Top 10 Best Food for dog with Seizures

Top 10 Best Food for dog with Seizures

Seizures are a growing concern amongst dog parents and one that is understood as little by veterinarians as it is by dog owners. While there is debate on the cause and necessary treatment for seizures in dogs, there’s no doubt that changing your dog’s diet can positively affect the frequency of their seizures.

Humans have been using specialized diets to reduce seizures since the 1920s. So, it makes sense that many would suggest this intervention as it’s shown to be incredibly effective for humans.

Diet changes have shown some improvement for seizures in dogs but there’s been a little serious study on the efficacy of diet changes. Some preliminary empirical studies show little to no improvement. However, many pet parents of dogs with seizures stand by the diet change as a solution.

There have been reports on dogs heaving a reduction of seizure activity when the diet is based on good quality proteins, carbohydrate levels in their diets are reduced, and there is an increase of fat in the form of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). We have chosen good quality food products and we suggest enriching your dog’s daily diet with this supplemental coconut oil as a source of MCT.

With the addition of the coconut oil benefits, here are our favorite foods for reducing seizures in dogs!

The 10 Best Dog Foods for Dogs With Seizures

Taste of the Wild

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Bag Size: 5, 14, 28-pound bags
Other Special Features: High-Protein, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free
Flavors: Bison & Venison

If you’re looking for a great option of dog food for seizures, you’ll want to look no further than Taste of the Wild. Taste of the Wild is a relatively new brand for the dog food scene, but their recipes are perfectly suited to the unique dietary needs of seizure-prone dogs.

Taste of the Wild’s recipes feature omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which help regulate brain function and reduce seizures. This food is also made without artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, known aggravators of seizure disorders.

Additionally, this food is grain and gluten-free, two other known aggravators of seizure disorders. So, pet parents who prefer that their foods are made close to the heart can feel safe bringing this into their dogs’ lives!

Pros
  • Omega fatty acids help support and improve brain function
  • A gluten-free recipe removes a potential source of seizures
Cons
  • Some dogs did not like the taste

Ollie Fresh Chicken Dog Food – Best Overall

Ollie Chicken Dish With Carrots Fresh Dog Food

Our favorite dog food for dogs with seizures is Ollie’s Fresh Chicken Dog Food. This subscription-based company works closely with pet health experts to develop fresh recipes customized to your dog’s dietary needs. When it comes to neuro issues, that is especially important.

The recipe for this food is low carb and free of toxic byproducts. It’s also full of protein and slow-cooked to maintain the best flavor and nutrition. While antioxidant vitamins E and C are used to help boost your pet’s immune system, the recipe is also full of quality ingredients that help support good cognitive health. The first five ingredients are chicken, carrots, peas, rice, and chicken liver. Doses of this food should be determined between you and your vet for best results.

Overall, we think that Ollie dog food is a wonderful option if you have a little loved one who struggles with seizures. It costs about the same amount as prescription food, and even the pickiest eaters love the flavors. Plus, the lack of toxic byproducts will support your dog’s brain!

Cons
  • A little pricey
  • Subscription-based
Pros
  • Fresh dog food made with premium ingredients
  • High in quality protein
  • Convenient to thaw and serve
  • Antioxidant vitamins E and C for immune system
  • Low carb and free of toxic byproducts

Blue Buffalo Wilderness

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free

Bag Size: 4, 11, 20, 24-pound bags
Other Special Features: Grain-Free, High-Protein
Flavors: Chicken

Like Wellness CORE, Blue Buffalo Wilderness is the high-protein version of Blue Buffalo’s classic recipes. This food features all-natural ingredients, including real meat that will have your pup howling their approval!

Blue Buffalo Wilderness features increased omega fatty acids and LifeSource Bits that will give your pup an extra boost of nutrients with each bite. Blue Buffalo Wilderness is crafted by veterinarians and is sure to help keep your dog in tip-top condition.

Pros
  • Veterinarian approved
  • All-natural ingredients
Cons
  • Higher concentrations of carbohydrates

Ketona Chicken Dry Dog Food

Ketona Chicken

This is definitely a premium buy, and so far, there isn’t too much known about it. Ketona was created by Daniel Schulof, who wrote the book, “Dogs, Dog Food, and Dogma.” The goal of this food is to effectively place your dog on a keto diet, as this is raw food meant to help your canine in all aspects of health, not just one specific area.

We most commonly hear about this food from people who have pets dealing with life-altering illnesses, and for the most part, the owners seem pleased. From cancer to chronic stomach issues, this food seems to at least improve the quality of life for the pets who eat it.

How does it work? It is a high-protein, low-carb food, with 46% more protein than leading brands and 85% less carbohydrates. This is a grain-free food with no fillers and made with all-natural ingredients and added vitamins and minerals.

