As a vet student, I've got lots of experience with seizures in dogs. Also one of my huskies had 1 seizure, and never had another. We think it was due to an antibiotic -she had a weird reaction.

As far as hypoglycemia-induced seizures go, you usually see signs of lethargy or a dazed and confused type look for a time before a seizure starts. Also even though toy breeds are susceptible, it is usually in rapidly-growing puppies, not in adult dogs unless they have some abnormal metabolism. Another cause of seizures in young toy breed dogs is a portosystemic shunt (abnormal blood vessels in liver). This causes part of the liver to die down. Usually the owner notices a smaller-than-normal dog (much smaller than the littermates), and they act strange after eating- may head press, get lost or stuck in a corner, slobber a lot, or have seizures. In a chihuahua, head trauma can be a cause especially if it has a fontanelle.

In dogs 2-6 years old the most common cause is idiopathic epilepsy, which means we don't know why they have seizures. Bloodwork is usually done to rule out other metabolic causes, but for the most part it ends up being normal. If the seizures are frequent or severe, the dog is put on medication such as potassium bromide or phenobarbital.

In dogs over 6, it is better to more thoroughly check out a cause of seizures. Bloodwork can rule out metabolic causes, but often we worry about brain diseases, and advanced imaging is needed.

So it really depends on the age of the dog. If he is an older dog, I'd be more worried than if he was in the 2-6 range. Congenital problems such as the shunt can be corrected but it is an expensive surgery.

Your vet should be able to discuss your options, depending on the age of your dog. Good luck.

Our female minilabradoodle had two seizures in one day, both grand mal with loss of bowel and bladder control, rigid body and jerking, eyes dialiated and drooling. Each lasted a little over a minute with another minute of coming out of it until she seemed to recognize us. The blood work turned out normal and there was no identifiable reason for it. Her sibling was fine - they eat the same food, go out in the same yard, etc. The first one was just after she had come in from outside for the first time in the morning and was settling back down to sleep in our bed. The second was about 5 hours later and she was falling asleep behind me while I was talking on the phone to my daughter in law who works for a vet and we were researchingcauses for seizures. The vet put her on Phenobarbital for three months and we slowly weaned her off of it over a month or so. She only had those two and no more - has been off the medicine since Jan.

I do try to feed her on a pretty stirct schedule - which I hadn't done at the time of the seizures. She was 16 months old at the time.

I agree - it was really scary - I knew what was happening though as I had a child in my kindergarten class one year with seizures and saw a couple of them. Very similiar.

We had a 16-year-old Jack Russell Terrier who developed hypoglycemic seizures last fall due to pancreatic cancer. If the seizures turn out to be hypoglycemic (rather than brain-based), talk to your vet or do some research online to see about diet changes you can make that can help.

Typically I could give her a lick or two of Karo Syrup or icing-in-a-tube when she seemed a little shaky and started with the eyebrow twitching (her indicator), and the shaking would just peter out, but once a seizure was underway, she was too disoriented and unable to swallow, and the seizure would just have to run its course.

We managed the seizures quite well for her final 3 months by feeding small meals every 4 hours around the clock, including some cooked brown rice (complex carb) in every meal. Once we started with the modified diet, we managed to prevent all but one major seizure in that time - that one started while she was in another room, and was well underway by the time I noticed.

Of course, her condition was terminal, so we knew it was a losing battle, but we were able to bring her in for a gentle landing and we had a lot of laughs and good times right to the end with our beloved friend. She finally gave me "the look" one day, and I knew it was time to call it quits. Her last day was a celebration (including steaks on the grill), and I achieved my goals - she trotted into the vet's office under her own power and in good spirits. Instead of in the midst of a painful, frightening medical crisis.

Good luck - major seizures are just awful to witness, and you feel so helpless. I would just about cry when she would look up at me and wag her tail after coming around.

