# Dog Seizures and Tremors: UK Guide for Owners — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/dog-seizures-and-tremors): Dog Seizures and Tremors: UK Guide for Owners — Quick answer. A generalised seizure involves collapse, rigid or paddling limbs, drooling, and loss of awareness. Keep your dog safe, time the episode, and call your vet afterward — or immediately if a seizure lasts over five minutes, repeats in clusters, or follows toxin exposure. Tremors from fear or cold are different from true seizures.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/dog-seizures-and-tremors): Dog Seizures and Tremors: UK Guide for Owners — Seizures vs tremors. Tremors — shivering when cold, shaking when anxious, or localised head tremors in some breeds — usually stop when the trigger passes. Your dog stays aware and responsive. Seizures — often start with collapse, stiff limbs, rhythmic paddling, jaw chomping, drooling, and loss of consciousness. Afterward, dogs may be disoriented, wobbly, hungry, or temporarily blind — this post-ictal phase can last minutes to hours. Needs investigation: - Any first seizure — even if it stops quickly - Seizures becoming more frequent or longer - Seizures with other illness signs — weight loss, behaviour change, or pale gums - Cluster seizures — more than one in 24 hours

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/dog-seizures-and-tremors): Dog Seizures and Tremors: UK Guide for Owners — Common causes in UK dogs. | Cause | Typical signs | Notes | |-------|---------------|-------| | Idiopathic epilepsy | Seizures in otherwise healthy young to middle-aged dogs | Diagnosis of exclusion | | Toxin exposure | Sudden seizure, vomiting, drooling | See Xylitol poisoning, Chocolate poisoning | | Low blood sugar | Seizures in toy puppies or diabetic dogs | Needs urgent correction | | Liver disease | Seizures with jaundice or vomiting | Blood tests identify cause | | Brain tumour | Progressive seizures, behaviour change | More common in older dogs | | Infection or inflammation | Fever, neck pain, neurological signs | Needs specialist assessment | | Head trauma | Seizure after injury | Emergency care | ### Idiopathic head tremors Some breeds develop harmless head bobbing when alert — often Bull Terriers and Dobermans. The head shakes vertically or horizontally while the dog remains standing and responsive. Video helps your vet distinguish this from seizures.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/dog-seizures-and-tremors): Dog Seizures and Tremors: UK Guide for Owners — When to see a vet urgently. Phone your vet immediately or go to emergency out-of-hours care if: - A seizure lasts more than five minutes - Multiple seizures without full recovery between them - Known or suspected toxin ingestion - Seizure after head trauma - Your dog does not regain consciousness within a reasonable time - First seizure in a puppy or diabetic dog - Seizure with difficulty breathing or pale or blue gums Phone your vet the same day after any first seizure that has stopped — even if your dog seems fine afterward.

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/dog-seizures-and-tremors