What does this do for dogs with seizures? That’s a bit harder to tell. Many buyers who have switched their dogs over to this food have pets who are diabetic, and it seemingly works wonders for them. Diabetes can lead to seizures in some cases.

There is not a veterinarian consensus on this food. We have heard opinions that are all for this food and others that strongly advise against it. If you are thinking of switching your dog to this dog food, schedule a vet appointment to consult them first.

Cons
  • Very unknown
Pros
  • Keto diet food
  • 46% more protein, 85% less carbs

Blue Buffalo Wet Dog Food – Best Value

Blue Buffalo Basics 859610005901

This recipe from Blue Buffalo is unique because it uses a protein hardly seen in dog food: turkey. It is also loaded with potatoes, which is an easily digestible source of carbohydrates.

While this food isn’t specifically formulated for dogs with seizures, it has loads of omega 3 fatty acids that can help with or improve neuro health. This will also boost your dog’s immune system, lead to healthier skin, and in turn, promote a fuller, shinier coat of fur. This recipe also does not rely on fillers, meaning that it contains no corn, wheat, dairy, or eggs.

Buyers report that their dogs love it and show signs of good health. The only negative review of this product is somewhat interesting: If you receive a can of this and it is bulging, don’t open it. It’s basically a dog food bomb, and you’ll wind up with dog food all over your kitchen and even worse, you! Even with the potential of this being a messy ordeal, we definitely consider this to be the best dog food for dogs with seizures for the money.

Cons
  • Bulging can means trouble; don’t open it!
Pros
  • Omega 3 fatty acids
  • Potatoes make for a digestible source of carbohydrates.

Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Dog Food – Best for Puppies

Grandma Lucy's 730063

This is the rare dry food that gets mixed with water and turned into wet food. Grandma Lucy’s believes the best recipes are the simplest ones, so this product has no fillers such as wheat, corn, or soy.

You can feed this to your pup at any stage of their life. Grandma Lucy’s has made a product that your dog can grow with over time.

There are several flavors for this food: chicken, lamb, venison, pork-bison, or elk. Besides the protein, this is made with several fruits and veggies that are all very good for your very good dog.

This food has mostly received glowing reviews from those who have switched to it, though there are a few complaints. Some say that it doesn’t have enough “oomph” or that it leaves their dogs hungry. Worse, some people have received bags of this food that still have bones in it. Yes, dogs love bones, but eaten without supervision, it could be dangerous and even deadly.

Cons
  • Bones in bag
Pros
  • Simple recipe
  • Dogs can grow old with it

Merrick

Merrick

Bag Size: 4, 10, 22, 30-pound bags
Other Special Features: Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, High-Protein
Flavors: Beef & Sweet Potato

Merrick is a darling pet food brand beloved by pet parents worldwide. Merrick’s foods are a great low-cost way to introduce your dog to grain-free, high-protein foods. The high-protein content is excellent for supporting body and brain health.

Additionally, this food contains higher-than-average concentrations of healthy fats, which have also been noted for improving seizure frequency. Some pet parents may be wary of this brand since Purina acquired it, but looking at their nutritional information, they’ve thus far kept their promise not to mess with the recipes!

Pros
  • An excellent nutritional profile for controlling seizures
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Owned by Purina

Wellness Natural Wet Canned Dog Food

Wellness 8876

This is another simple food, though it doesn’t claim to be a clean one. The main ingredients here are the meat and potatoes, quite literally. This food is filled with vitamins and minerals and has no fillers like corn, wheat, or soy. This product is backed by the Wellness Guarantee.

Vets seem to think that this is a good food for pets, and pets seem to love it too! You might find it kind of pricey for canned food, however. There is also an issue with cans being delivered severely dented.

Cons
  • Dented delivery
Pros
  • Meat and potatoes

NUTRO Diet Adult Dry Dog Food

NUTRO 10157584

Nutro is a clean feed food that is packed with meats for your pup to enjoy. There are many different options for recipes — between lamb, salmon, and duck, you are bound to find something that your wagging woofer is going to love. Each recipe has 10 ingredients or fewer.

There are no fillers in this food, hence the term “clean feed.” This is good for dogs with seizures because there aren’t any unnatural preservatives or artificial flavors that could trigger a dog with sensitivities.

People who have dogs with such sensitivities mostly love this stuff. They’ve claimed better health for their pups with a sensitive stomach or different allergies. However, it doesn’t exactly smell the best.

There is also the debate about grain-free food as it relates to heart disease and failure. As we are not vets, we strongly advise that any change in your pet’s diet go through your vet first.

Pros
  • Clean food
  • 10 ingredients or fewer
Cons
  • Smells bad

Natural Balance L.I.D.

