Grand Mal Seizures in Dogs

Seizures in dogs are a result of sudden and abnormal neurological activity and are accompanied by altered consciousness or a loss of consciousness. There are two categories of seizures in dogs: generalized seizures and focal seizures.

Grand Mal Seizures

Generalized seizures, unlike focal seizures, aren't restricted to a particular part of the brain or a particular part of the body, but affect the entire body. Generalized seizures are also called tonic-clonic seizures and are divided into two types, grand mal seizures and petit mal seizures.

Grand mal seizures are the most common of all types of seizures and they are primary seizures which are idiopathic in nature and are believed to be inherited. In the tonic phase of a grand mal seizure, the dog falls to the ground, loses consciousness and his limbs become stretched out rigidly. This phase lasts for 10 to 30 seconds, during which he ceases to breathe. The clonic phase begins at the end of the tonic phase and is characterized by chewing and rapid uncontrolled movement of the legs. Other symptoms that occur during both phases are salivation, incontinence, defecation and dilation of the pupils. After the seizure, the dog will appear lost or drugged for some time. Since he is exhausted, he will sleep it off.

In the worst form of this seizure, the dog suffers multiple grand mal seizure episodes without recovering from the first and can be in this state for hours. This form of seizure is known as Status Epilepticus and can be fatal if not treated immediately. There are different phases of seizure that you should know about. These phases include prodome, aura, ictus and the post-ictal phase.


Certain alterations in your pet's mood or behavior can be observed and pets tend to stay near their owners in this phase.


Pets tend to whine, pace about, hide, salivate, vomit and wander aimlessly in this phase.


The pet has the seizure in this phase and might lose consciousness, thrash about his legs and head, paddle his feet, salivate profusely and might be incontinent. This phase generally lasts for a couple of minutes.

Post-Ictal Phase

This is the recovery period post-seizure and your pet may appear disoriented in this phase. Some dogs appear drugged or blind in this phase and others just sleep. This phase can last from 30 minutes to several days.

What to Do When Your Dog Has a Seizure:

  • Stay calm
  • Remove any furniture from the vicinity
  • Ensure that the room is quiet and peaceful
  • Dim the lights in the room
  • Keep away from the legs, as you run the risk of getting scratched
  • Note the time and duration of the seizure
  • Note the symptoms displayed during the seizure such as loss of consciousness, incontinence, profuse salivation and uncontrolled movements
  • Note if there were any triggering events such as food ingested, excessive exercise or sudden loud noises such as thunder or fireworks


You should consult a veterinarian at the earliest and he will diagnose the condition with the aid of a physical exam, medical history, X-rays, blood tests and EEGs. The treatment is never curative, but aims to decrease the frequency, severity and duration of the seizures. Oral medications such as Phenobarbital and potassium bromide are generally prescribed.

You should only give medicines as instructed by the veterinarian and never change medications without informing your vet if you wish to ensure recovery.