Epilepsy describes the condition in humans and animals of recurring seizures. Just like humans, some dogs experience mild to severe epilepsy with some 0.5-5.7% of dogs experiencing epilepsy. There are different types of seizures and different forms of epilepsy, and while plenty of dogs have mild seizures from time to time and get on fine, the more and longer seizures a dog experiences, the more severe potential neurological damage can be.
A seizure is often terrifying to witness – you dog will fall to one side and you’ll see his muscles and limbs tense and spasm. He may lose bladder or bowel control, pant, drool, etc. and it’s often a violent experience. Normally, seizures last for only a few moments, but if they persist longer than five minutes, you should call a vet. When most dogs come out of a seizure, they’ll act dazed for a few hours or a day, but they’ll go about their lives as if nothing happened. When it comes to more severe epilepsy, that can cause more permanent problems. With any mild or severe epilepsy or seizures, CBD is proven to help in both humans and in dogs to reduce the amount and the severity of seizures. In humans, resources and research are being poured into using CBD to treat epilepsy in children.
There are some warning signs that a seizure is coming, but they are often hard to spot. If you know your dog experiences epilepsy or seizures and he randomly starts acting stressed, scared, or dazed, he might be on the brink of a seizure. Some pet owners say their dogs seek out companionship right before a seizure, while others may hide. Our best advice is to consult your vet and to observe your pets habits so that you can understand what a seizure looks like for your animal.