Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
What happens to dogs after an epilepsy seizure ends
By Nagendran, Aran et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Characterization of post-ictal clinical signs in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy: A questionnaire-based study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy often showed signs of confusion and clumsiness after having seizures. In a study, 79 out of 87 dogs experienced these post-ictal signs, which lasted anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Owners reported that their dogs seemed disoriented and wobbly during this time, and these symptoms were found to affect their quality of life more than the seizures themselves. Interestingly, giving benzodiazepines, a common seizure medication, was linked to longer-lasting post-ictal signs. Understanding these signs can help owners better manage their dogs' epilepsy.
People also search for: dog seizure symptoms · idiopathic epilepsy in dogs · post-ictal signs in dogs · how long do seizures last in dogs · dog epilepsy treatment options
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post-ictal (PI) clinical signs are a key defining stage of seizure manifestation in dogs. However, this phase remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To further characterize PI signs and their relation to other parts of a seizure, and understand the owner's perception of how PI signs affect the quality of life (QOL) of the dog. ANIMALS: Eight-seven dogs with a diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy from a single institution. METHODS: The prospective questionnaire-based study surveying owners of dogs previously and newly diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. RESULTS: Post-ictal signs were identified in 79/87 dogs, 5/5 of dogs with focal seizures and 74/82 of dogs with generalized seizures. Median duration of PI signs was 30 minutes (range, 5-4320 minutes). The most common PI signs reported were disorientation (50/79) and wobbliness or clumsiness (49/79). Within a year, a change in PI signs was seen in 18/79 dogs. The administration of benzodiazepines was significantly associated with an increase in duration of PI signs (P = .04). Post-ictal signs had more impact on dogs' quality of life compared with ictal signs (P < .01). Groupings of co-existing PI signs identified included disorientation, blindness and deafness. CONCLUSION: Post-ictal signs are a commonly reported aspect of seizures in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, both in focal as well as generalized seizures. Co-existence of signs could provide some valuable insight into the relevance of this particular phase of a seizure. Owner-reported signs and documentation emphasize the need for a better understanding of PI signs in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39831473/