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My healthy dog had a seizure for the first time. What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Female | spayed | 3 years and 6 months old

My dog, jack Russell, had what I am assuming was a tonic like seizure the vet was not too concerned as there was no foaming, no peeing or pooping just stiffness and trembling. Then 2 hours ish after the first episode he had another clonic like seizure where she was fully aware with no stiffness just trembling each lasting approximately 2 minutes. What should we do? No past episodes like this completely out of the blue and otherwise healthy dog.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on July 22nd, 2019

I always recommend blood work to start with in any dog that started having seizures. There are a few things that could be diagnosed on blood work that could cause seizures, such as liver disease, kidney disease, electrolyte abnormalities, and infection. If the blood work is normal. Your vet will likely recommend that you continue to monitor Harley for seizure activity. Some dogs will have a seizure or two early in their life and never again. But some develop epilepsy that needs to start on medications. I generally wait to start medications until one of the following occur: -many seizures clustered together -seizures that are severe and cause bodily harm -the pet does not recover within 45 minutes after a seizure (should be tired, but otherwise normal) -seizures are occurring regularly (ie every month or two) Here is an article you may find helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/seizures-1/

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    Answered By Dr. B. DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 18th, 2019

    Your vet is absolutely giving you good medical advice to request intermittent bloodwork for your pets safety with anti seizure medication. Monitoring blood levels of these meds can be important as well if loss of seizure control occurs to know whether to adjust doses or add another medication (such as Keppra). You will have to speak with your vet about weaning or changing meds, but if seizure control is acheived we do not typically change or wean unless side effects occur. It sounds like it has taken some time to find a good combination for him so i would not rock the boat. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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