First, how urgent is this?
Go now
- A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes.
- Several seizures in one episode, or another one shortly after.
- Still unable to stand, not fully conscious, or breathing abnormally once it stops.
- Cat: possible contact with lilies, rat bait or antifreeze.
- Dog: any suspected poisoning or swallowed toxin.
- A seizure after heat exposure, or a clearly high body temperature.
Contact your vet today
- A first seizure that has fully passed, with normal behaviour afterwards.
- Behaviour change around the seizure: circling, apparent blindness, a different personality.
- Known epilepsy, but the seizures are coming closer together.
- Drooling, losing bladder control or briefly not seeing after the seizure.
Record and observe
- Known epilepsy already under vet care: record the time, length and pattern of each seizure, and bring the record to the next visit.
Before you set off
- When it started and ended, and how long it lasted.
- Film it. Keep your distance and never put your hand in the mouth.
- Behaviour before and after: any warning signs, and how long until normal.
- Move hard objects and furniture away, keep the room ventilated, and do not restrain the pet.
- A list of medicines, the time of the last dose, and the dose record.
- Do not give human medicine, and no food or water until fully conscious.
What your vet may ask and do
- Ask: when the first seizure was, how many, and how long.
- Ask: any behaviour change around them.
- Ask: any chance of a toxin, head injury or poisoning.
- Do: a neurological examination.
- Do: blood tests (glucose, electrolytes, liver and kidney values, calcium).
- Do: MRI or CT where needed.
- Do: ongoing seizures need intravenous drugs to stop them, and admission for monitoring.
Where to go in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong 24-hour vet list
- 24-hour emergency, Hong Kong Island
- 24-hour emergency, Kowloon
- 24-hour emergency, New Territories
- Clinics with MRI
- Clinics with inpatient care
- What emergency and test fees look like
Call the clinic before you drive over, to confirm tonight's arrangements and the location.