Why seizures in dogs are not epilepsy

Why Gut Imbalance Can Trigger Seizures in Dogs

Many people don’t realize that a dog’s digestive system is deeply connected to their brain. When the gut is out of balance, it can actually trigger seizures. Here’s how it works, step by step:

Connection of digestive system to the brain

The gut and brain are directly connected:

Around your dog’s large intestine is a special part of the nervous system called the enteric nervous system

. It communicates constantly with the brain via a major nerve called the vagus nerve. This means that anything upsetting the gut can send stress signals straight to the brain.

The small intestine is in charge of absorbing nutrients:

It’s where food gets broken down and important nutrients pass through the intestinal wall into the body. Two organs help with this process: the pancreas, which releases digestive enzymes, and the gallbladder, which releases bile to help digest fats.

When the digestive system is overloaded or inflamed-it stops working properly

If your dog has had lots of medications, poor-quality food, or chronic stress, this system becomes unbalanced. The small intestine can’t absorb nutrients well anymore, and the digestive organs (like the pancreas and gallbladder) can become sluggish or irritated.

Toxins start leaking into the body (also called leaky gut syndrome)

When the gut lining is inflamed or damaged, harmful substances that should stay in the intestines begin to leak into the surrounding lymphatic system. These lymph vessels sit just outside the digestive tract and are supposed to help filter and clean. But when they’re overloaded, toxins spill into the bloodstream.

Toxins in the bloodstream can overwhelm the brain and trigger seizures

The brain is very sensitive to what’s in the blood. If too many waste products or inflammatory chemicals reach the brain, especially through the vagus nerve connection, they can disrupt the brain’s normal signals—and this can lead to a seizure.

The solution: restore balance to the gut:

The key to reducing or even stopping these seizures is to calm and strengthen the digestive system. This may include:

• Healing the gut lining

• Supporting the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder

• Improving nutrient absorption

• Removing inflammatory foods and toxins

• Possibly adding supportive herbs or supplements recommended by a holistic practitioner