Glossary
Epilepsy
A brain disorder that causes repeated seizures, most often the inherited kind with no other cause found, usually starting in young adult dogs.
Also called: seizures in dogs, canine epilepsy, idiopathic epilepsy, seizure disorder, fits
A seizure is a short burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and epilepsy means a dog has recurrent seizures. A dog may collapse, paddle its legs, stiffen, drool or lose bladder control, and then be dazed afterward. The most common form is idiopathic epilepsy, a vet's label for repeated seizures with no cause found after other problems are ruled out. It often begins between about six months and six years of age and runs in some families and breeds.
One seizure does not equal epilepsy. Seizures can also come from poisons, low blood sugar, liver disease or head injury.
During a seizure, keep hands away from the mouth, move objects aside and note the time. A seizure over five minutes, or several in a row, is an emergency. Any first seizure deserves a vet visit.
Last reviewed November 8, 2026