What Causes Seizures In French Bulldogs? General Info & Tips For Treatment

The fact that your French bulldog is having a seizure tells you something’s wrong with their health; there’s no doubt about that. But what could it be? 

There’s certainly more than one possible cause – so, let’s start by listing them.

#1 Infections

If you’re a pet parent, then your vet has probably warned you many times about the dangers of infections in dogs – specifically the ones affecting the ears.

Ear infections can be caused by many things – starting with dust mites, allergies, bacteria, in-grown hair, etc. Whatever the underlying cause is, the point is: 

If you don’t treat the infection in time, it could grow into a bigger problem – epilepsy.

#2 Poisoning

Whether it’s food or chemical poisoning, unwanted substances can have a severe impact on your dog’s body. And some of them could lead to seizures.

That may happen easily if you’re not careful about your French bulldog’s diet – or avoid consulting with your vet.

#3 High/Low Blood Pressure

Abnormal – high or low – blood pressure is generally not a good sign for your pup.

If your Frenchie’s blood pressure is low enough, their body can react by going into a seizure, which can last for a couple of minutes. It’s worth noting that, during that time, their bodies are also experiencing low levels of oxygen. 

It’s the same with high blood pressure, and it’s called systemic hypertension.

A piece of advice:

Check your dog’s blood pressure, just as you would check yours – regularly!

#4 Anemia

Make sure your French bulldog eats everything in the food bowl!

Why are we emphasizing this? 

Because dogs that don’t eat their vitamins become anemic – and therefore more prone to seizures.

In short, canine anemia is followed by sudden weight loss, lack of energy, and faster heart rate. That can cause recurrent seizures – and once they get there, it can be hard to bounce back.

#5 Stroke

Strokes are almost identical in humans and dogs. Namely, when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted – or when blood vessels burst – the brain cells become deprived of oxygen and begin to die off quickly.  

That’s when seizures might happen.

Strokes are a medical emergency. However, they’re much more common in older French bulldogs who already have a medical history of blood clots.

Note that severe seizures can cause permanent blindness.

#6 Liver Disease

This one’s different. It’s a bit more serious than some of the previous ones we’ve mentioned, and you shouldn’t take it lightly – especially if you want to avoid permanent consequences.

The liver is a crucial organ in your dog’s body. It regulates digestion, removes toxins, and is in charge of keeping blood clotting in check. 

So, if something goes wrong, your Frenchie could be looking at severe side effects.

Liver diseases can happen with age, or it can be genetic – but it’s generally treatable. The problem arises when you skip regular checkups. 

That leads up to seizures, which eventually cause liver failure. At that point, a fatal outcome is not impossible – so, you ought to be careful with this one.

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