Many owners whose dogs have seizures ask whether CBD oil could help. Researchers are asking the same question:early studies at Colorado State University have looked at CBD given alongside standard seizure medication, and more research is under way. Here is what owners should know, starting with the seizures themselves.

A note from Penelope’s Bloom
CBD is not a treatment for seizures and is not a replacement for seizure medication. If your dog has a seizure, call your veterinarian. Always talk to your vet before adding CBD to your dog’s routine.

What causes seizures in dogs, and what are the different types? Below we cover the common causes, how to help your dog during a seizure, and what the research on CBD says so far.

What are Seizures in Dogs?

Seizures in dogs aresudden, uncontrollable, and involuntaryelectrical brain activity, which alters your dog’s consciousness. Depending on where the seizure occurs in the dog’s brain will determine how the dog will manifest signs and symptoms.

Common signs of a seizure in dogs are:

Loss of muscle control
Unconsciousness
Kicking or pedaling
Twitching or rigid stiffness
Abnormal barking or noises
Chomping and licking
Foaming at the mouth
Loss of bowel and bladder control

Generally, a seizure isnot a disease but a symptom of something that is not working right in the body or brain. Depending on your dog’s condition, the seizure can be mild or severe. The American Kennel Club reports thatabout5% of dogs suffer from seizures regularly.

If your dog experiences a seizure, you should contact your veterinarian immediately to diagnose the cause.

What Causes Seizures in Dogs?

Several factors can causes seizures in dogs. Some of the more common causes are:

Severe trauma or accident that causes brain injury
Idiopathic Epilepsy
Genetic conditions
Brain infections
Brain tumors
Inflammatory disorders
Low blood sugar
Liver failure and other metabolic conditions
Hormonal disorders
Electrolyte imbalances
Ingesting toxins

Because such a wide variety ofaccidental or hereditary issues can cause seizures, it is best tohave a veterinarian examine your dogto determine the underlining conditions. Once diagnosed, your vet will be able to prescribe a safe and appropriate treatment option.

Related Link:Organic Dog Food? Our Thoughts

What Are Different Types of Seizures in Dogs?

When your dog experiences a seizure, it can be unsettling and disturbing to the dog’s owner. By understanding the different types of seizures in dogs, you’ll be able to assess how best to help and treat your dog.

Generalized

Themost common type of seizure in dogs, a generalized seizure, happens on both sides of the brain and affects the whole body. A generalized seizure can last for a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the severity.

Your dog may lose consciousness and convulse uncontrollably. This may cause them to lose bladder and bowel control and foam at the mouth, chomp, bark, or whine. Your dog’s breathing may also become very uneven.

Tonic

A tonic seizure occurs whenthe dog’s body or limps become stiff or tense very suddenly. A tonic seizure will occur in most of the brain, which will affect the whole body, and usually, the dog will drop to the ground. Your dog should remain conscious and may make strange noises. Tonic seizures typically last less than a minute.

Tonic-Clonic

A Tonic-clonic seizurehappens in two phases. The first phase will be a tonic seizure, which will cause your dog’s body and limps to become stiff and rigid. During the second phase, the dog will experience a clonic seizure where the dog may lose consciousness, and the dog’s limbs will jerk and convulse rapidly.

A tonic-clonic seizurecan last for a few minutes and may cause your dog to lose bowel and bladder control. If the episode lasts longer than five minutes, you should contact your vet immediately.

Atonic

A milder seizure, atonic seizuresmay affect all or part of the dog’s body. An atonic seizure causes your dog’s body tobecome limp suddenly. Your dog’s head or body may drop to the ground. The limpness should only last less than thirty seconds.

Myoclonic

Often mistaken for tics, myoclonic seizures are sudden, rapid muscle contractions that only last a few seconds. While less severe, myoclonic episodes can be a symptom of a bigger problem. If your dog experiences these types of seizures regularly, you may want to see your vet.

Looking for everyday joint support? Try ourCBD dog treats for joint comfort and mobility.

