Stress, Sodium and Seizures in Dogs: Bella’s Episodes

Every time Bella, my adorable 4-year-old Pug, gets a seizure (or “fit”), my heart skips a beat. It’s one of the most helpless moments any pet parent can go through. But over time, I’ve started noticing patterns — and I want to share them, because what’s invisible to us could be painfully loud inside their body and mind.

This blog is not just from a vet’s point of view — it’s from a dog dad who paid close attention and learned some surprising things.

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What Triggers Seizures in Dogs?

Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and they’re not always random. In many dogs, there are triggers — hidden or subtle — that can lower their brain’s resistance and set off a fit.

The two biggest ones I discovered in Bella’s case were:

1. Stress and emotional trauma
2. Electrolyte imbalance — specifically high sodium and potassium levels

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Stress: The Silent Seizure Trigger

Bella had two seizures with a pattern I didn’t see at first:

• 28 December 2024: She had a vet visit a day before (routine, but stressful). She wasn’t happy.
• 16 April 2025: Again, a vet visit the day before. Her anal glands were cleaned and she was visibly upset.

Within 24 hours of both visits, she had a seizure — complete with trembling, foaming at the mouth and urinating. That’s when it hit me:

Stress lowers a dog’s seizure threshold.

When Bella is scared, cortisol (a stress hormone) spikes. This affects her brain’s stability. And since she already has a sensitive nervous system, that emotional stress is enough to trigger a fit.

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Electrolyte Imbalance: What Her Blood Test Revealed

After Bella’s April seizure, I had her blood tested. The results were shocking:

Electrolyte	Bella’s Value	Normal Range
Sodium (Na⁺)	155.6	140.3 – 154
Potassium (K⁺)	6.5	3.8 – 5.6
Phosphorus	7.8	3 – 6.2
Chloride	93.7	110 – 124

These are not just numbers. They were messing with Bella’s brain.

High sodium and potassium levels overstimulate nerve activity and muscle control. Combine that with stress or dehydration and her brain can’t handle it.

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The Hidden Culprit: Human Biscuits

I used to give Bella 2 Patanjali Marie gold biscuits a day — nothing major, right? (My Mistake, its not a Pet Biscuit)

Wrong.

Each biscuit has 120–150mg sodium. That’s 250–300mg of extra salt every day, for a small 10.5kg dog. In a pet with early liver stress and seizure history, this was pushing her closer to danger daily — and I didn’t even know.

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So What Am I Doing Differently Now?

For Stress Management:

• Gave her Anxocare Syrup (Himalaya) before and after vet visits
• Create a calm zone for her with soft lighting and soothing sounds
• Limit unnecessary outings and loud noises
• Replaced stressful “rewards” (like vet visits) with cuddles and home treats

For Electrolyte Correction:

• Stopped all human biscuits completely
• Increased hydration (coconut water, ORS twice a day)
• Switched to low-sodium home-cooked food
• Started Liver & kidney support syrup (vet-approved)
• Dewormed her (missed dose was adding internal stress)

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What You Can Do as a Pet Parent

If your dog has had even one seizure, start tracking:

• Diet (including treats!)
• Vet visits or stressful events
• Water intake
• Bathroom habits
• Emotional triggers

Ask your vet for:

• A complete blood panel (CBC, LFT, KFT)

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Final Thoughts

Bella can’t say “I’m stressed” or “that biscuit’s too salty.” But her body does — through seizures, discomfort or quiet sadness.

I’m not writing this blog to scare you — I’m writing it so you can catch the signals earlier than I did. Because with small changes, you can make a huge difference.

And trust me — your dog will thank you with every wag, cuddle and peaceful sleep.

Say hi to your Dog ❤️🖐️