Canine seizures come in varying types and degrees. Some are only partial, affecting simply one side of the animal's body or even just a small area. A grand mal is the most commonly seen type. Usually, the dog will collapse, salivate heavily, start convulsing, are completely unaware of all surroundings, and can also involuntarily defecate or urinate. A petit mal is similar, but there are no convulsions.

If you are watching very closely, you will see that there are three stages to a seizure. The aura, or pre-phase, is the beginning of the episode. Your pet may whine, seek affection, pace and appear generally restless. Next is the fit itself, known as the ictus. Symptoms include collapsing, vomiting, salivating, and convulsions. The recovery phase, or postictal, can last anywhere from minutes to possibly days. You might notice temporary blindness and the animal seeming to be disoriented.

Veterinary science has yet to discover the exact triggers of these types of episodes. It is thought that the majority of pets tend to seizure when in a high state of excitement. General play, greeting people at the door, waiting for food, and chasing cats would be some examples. Occasionally dogs will have an attack while sleeping. However, if your animal is having spasms in his sleep, but you can wake him up, he was simply dreaming.

Many various conditions can be the cause of episodes of this sort. One of these culprits is called diabetes mellitus. Like humans, canines can have this metabolic disease. The pancreas doe not produce enough insulin, causing dangerously elevated glucose levels. Or sometimes they're too low, which is called hypoglycemia.

Ingestion or overexposure to various toxins can also be a contributing factor. For example, chocolate is highly toxic to dogs. You should never give them any. Another big toxin to watch out for is antifreeze. Also known as ethylene glycol, it has a sweet taste and aroma that is attractive to pets. Even the smallest amount can kill a large canine. Crystals will form on the kidneys, shutting them down and eventually killing the pet slowly.

There is a very deadly virus called canine distemper that also causes fits. Highly contagious and often fatal, it will thoroughly ravage every system in the dog's body in time. It's excruciatingly painful for the animal. However, the virus can easily be avoided if your pet is given the proper vaccination each and every year.

If your veterinarian cannot find an exact cause, either one that was mentioned or one of several others, he will most likely diagnose the dog as epileptic. Epilepsy simply means recurring seizures not associated with another condition. Caused by random firing of neurons in the cerebrum, they're most likely due to a chemical imbalance. It most commonly appears from ages of six months to five years.

If you see your dog experiencing canine seizures, just stay calm. Move him to a safe spot on the floor, and clear the space of small children and other pets. You may be bitten, so don't put your hand in his mouth. Don't worry, he won't swallow his tongue; that's only a myth. Watch the animal closely so you can report to the vet later. However, he should be called immediately if the episode lingers for over three minutes or repeats again right after.