What to Do When Your Pet Has a Seizure: Emergency Action Plan

Stay as calm as you can and start a timer right away. Clear the area of furniture, sharp objects, cords, and other pets. If your pet is near stairs, a pool, or a ledge, block access only if you can do it without putting your hands near the mouth.

Do not hold your pet down. Do not put your hands, a spoon, or any object in the mouth. Pets do not swallow their tongues during seizures, but they can bite without meaning to. Avoid hugging the head or face, even if you are trying to comfort them.

If possible, take a short video. Note what your pet was doing before the seizure, how long it lasted, whether there was paddling, stiffening, drooling, urination, or loss of awareness, and how your pet acted afterward. These details help your vet decide what testing or treatment options make sense.

Once the seizure stops, keep your pet in a quiet, low-stimulation space. Many pets are disoriented for minutes to hours after a seizure. They may stumble, pace, seem temporarily blind, or act restless. Use a leash, towel support, or baby gates if needed to prevent falls, but avoid crowding them.

Offer a calm environment and watch breathing and body temperature. If your pet feels very hot, pants heavily, or cannot settle, call your vet or the nearest emergency hospital. Do not offer food or water until your pet is alert enough to swallow normally.

Call your vet the same day after any first seizure, any change in seizure pattern, or any event that worries you. If your pet already has a seizure diagnosis, follow the home plan your vet gave you, including any rescue medication instructions.

See your vet immediately if the seizure lasts more than 3 to 5 minutes, if your pet has more than one seizure in 24 hours, if one seizure rolls into another, or if your pet does not return toward normal between episodes. These situations raise the risk of overheating, breathing problems, and ongoing brain injury.

A first-ever seizure also deserves urgent veterinary guidance, especially in puppies, kittens, seniors, pets with toxin exposure, pets with diabetes, pets who recently had trauma, or pets who are pregnant. If your pet may have eaten something toxic, call your vet, an emergency hospital, ASPCA Animal Poison Control, or Pet Poison Helpline while you are arranging care.

Other red flags include blue or pale gums, collapse, trouble breathing, severe weakness, head trauma, known toxin exposure, or a seizure followed by persistent unresponsiveness. In those cases, go to an emergency hospital rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

Your vet may suggest different levels of workup depending on your pet’s age, exam findings, seizure pattern, and overall stability. A conservative approach may focus on history, physical exam, basic bloodwork, and close monitoring after a single short seizure in an otherwise stable pet. A standard approach often adds broader lab testing, blood pressure, urinalysis, and discussion of anti-seizure medication if episodes recur.

Advanced care can include emergency hospitalization, IV medications to stop active seizures, neurology consultation, MRI, and spinal fluid testing in selected cases. These options are often used for cluster seizures, prolonged seizures, abnormal neurologic exams, very young or older pets, or when your vet is concerned about toxin exposure, inflammation, or a structural brain problem.

Typical 2025-2026 U.S. cost ranges vary by region and hospital type. A same-day exam after a seizure may run about $85 to $250. Emergency exam fees are often about $150 to $250. Bloodwork may add roughly $150 to $400. Overnight emergency hospitalization for seizure monitoring and IV treatment may range from about $600 to $1,700 or more, while advanced imaging such as brain MRI commonly adds about $1,200 to $3,000+ depending on the center and whether anesthesia and specialist review are included.

Ask your vet for a written seizure action plan. That plan may include when to monitor at home, when to give a prescribed rescue medication, and when to go straight to the emergency hospital. Keep the plan in your phone and on your fridge, and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.

Build a small seizure kit. Helpful items include your vet’s number, the nearest emergency hospital address, a charged phone, a stopwatch, a leash, a towel, a carrier for cats and small pets, and any rescue medication your vet has prescribed. Keep poison hotline numbers handy too.

A seizure log can make future visits much more productive. Record the date, time, length, what the episode looked like, possible triggers, recovery time, and any missed medications. Patterns matter, and your vet can use that information to discuss conservative, standard, or advanced care options that fit your pet and your family.