When your pet has a seizure, it can be a frightening and confusing experience. You may be left wondering what caused it, whether it will happen again and whether there could be something else going on beneath the surface.
Seizures can occur for many different reasons. In some animals there is an underlying neurological condition such as epilepsy, but they can also occur secondary to other health conditions, metabolic changes or exposure to certain substances.
When there isn’t an obvious explanation, it can be helpful to look at the bigger picture.
What was happening in your pet’s body, diet and environment before the first seizure?
While this won’t always reveal the cause, keeping track of changes can provide useful information to discuss with your veterinarian.
Potential causes of seizures in animals
There are many possible causes of seizures and identifying the underlying cause is important.
Some seizures can be associated with conditions affecting the brain, while others may occur due to metabolic disturbances, illness or exposure to certain toxic substances.
Potential environmental exposures can include medications, pesticides, household chemicals and other substances that animals may accidentally ingest or come into contact with.
This doesn’t mean that a toxin is responsible for every seizure. However, if your pet has experienced a sudden neurological event, it’s worth thinking about what may have changed around the time it occurred.
What to look for before your pet’s first seizure
Think back to the days, weeks or months before your pet’s first episode.
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- Did you change their diet or introduce a new supplement?
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- Did they start a new medication or receive a flea, tick or other treatment?
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- Were pesticides, cleaning products or other chemicals used around the home or yard?
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- Could they have accessed something they shouldn’t have?
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- Were they unwell or recovering from an illness?
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- Did they experience an unusually stressful event?
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- Did they recently receive a vaccination or booster?
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- Did you notice changes in their appetite, digestion, behaviour or elimination?
The timing of these events doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a connection, but recording them can help you and your veterinarian identify potential patterns.
We recommend keeping a simple record of your pet’s diet, medications, treatments, environmental changes, symptoms and seizure episodes. This can be particularly useful if seizures become recurrent.
Supporting your pet after a seizure
Once your pet has experienced a seizure, the priority is identifying and managing any underlying cause. There are also some general areas you can focus on to support their overall wellbeing.
Reduce unnecessary environmental exposures
You can’t remove every environmental exposure from your pet’s life, but you can be mindful of what they come into contact with.
Keep household chemicals, pesticides and medications safely stored and always use products according to their directions.
If you suspect your pet has been exposed to something potentially toxic, seek veterinary advice promptly rather than attempting to manage the exposure at home.
Support eliminative organs
Your pet’s body has its own natural processes for maintaining balance and eliminating waste. Good nutrition, adequate hydration, regular bowel movements and a healthy digestive system all contribute to overall wellbeing.
Providing fresh, species-appropriate nutrition and ensuring your pet has access to clean drinking water are simple foundations for good health.
Supporting liver, kidneys and digestive health is important to ensure your pet is able to deal with exposure to mild exposure of everyday toxins from food & the environment.
Consider nutritional and herbal support
Once any underlying medical concerns have been investigated, nutritional and herbal support may be considered as part of your pet’s broader wellness routine.
Many herbs have a long history of traditional use for supporting normal liver and digestive function. Milk thistle, for example, is traditionally used to support healthy liver function and Dandelion is known to support liver and kidneys. Moringa and Lions Mane may also be used for overall support.
Other natural products may also have a role depending on your individual animal’s needs. It’s important to consider any existing health conditions and medications before introducing new supplements.
Looking at the bigger picture
There isn’t always one simple explanation for why an animal experiences a seizure.
Looking at your pet’s overall health, diet, environment and recent changes may help you gather useful information.
Your pet can’t tell you what happened before a seizure, but their health, habits and environment can give you important pieces of the puzzle.
The more you understand those clues, the better equipped you are to support your pet’s wellbeing.
Looking for more information?
Our holistic support guides are filled with suggestions on diet, natural supplements, nourishing recipes and lifestyle tips. Download instantly and come back to them whenever you need.
If you’d like personal support, you can reach out to our Founder and Naturopath, Julie here.
