Do Dogs Drink a lot of water after a seizure? A Complete Guide

Are dogs thirsty after a seizure?

Your dog may also be extremely hungry or thirsty after a seizure. Don’t force him to eat or drink, but let him do so if he seems alert and is able to stand on his feet without wobbling or seeming confused.

The Three Phases of a Dog Seizure

Aura Phase. The first phase of a seizure is the Aura phase. Some dogs have this, and others don’t. Certain signs of an impending seizure may be evident, such as restlessness, whining, shaking, salivation, wandering, hiding, or affection seeking. These signs may persist from seconds to days in duration and may or may not be apparent to you. Some dogs will run to you or seem “needy” just prior to a seizure.

Ictal Phase. During the ictal phase of a seizure, the actual seizure occurs. The seizure may last from seconds or minutes. The typical generalized seizure looks like this: your dog falls on their side and begins paddling and chomping their jaws. Some owners will notice their dog’s teeth chattering. They may drool, foam at the mouth, urinate, bark or vocalize, and move their bowels. Dogs are unaware of their surroundings during this period.

Postictal Phase. This phase of a seizure occurs immediately after the seizure. Dogs will appear confused and disoriented and may wander or pace. Some dogs will be temporarily blind and may run into objects. The typical postictal dog will wander around aimlessly, be unsteady on their feet, may stumble over to their water dish and overdrink and/or overeat, drool, and seem generally confused. This phase may last a few minutes to hours.

How Does Water Intoxication In Dogs Happen?

Most cases of freshwater intoxication happen in the spring or summer, on a warm day when a dog is having fun and is exposed to lots of fresh water at the pool or on the beach. Though there is not a lot of literature on the subject, it is often noticed that the dogs most prone to this could perhaps be labeled as “drinking fools.” If you have one such dog, you probably know what we are talking about! These dogs will often excitedly drink water whenever they can, for example, swimming or chasing a ball in a lake or a river, or even the ultimate excitement: snapping at sprinklers.

Do dogs drink a lot of water after a seizure?

You know the modern-day mantra: Stay hydrated! And that goes for your dog too. Make sure there’s plenty of clean, fresh water available, especially during hot weather. But is it possible for your dog to drink too much water?

As important as it is to avoid dehydration, there can be too much of a good thing. Many owners — and even some veterinarians — are unaware that an overabundance of water in a dog’s system can lead to frightening symptoms and even death.

Water intoxication goes by a variety of names, including water poisoning, hyperhydration, and water toxemia. No matter what you call it, this problem can come on suddenly, and the outcome can be fatal.

Here’s what happens when the body is overwhelmed with an excessive amount of water. First, sodium levels outside the cells are depleted, a condition called hyponatremia. In an effort to rebalance itself, the body responds to the low blood sodium by increasing fluid intake inside the cells. Some organs, such as the liver, can accommodate the increased volume of their swelling cells, but others — in particular, the brain, which is encased in bone — cannot.

In humans, water intoxication usually results from drinking too much water after rigorous exercise or competing in water-drinking competitions. (In 2007, a 28-year-old mother of three from Sacramento, California, died after chugging two gallons of water in a radio contest called “Hold Your Wee for a Wii.”) In dogs, excessive water intake often occurs when swimming, diving, or water-retrieving. Even play-biting the stream of water from a garden hose or sprinkler can overload a dog’s system and lead to water intoxication. Because their bodies have to work harder to clear out the excess water in their system, toy and small dogs are at greater risk than larger ones.