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If you’ve ever had a dog, you may have witnessed them sound asleep, periodically making twitching movements, or even vocalizing little yelping or “crying” noises.
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It would be normal for you to wonder if they were experiencing typical behavior, such as a dream, or if your dog was having a seizure. Read on to learn when to contact your veterinarian and how to tell whether your dog is dreaming or having a seizure.
How Dogs Experience Seizures
Seizures are abnormal, uncontrolled motor responses that start in the brain and can be experienced by both people and animals. The more common seizures that people recognize are grand mal-type seizures, in which the person or animal has severe thrashing or tremors (a “fit”) over their entire body. Some seizures, however, can be petit mal, in which just a portion of the body experiences a rhythmic, uncontrolled movement, tremor, or behavior (such as fly biting).
Most dogs have a seizure while awake or shortly after waking up. Some dogs, however, can have a seizure while asleep. There are many reasons a dog can have a seizure, including epilepsy, metabolic disorders, or neoplastic growths. If your dog is experiencing seizures, always contact your veterinarian so they can make a proper diagnosis.
Can Dogs Have Dreams?
Dreaming, on the other hand, is a way the mind processes various memories. We don’t know for sure, but it appears that dogs dream about running, chasing, playing, or protecting. As in humans, dogs have stages of sleep: short-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM), so it’s common to see rapid eye movement in dogs when they dream.
How to Tell if Your Dog Is Dreaming or Seizing
All dogs dream, and some manifest dreaming with twitching, paddling, or kicking their legs. These movements are often brief (lasting less than 30 seconds) and intermittent. Seizing dogs’ limbs, on the other hand, tend to be rigid and stiffer, with more violent movement.
You cannot easily wake up dogs experiencing a seizure, while you can with dreaming dogs. Dogs having a seizure often are disoriented afterwards and may drool and pant. Seizing dogs may urinate or defecate on themselves, while dreaming dogs usually do not.
Though we mention that dreaming dogs can easily be woken, it’s best not to do so, and especially not to touch a dog when they’re dreaming, as it may startle them, and they could bite or scratch involuntarily. The old saying, “let sleeping dogs lie,” was said for good reason!
If you feel the need to wake a sleeping dog because you’re concerned by their movements, it’s better to call their name loudly or make a noise, such as dropping an object on the floor, and see if they respond. If they wake up, they were probably dreaming, and then you can gently reassure them if they’re startled.
How to Respond If Your Dog Has a Seizure
If your dog is having a seizure, stay calm. You don’t need to try and prevent them from swallowing their tongue; this is a myth. Instead, try to protect them from falling or hurting themselves. When they’re coming out of a seizure, even if you feel panicked, try to stay calm and reassure your dog, as they have no idea what just happened. If possible, try to time the length of the seizure. If your dog seizes for more than 3-4 minutes continuously, it’s important to prevent them from overheating. You can gently cool them down with cool, wet towels on the head, neck, and groin.
If your dog experiences a seizure and comes out of it, but has another seizure within 24 hours (or multiple seizures), they’re experiencing cluster seizures. All seizures should be reason to contact a veterinarian right away, but cluster seizures require emergency action.
If you’re unsure whether your dog is having a dream or a seizure, film the event with your phone. Share it with your veterinarian, who can determine if your dog was simply getting some ZZZs or if you should be concerned.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.