Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Pit Bull Terrier | Male | neutered
Should a dog with epilepsy be home alone for multiple hours a day?
3 Answers
Published on February 24th, 2016
It isn't ideal but unfortunately most pet owners have to work. If your pet is on anti-seizure medication(s) then it would be assumed that most of the major seizures are under control. If the seizures are not under control and you are worrying about seizures occurring during the hours that you are not home then an adjustment in his ant-seizure medications may be needed and you should discuss this with your vet. It is not unheard of to have a pet on multiple anti-seizure meds because they all work on different areas of the brain. So to sum it up, if your pet is not having seizures on the days and hours that you are home and you are not seeing any evidence of break through seizures while you are gone (i.e. urine or feces on the floor, knocked over house ware, dazed pet with altered mentation when you come home), then it is safe to say that your pets seizures are probably being managed well. Another option is to have a camera surveillance set up in your house if you are still concerned.
28Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Published on
That depends on the frequency and duration of the seizures. Of course it would be better, if someone is at home when a seizure happens, so that the dog can be taken to a vet if the seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer. But usually, unless seizures happen multiple times a day or the dog is not stable on seizure medication, there is very little you can do other than wait it out. So whether the dog can be home alone depends on the individual. Best ask your vet who knows your dog and can assess the situation.
18Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Published on March 25th, 2019
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Without knowing the reason for this dog's seizures and how severe they are when he has them, it's hard to know how safe he will be alone. Seizures are unpredictable, so there is always a chance that he could have a seizure while you weren't home. Obviously being with your dog 24/7 is not feasible, so I would recommend being as consistent as possible with his medications, and having him crated or at least in a very safe place where he cannot hurt himself if he were to have a seizure at home. Ie make sure he cannot fall down a flight of stairs. He may have a seizure while you're gone, but at least he will be in a safe place. A single seizure is not as dangerous as something called status epilepticus, which means a dog is seizuring constantly and does not stop for over 2-3 minutes. While this is rare, this is life-threatening, and always a risk with seizure patients. I hope this is helpful!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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