Susan

I had a dog who had seizures late in life. The worse part, IMO, were the post seizure panic attacks. He had a brain tumor that we decided not to operate on, because of his age (he was 14 and already experience mobility problems due to arthritis in his hips and spine).

So we mainly focused on keeping him comfortable, and minimizing his seizures. We did discover that a bit of food and water helped him to destress after a seizure.

I have been living with an epileptic dog for three years and I remember the first visit to the vets. Good luck! I think the scariest part is not knowing what is going on. If it does turn out to be idiopathic epilepsy, it can be a very managable disease.

I have a ninety pound dog and he has a grand mal seizure about once a month. He's on twice daily medication. It sounds like a lot, but he's a great dog and well worth it. One good thing about having a small dog is that yours won't knock over furniture like mine does! I can tell when he's about to have a seizure so I can sort of prepare myself. After three years, it's still a bit frightening, but you get more used to it!

I wonder if it does turn out to be low blood sugar if you could find one of those automatic feeders (I think more common for cats) and allow your pup to have small meals during the day if you work outside the home.

I have an australian shepherd that has epilepsy and seizures. He began having them when he was about two years old. Diet and medication are extremely important in an epi dog's life. In addition, it is extremely important that you obtain the best diagnosis for WHY your dog is having seizures.

The two most common diagnoses are Hypo (NOT HYPER) thyroidism, and common epilepsy.

My Mocha has common and began with a seizure each week for two months, then a cluster (many in one day). With good medication, we've achieved one per year. Lately, he's had 3 (all this year which worries me greatly), but we attribute it to outside factors (diet, scents, other factors).

The best thing I ever found to help me with his seizures was the "Epi Guardian Angels" list. They are a site/group devoted to people who have epileptic dogs or dogs with seizure trouble. You may review the website and contact them at the link below. I am extremely grateful to this group for all of their help.

I will quote directly from thier site:

"Our goal is to provide information on canine epilepsy and other diseases, including canine hypothyroidism, that cause seizures in dogs. Our canine epilepsy section provides information about canine epilepsy, what happens when your dog has a seizure, possible causes of seizures by age, what tests are used to diagnose canine epilepsy, and information from our Guardian Angels on what they would do differently "if they knew then what they know now."

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/

we have a 2.5 year old black lab that has them every now and then. he first loses control of his back legs, starts dragging them or falling over, then his whole body goes rigid and trembles. after about a minute, as he starts to come out of it, he starts drooling and peeing. then he slowly gets control back, usually starting with his head and last thing is his hind legs about 2-3 minutes after the first symptoms. MOST of the time they come on if he is startled and awoken from sleep, but he won't have them eveyr time he is startled awake. the vet said that no more frequent than they are, and because all the tests show negative, to live with it. he would rather not put him on drugs "just because", if it can ever be determined what is causing them or if they become more frequent, then he would feel comfortable with drugs. but for now, since it is maybe 1 a month for the most part, not to worry.

he has done this since about age 2. he has had 3 in one day once, but that was the only time. usually it is just once a month or even once every couple months. after seeing the post about having them when not eating, i am beginning to wonder if that may be part of his problem. he is a real finicky eater, soemtimes his food will sit for 2 days untouched. other times he will devour it as we pour it and then want more. doc says he is just like that, nothing shows up as to why he would not eat. his teeth are good, no GI problems, and we have switched his food several times. we lean more towards the fact tha tour daughter likes for him to eat what she does, so he thinks he should have people food. he has got to teh point that if you are eating a burger and fries and give him a fry, he won't eat it until he is sure your burger is gone and there is no chance he will get a bite!

I ditto the epilepsy guardian angels support group. I have several friends on there and they are a great support group.

My 8 yr old multipoo has had seizures since i brought him home at 8 weeks. He'll start drooling (his chin and chest are soaked) then he starts the seizure, Or he jump up and run like &*(^ then drops with the seizure it's like he knows it's coming. i've tried karo suryp, nutiacal paste dosen't help so i just hold jim until he over it. They are intermittent so we just live with it.