French bulldog seizures can be described as a temporary involuntary disturbance of normal brain function. They are followed by uncontrollable muscle activity and the exact cause is usually unknown. Seizures in dogs more often occur during their young age or period of adolescence.
What are the most common reasons for French bulldog seizures?
French bulldog seizures are usually caused by idiopathic epilepsy which is an inherited disorder. Epilepsy in dogs is a term used to describe repeated episodes of seizures. The seizures occur spontaneously in clusters or single.
Other causes of dog seizures include:
- Low blood sugar
- Anemia
- Brain tumors
- Metabolic disease
- Toxins
- Heat stroke
- Liver diseases
How do French bulldog seizures look like?
The seizures in Frenchies go through 3 stages. During the first phase, a dog seems nervous, starts to excessively salivate, and searches for the help of the owner. Usually, dog owners hardly notice this phase (pre-ictal phase) because it may last from a few minutes to several hours.
The second phase is otherwise called the ictal phase. It’s followed by shaking, staring, excessive lip licking, and ends up with a complete loss of consciousness. The dog’s muscles will seem paralyzed and the ‘attack’ can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. The episode of seizure can also be followed by foaming at the mouth, pooping, or peeing. If the dog stays in this phase for more than 5 min, then he fell into a prolonged seizure that can lead to overheating.
Prolonged French bulldog seizures can even turn out to be fatal, so the only thing you can do at that moment is to put a cold compress around the dog’s neck and on his paw pads.
The last stage of the French bulldog seizure is called post-ictal. A dog who just went though a seizure will look disoriented, tired, and anxious. That’s why it’s extremely important to make your dog relaxed and ‘shower’ him/her with cuddles and praise words.
How to react in case your Frenchie is having a seizure?
If your furry friend is going through a seizure attack, the most important thing to keep in mind is not to touch his mouth or try to pull out his tongue. In case your Frenchie is close to stairs or some other dangerous objects or items, you can gently slide him away from them.
Do not touch your pet, and do not try to pull out his tongue. There’s a common misconception that dogs can choke during a seizure. The truth is that you can only end up injured in case you try to do any of those things to your Frenchie.
If the dog continuously suffers from seizures, then your vet might prescribe him daily therapy.
How to help a Frenchie after a seizure?
Your Frenchie will need emotional support after a seizure. He/she will feel afraid, exhausted, and will be at risk to get a heatstroke. Therefore, besides providing him emotional support, you can also place him/her lay on the cooling pad. A dog cooling pad will help him/her to decrease their body temperature and calm down. The following one is filled with a cooling gel and it’s has a waterproof outer fabric.
Another French bulldog cooling bed that will help your pet faster recover after a seizure features a thick layer of cooling gel. It will shape according to your dog’s body, and it should be placed out of direct sunlight to provide the best effect.
