If a seizure is happening right now
Look at the clock first. If the seizure has lasted 5 minutes or more, or your dog has had more than one seizure without fully recovering between them, veterinary guidance is clear: this is an emergency. Call your vet or the nearest emergency clinic now and head there.
If it started moments ago: stay calm, keep hands away from the mouth, move furniture clear, and keep timing. Most seizures end on their own within a few minutes.
What's typical, and what's not
A seizure can feel much longer than it is when you are watching your dog go through it. Many stop within a few minutes, but the time on the clock matters. Recovery afterwards can also be distressing to watch.
The ACVIM emergency-care consensus published in 2024 identifies five minutes as the point when a continuing seizure needs emergency treatment. This is called status epilepticus. Repeated seizures without recovery of consciousness are also an emergency. Prolonged seizures can cause overheating and brain injury, so do not wait at home to see whether one will stop.
Cornell’s guide to idiopathic epilepsy also advises emergency care for a seizure over five minutes and for multiple seizures in a short window.
While it's happening
- Time it. Note the clock when it starts. The duration helps your vet understand what happened.
- Keep your hands away from the mouth. Dogs cannot swallow their tongue. They may bite without being aware of it.
- Clear the area. Move nearby objects away if you can do so safely. Keep your dog away from stairs, ledges and water without restraining them or putting your hands near their mouth.
- Lower the stimulation. Dim lights, quiet voices, other pets out of the room.
- If someone else is there, film it. A short video can help your vet see what happened, as long as filming does not delay care or put anyone at risk.
After it stops
The period after a seizure is called the post-ictal phase. Disorientation, pacing, temporary blindness, wobbliness, thirst and hunger are all common, and it can last minutes to hours. Keep the room calm and block the stairs until your dog is steady again. If recovery is worrying you or your dog is not returning to normal, call your vet.
Once your dog is safe, write down what you saw while it's fresh:
- start time and duration
- what the movements looked like, and whether your dog was conscious
- anything unusual in the hours before
- how long recovery took
If you'd rather have a sheet ready on the fridge for this, the free printable seizure log has a space for each of those.
When to involve your vet
- Always after a first seizure, even a short one. Cornell advises a veterinary exam after any first-time seizure.
- Call now if there is another seizure within 24 hours, even if your dog seemed to recover between them. More on that in the cluster seizures guide.
- Immediately for anything at or past five minutes, or repeated seizures without full recovery between them.
Ask your vet before changing any medication. If you're unsure whether your dog needs to be seen, call and describe what happened.
Sources
Sources checked on 1 October 2026.