Idiopathic epilepsy
The most common cause in young to middle-aged dogs with no other illness — believed to be inherited in many breeds including Labrador Retrievers and Beagles.
Dog Condition
Dog Seizures — Urgent Online Vet Guidance
Witnessing a seizure is frightening. After the episode, connect with a licensed vet the same day for seizure classification, emergency red flags, and whether anticonvulsant therapy should begin.
Licensed Vets
$65 Flat Fee
Same-Day Rx
24/7 Access
Understanding dog seizures
Expert online care for dog seizures
Licensed vet assessment of seizures via secure video
Same-day appointments — most seen within 1–3 hours
Prescriptions delivered next business day when clinically appropriate
$65 flat fee — no memberships or hidden charges
Your pet stays comfortable at home during the consultation
Expert guidance on when in-person emergency care is needed
A single brief seizure may not require lifelong medication, but cluster seizures (multiple in 24 hours) or status epilepticus (seizure lasting more than 5 minutes) are emergencies requiring immediate in-person care.
TelaVets connects you with a licensed DVM who can review what you observed, advise on safe recovery positioning, discuss baseline bloodwork, and prescribe anticonvulsants like phenobarbital or levetiracetam when ongoing management is appropriate.
Common signs of dog seizures we can help with
- Sudden collapse and loss of consciousness
- Paddling or jerking limb movements
- Drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Urination or defecation during episode
- Stiffening of the body (tonic phase)
- Disorientation or blindness after seizure (post-ictal phase)
- Repeated seizures within hours (cluster seizures)
- Seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes
What causes dog seizures?
Age of onset, seizure frequency, and overall health help distinguish epilepsy from serious underlying disease requiring advanced diagnostics.
Toxins and metabolic disease
Chocolate, xylitol, rodent bait, liver disease, low blood sugar, and electrolyte imbalances can trigger acute seizures.
Structural brain disease
Brain tumors, encephalitis, stroke, or head trauma cause seizures especially when onset is in dogs over 5 years old.
How our vets diagnose it online
Online consultation is ideal for post-seizure assessment and treatment planning. Active, prolonged seizures require emergency clinic care — our vets clarify that boundary immediately.
- Detailed description of pre-seizure behavior, episode duration, and post-ictal signs
- Review of toxin exposure, new medications, and recent trauma
- Assessment of current neurological status on video after the episode
- Recommendation for CBC, chemistry panel, and bile acids testing
- Guidance on MRI or spinal tap referral for dogs over 5 or with focal signs
Treatments we may prescribe
Anticonvulsant therapy is started when seizures are frequent, prolonged, or cluster. Our vets tailor medication to your dog's age, breed, and lab results.
Levetiracetam (Keppra) for first-line or add-on seizure control
Phenobarbital for chronic epilepsy management
Potassium bromide as adjunct therapy
Diazepam or rectal emergency protocol guidance for cluster seizures
Dietary management for hepatic encephalopathy if liver disease is identified
Toxin decontamination referral when ingestion is suspected
Seizure diary and trigger tracking for ongoing monitoring
All medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate by a licensed veterinarian and dispensed through our FDA-compliant pharmacy.
Living safely with a seizure-prone dog
Secure household toxins — chocolate, xylitol gum, rodent bait, and medications
Maintain consistent feeding schedule for diabetic or toy-breed dogs
Give anticonvulsants at the same time daily — never stop abruptly
Reduce flashing lights and extreme stress where possible
Keep a seizure log with date, time, duration, and recovery notes
Why pet parents choose TelaVets
Licensed DVMs Only
Every consultation is with a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine — not a chatbot or technician.
$65 Flat Fee
One transparent price covers your full video consultation and treatment plan. No facility fees or surprise charges.
Same-Day Appointments
Most pet parents are connected with a vet within 1–3 hours of booking, 7 days a week.
Next-Day Prescriptions
When medication is appropriate, prescriptions are issued same-day and delivered to your door next business day.
Stress-Free Home Visits
Your pet is assessed in their calm home environment, which often makes symptoms easier to evaluate on video.
Secure & Private
Encrypted video calls and HIPAA-compliant records keep your pet's health information protected.
How TelaVets works
Book your consultation
Pick a same-day or upcoming slot — appointments available 7 days a week.
Connect with a licensed vet
Your vet assesses your pet via secure video, asks detailed questions, and reviews their history.
Get your treatment plan
Receive a diagnosis, personalised care plan, and same-day prescriptions delivered next-day.
What Our Pet Parents Say
Join thousands of happy pet parents who trust TelaVets for their furry family members care
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
Related resources
Helpful reading and services from the TelaVets team.
Book a Vet Visit
Same-day online vet appointments for $65 — no membership required.
Read moreHow TelaVets Works
Learn how our licensed vets diagnose and treat pets via secure video consultation.
Read moreDog Treatment Hub
Browse all dog health topics we treat online — from allergies to arthritis.
Read moreDog Allergy Treatment
In-depth guide to online dog allergy diagnosis and prescription relief.
Read moreExplore related care
Licensed TelaVets vets treat a wide range of conditions online.
Frequently asked questions about dog seizures
If the seizure lasted less than 3 minutes and your dog is now awake and recovering, book an urgent TelaVets consultation for guidance and next steps. If the seizure lasted more than 5 minutes, your dog had multiple seizures in a row, or is not regaining consciousness, go to an emergency clinic immediately.
Yes. After reviewing your dog's seizure history and recommending baseline bloodwork, our licensed vets can prescribe anticonvulsants such as levetiracetam or phenobarbital when ongoing management is clinically appropriate.
Stay calm, move objects away, do not put your hands near the mouth, time the seizure, and reduce noise and light. Once it ends, keep your dog cool and call us or head to the ER if the episode exceeds 5 minutes.
Same-day TelaVets appointments are usually available within 1–3 hours. Post-ictal dogs are often calmer at home, making video assessment easier than a stressful clinic trip.
Not always. A single isolated seizure in a young dog may be monitored before starting daily medication. Our vets help you weigh risks and benefits based on breed, age, and seizure frequency.
Get expert help for your dog's seizures today
Same-day appointments — $65 flat fee — licensed vets