What to Do When a Pet Has a Seizure in Your Care
You're mid-shift at daycare or in the grooming salon, a client's dog is suddenly on his side, rigid, paddling his legs. Your heart is pounding and every pair of eyes in the room is on you.
If you run a pet business, a seizure in your care isn't a question of if but when. Dogs and cats can have seizures for many reasons, and you may be the first person to ever see one happen. How you respond in those first few minutes protects the pet, protects your team, and protects your reputation.
Here's exactly what to do.
What a seizure can look like
Not every seizure looks dramatic. Know the signs so you can recognize one fast:
Collapsing, falling to the side, or becoming stiff
Paddling or jerking legs, twitching, or muscle tremors
Drooling, foaming at the mouth, or chomping
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Unresponsiveness, or a blank, glassy stare
Less obvious signs: snapping at imaginary flies, sudden confusion, or odd repetitive behavior
(Most seizures last between 30 seconds and two minutes. It will feel much, much longer)
Step 1: Stay calm and start the clock
Take a breath. Note the exact time the seizure started, or ask a colleague to. How long the seizure lasts is the most important piece of information for the vet, and it's the number you'll need to decide whether this is an emergency. Take a video of the seizure if safe to do so. This will greatly help the vet,
Step 2: Make the area safe
Your job is to protect the pet from injury, not to stop the seizure.
Move furniture, bowls, crates, and anything sharp or hard away from the pet
Block stairs or ledges
Move other animals away to a separate room
Dim the lights and turn off loud noise if you can
Place a soft towel or blanket near, but not over, the pet's head if it's lying on a hard floor
Step 3: Do not put your hands near the mouth
This is the myth that gets people bitten. Pets cannot swallow their tongues, and anything you put in their mouth can injure them or you. Unconscious pets have no control over their jaws, and a bite during a seizure is not aggression, it's involuntary.
Don't restrain the pet, hold them down, or try to pick them up unless they're in immediate danger.
Step 4: Watch for overheating
Seizures can raise body temperature quickly. If the pet feels hot, you can place a fan nearby or put cool (not ice-cold) wet towels on their paws and belly. Don't pour water over their head, and don't use ice.
Step 5: Know when it's an emergency
Call the nearest emergency vet right away, don't wait, if:
The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
The pet has more than one seizure in a row or several within 24 hours (this is called cluster seizures)
The pet doesn't begin to recover afterward
It's the pet's first known seizure
You suspect a toxin, such as chocolate, xylitol, antifreeze, rodent bait, or a medication
There's been a head injury, heatstroke, or difficulty breathing
The pet is very young, very old, or a small breed (low blood sugar can be a trigger)
When in doubt, call. A vet would always rather hear from you than not.
Step 6: Care for the pet afterward
Once the seizure ends, the pet enters the post-ictal phase. This can last minutes to hours, and the pet may seem:
Disoriented, wobbly, or temporarily blind
Anxious, restless, or pacing
Extremely thirsty or hungry
Unaware of where they are or who you are
Keep them in a quiet, dim, secure space. Speak softly, stay nearby, and don't crowd them. Keep them from stairs, and don't offer food or water until they can stand steadily and swallow normally.
Step 7: Contact the owner and document everything
Call the owner as soon as the pet is safe. Be calm, factual, and clear: what you saw, how long it lasted, and how the pet is now. Ask if they have a regular vet, and arrange pick-up or transport.
Then write an incident report while it's fresh. Include:
Date, time, and location
When the seizure began and ended
What the pet was doing beforehand
What you observed (body movements, drooling, loss of bladder control)
Recovery behavior and how long it lasted
Who you contacted, and when
Any possible triggers, such as heat, excitement, something the pet ate, or a new environment
A short phone video can help the vet too, as long as filming doesn't delay your response.
Prepare yourself or the team before it happens
The middle of a seizure is the wrong time to be working out what to do. A few simple steps make a big difference:
Write a seizure protocol and keep it somewhere staff can find it, such as next to your first aid kit
Know your nearest 24-hour emergency vet and keep the number posted
Ask about medical/seizure history at intake, including medications
Run practice drills of various emergency scenarios so everyone knows their role
Get everyone trained in pet first aid, so they respond with confidence, not panic
Be the pet care provider known for safety
A calm, well-prepared response is one of the strongest signals you can send to pet owners that their animals are safe with you.
Want you or the whole team to feel ready for moments like this? Get in touch with Bluebell Pet Care about a hands-on pet first aid course for your staff.
Or start learning now with my digital guides that are in an instant download format.
This article is for general education and isn't a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If a pet is having a seizure, contact a veterinarian immediately.
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