Focal seizure

Focal seizures onlyaffect a half or part of the brain. This type of abnormal electrical brain activity can create a wide range of symptoms depending on the part of the brain it occurs. Themost common sign is twitching on one side of the body that only lasts a few seconds. If left untreated, focal seizures can lead to generalized seizures.

Partial seizure

Difficult to diagnose, partial seizures affect dog behavior. Depending on how it affects the dog’s brain, the dog’s conduct may be altered by:

Barking at random objects
Suddenly stopping an activity
Looking or staring blankly

The dog’s absent-minded behavior only lasts a few seconds, which is why it may be dismissed as odd behavior. If your dog repeatedly has episodes of the same bizarre behavior, it may be a partial seizure.

Cluster

Cluster seizures aretwo or more seizures that occur within 24 hours. Often the dog will suffer several episodes within a short timeframe. Your dog may be conscious between seizures, which is the main difference between cluster seizures and status epilepticus.

Status Epilepticus

Status epilepticus occurs when your dog’s seizurelasts more than five minutes, or yourdog fails to regain consciousness between seizures. If your dog experiences a status epilepticus seizure, you should contact your vet immediately because this type of attack is very dangerous.

Status epilepticus is an emergency. No supplement, CBD included, prevents it, so ask your vet for an emergency plan and keep it somewhere easy to find.

What to Do if Your Dog Has a Seizure

Watching your dog have a seizure can be frightening, disturbing, and heartbreaking. When your dog has an episode, there are several things you can do to help your dog and monitor your dog:

Do not hold your dog or try to restrain them. Often, owners can be bit because the dog is not in control.
Instead, clear the area around your dog of anything dangerous to your dog during their seizure, especially objects with sharp corners. If you have other pets, keep them clear of the dog having the seizure.
Take note of the time and duration of the seizure and write it down. If your dog experiences several seizures, you’ll want to have an accurate record to share with your vet.
Speak calmly to your dog to comfort them during the seizure.
Have a towel ready to clean up if your dog involuntarily loses control of their bladder or bowels.
Once the seizure ends, you can cradle your dog using pillows and blankets. They will need to rest.
Once they are more alert, you can give your dog some water for hydration.

How to Treat a Dog With Seizures

If your dog experiencesfrequent seizures, or the seizurelasts more than two minutes, you’ll want totake your dog to the vet. The veterinarian can accurately diagnose the type of attack andprescribe a care plan that may include prescription medication. But these medications are only prescribed for severe or reoccurring seizures.

Some owners ask their vet about adding CBD to their dog’s daily routine alongside that plan. CBD is not an alternative to prescription seizure medication, and medication should never be stopped or changed without your vet.

What Does the Research Say About CBD and Dogs with Seizures?

Research into CBD and canine epilepsy is still early. Asmall 2019 Colorado State University pilot study gave CBD to dogs alongside their usual seizure medication, and the researchers described the results as encouraging but called for larger studies before drawing conclusions. CBDhas not been approved by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease in pets, sotalk to your vet first, especially if your dog already takes seizure medication.

If you and your vet decide CBD is worth adding to your dog’s everyday wellness routine, choose a product with published lab reports. OurCBD Oil Tincture for Dogs is made with organic full-spectrum hemp extract, comes with a marked dropper for easy dosing, and every batch isthird-party lab tested for potency and purity.

How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog?

How much CBD to give depends mainly on your dog’s weight. Start low, go slow, and agree on the amount with your vet, especially if your dog takes other medication. OurCBD dosage chart for dogs and cats gives starting amounts by weight for every bottle strength.

Bottom Line

It is a difficult thing to deal with a dog who suffers from frequent seizures. You want to help your dog and minimize these awful episodes. To best help your dog,make sure to record the duration, symptoms, and effects of every seizure. Thentalk to your veterinarian about the best treatment options.

If your vet agrees, CBD can be one part of your dog’s everyday wellness routine, alongside the plan your vet prescribes and never instead of it.

Penelope's Bloom CBD oil and treats for dogs

Lab tested every batch