It was 2:08 a.m. I remember the time because I’d just gotten up for a drink of water when I heard the strange sound. A thud, then scrabbling on the hardwood floor. I rushed into the living room, and there was Zola, flat on her side, legs twitching, mouth foaming a little.

My heart stopped.

She was having a seizure.

Now, I’m a vet. I’ve handled seizures in the clinic a hundred times. But when it’s your own dog? It’s different. Your brain fogs up. Your hands shake. All your training kind of floats away for a second, and you’re just a terrified dog parent watching your best friend struggle.

If you’ve been through this with your senior dog,  or you’re worried it might happen,  I want to talk to you straight. No fluff. Just what to do, how to stay calm, and how to support your dog through it all.

First Things First: Don’t Panic (Even Though That’s Exactly What You’ll Want to Do)

Seizures look awful. They’re loud, intense, and feel like they last forever, even if it’s just a minute or two. Your dog might stiffen, shake, drool, or even lose control of their bladder.

But here’s the thing: most seizures aren’t painful. Scary, yes. Dangerous if they go on too long, absolutely. But during a seizure, your dog isn’t suffering the way we imagine.

Still, I know that doesn’t make it any easier to watch.

So What Should You Actually Do During a Seizure?

1. Stay back. Don’t try to hold your dog or stop the shaking. You could get bitten by accident. I’ve seen it happen too many times,  even the sweetest dog can snap mid-seizure without knowing it.
   
2. Clear the area. Move furniture, rugs, or anything they might bump into. If they’re near stairs, gently block their path with a cushion.
   
3. Time it. Grab your phone and hit that stopwatch. If it lasts more than 5 minutes, that’s an emergency.
   
4. Stay low, speak soft. Let them hear your voice. “I’m here, it’s okay, you’re okay.” You’re not stopping the seizure, but your presence still matters.
   
5. After it ends, give them space. They’ll be confused. Some dogs pace, pant, or stumble. Others just flop down and sleep hard. Don’t crowd them. Just keep it calm and quiet.
   

What Causes Seizures in Older Dogs?

This is the bit that gets tricky. Seizures in young dogs? Often epilepsy. In seniors, it’s usually something else.

Things like:

• Brain tumors
  
• Liver or kidney disease
  
• Low blood sugar
  
• Stroke-like events
  
• Or plain old “we’re not totally sure”
  

With Zola, we ran bloodwork, did an MRI, checked her meds,  everything. Turns out hers were from a small brain mass. Not cancerous, thank goodness, but still something we had to manage.

The Vet Visit: What to Expect

If your dog’s had their first seizure, even if it’s short, get them checked out. That first visit usually includes:

• Bloodwork (to rule out organ issues)
  
• Neurologic exam
  
• Possibly imaging (MRI or CT if we suspect a brain issue)
  

Bring a video if you caught it. I know, it feels odd to film your dog during something like that, but it’s actually super helpful. We can tell a lot from how the seizure starts, what their body does, and how they recover.

Long-Term Management: What Living With Seizures Really Looks Like

Once we’ve figured out the cause,  or at least ruled out the scary stuff,  we build a plan. That could include:

Medication. Anti-seizure meds like phenobarbital, potassium bromide, or newer ones like levetiracetam. They’re not perfect. But they help.

Consistency. Same time, every day. No skipped doses. You’ll probably become your dog’s personal pharmacist.

Journaling. Keep a seizure log. When it happened, how long, what they were doing before. Patterns help us adjust treatment.

Lifestyle stuff. No flashing lights (if your dog’s sensitive). Avoid big stressors. Keep routines simple and safe.

For us, managing Zola’s seizures became part of life. We added soft rugs in case she collapsed again. Made sure she was never left alone for too long. And we adjusted her meds when she had a cluster (that’s vet speak for more than one in a short time).

When Is It an Emergency?

There are times when a seizure needs immediate help. Don’t wait it out if:

• It lasts longer than 5 minutes
  
• Your dog has more than one in 24 hours
  
• They don’t fully recover between seizures
  
• They go limp or unconscious after
  

That’s what we call status epilepticus or cluster seizures. These need urgent care. Get to your vet or emergency clinic, pronto.

What About Quality of Life?

This one hurts to talk about. But it’s real.

Sometimes, despite meds and effort and hope, seizures keep coming. And they take a toll,  on the dog, on you, on your whole household.

So we always ask the tough questions: Is your dog still enjoying life between seizures? Are they recovering well? Are the meds working, or just making them groggy and spaced out?

You’re not a bad dog parent for asking these things. You’re a brilliant, loving one.

When Zola had a really bad patch,  three seizures in one week,  I sat on the floor next to her, looked her in the eyes, and asked if she was still in there. She was. Still tail-wagging, still following the kids around, still begging for toast crusts.

So we kept going.

A Final Word from the Other Side of It

If your senior dog has had a seizure, I know how gutting that first one can be. The way your stomach drops. The panic. The helplessness.

But I also know that with the right support, a solid vet team, and a bit of grit,  you can navigate this. You can give your dog more good days. You can make their life feel steady again.

And you’re not alone. Not in this. Not ever.

Has your senior dog experienced a seizure recently,  and what’s helped you through it so far?