.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Dr. Alleyne began his career at a no-kill animal shelter before becoming a licensed veterinary technician. He graduated from Cornell University Veterinary College in 2006 and completed an internship at Purdue University.

Now practicing in Georgia, Dr. Alleyne specializes in soft tissue surgery and ultrasounds. He also writes pet health articles on his website, “The Animal Doctor Blog” (www.anmldrblog.com).