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Salmon And Sweet Potato Dry Food

Bag Size: 4, 12, 24-pound bags
Other Special Features: High-Protein, Grain-Free
Flavors: Salmon & Sweet Potato

Natural Balance L.I.D. is their Limited-Ingredient recipe line. While these recipes are traditionally targeted at dogs with food allergies, they also make an excellent option for dogs with seizures. The limited ingredient pool helps reduce the number of trigger foods present in the dog’s food and keeps them happy and healthy.

Natural Balance L.I.D. also uses high-quality, natural ingredients; the first ingredient in the list is always a natural meat source! Additionally, these foods are all produced in the USA. So, pet parents can rest assured knowing this food is made close to home!

Pros
  • The limited-ingredient pool helps control seizures
  • Made in the USA
Cons
  • Higher concentrations of low-quality ingredients

Buyers Guide – Finding the Best Dog Food for Dogs With Seizures

Basing your dog’s nutrition on a diet formulated with good quality proteins, a reduced level of carbohydrates, and an increased level of healthy fats such as the rich in medium-chain triglycerides coconut oil, can have a positive impact on your dog’s condition and a reduction of seizure activity.

By supplementing a good quality dog food such as the recommended here with coconut oil, you can improve your dog’s condition.

You can offer your dog 1/2 tsp – 1 tsp of organic coconut oil for every 10 pounds of body weight twice a day.

If you pre-measure it and place it on a tray or a silicone mold with a couple of blueberries, a cranberry, or a piece of any other healthy fruit, then place them in the fridge. The coconut oil will harden and form easy and healthy treats.

Or, if your dog eats right after serving, you can simply mix the oil with it with its food.

Do Raw Diets Help Dogs with Seizures?

  • There is anecdotal evidence for introducing raw food diets for dogs with seizures, like ketogenic diets. For seizure activity, supporters of raw food diets suggest a diet low in carbohydrates and high in fats and protein, similar to the ketogenic diet but generally more flexible.
  • Supporters of raw diets for dogs with seizures point out that raw food diets have higher concentrations of L-Taurine and L-Carnitine, which can help reduce seizure activity in dogs. While you can add these amino acids to kibble, supporters of raw food diets argue that raw foods are a more bountiful source of nutrients than their processed counterparts.

Does a Ketogenic Diet Help Reduce Seizure Activity in Dogs?

  • When humans take on a ketogenic diet, many find that it drastically reduces their seizure activity. Many even achieve complete remission of their seizures with just a ketogenic diet. The exact reason this diet has such a profound effect on seizure activity is not fully understood.
  • One running theory is that the lower sugar and higher fat contents reduce the amount of glutamate in the brain. Doing so will reduce the “excitability” of the brain, so to speak, and reduce seizure activity.
  • Other theories posit that the ketones produced by the ketosis metabolic state of when the body fuels on fat rather than on carbohydrates, increase the synthesis of the compounds that help prevent seizures while decreasing the number of compounds that cause seizures.
  • However, dog bodies do not as readily enter ketosis as human bodies do. Because their bodies do not respond to the ketogenic diet the same way, empirical study shows little to no improvement when introducing a ketogenic diet to dogs.
  • While some anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise, it’s safe to say that you don’t have to go and find your dog a ketogenic food to reduce their seizure activity based on our current knowledge of dog biology. But they could benefit from supplementing with MCT oils.

Why Do Dogs Have Seizures?

  • Seizures in dogs are not well understood, even in the veterinary field. There is currently no accepted standard of judging the severity or frequency of seizure activity in dogs; we’re not even sure that what they’re experiencing are true “seizures” in the medical sense. Naturally, that means that understanding seizure disorders—if that’s what they are—is even scarcer amongst veterinarians.
  • Unfortunately, that means there are no universally accepted treatments for seizure activity in dogs. There is experimental evidence for dietary changes helping control seizure activity. There is also evidence for the use of anti-seizure medications. However, there has been limited clinical study treating seizures in dogs.

What Nutrient Profiles Are Most Appropriate for Dogs with Seizures?

A handful of nutrients are shown to help reduce seizure activity when it comes to nutrients. There are also a handful of additives that are shown to trigger seizure activity in those already prone to them.

High-Quality

Low-quality foods can contain trigger foods or other irritants that increase seizure activity. Investing in high-quality food with more rigorous processing procedures can help save you from the headache of potential cross-contamination or unknown sourcing.

B Vitamins

There is evidence that a deficiency in B vitamins can increase seizure activity. So, getting your dog food fortified with B vitamins or adding some extra B vitamins to their food may help decrease seizure activity.

High Protein

Protein supports brain health and function. Additionally, protein supports the nervous system. So, theoretically, a high-protein diet should help reduce seizure activity by bolstering support to the brain and nervous system.

What Foods Should Dogs with Seizures Avoid?

  • Dogs with seizures should avoid several foods and additives that trigger attacks in humans and dogs alike. BHA, BHT, xylitol, ethoxyquin, and artificial flavors, dyes, and preservatives correlate with higher seizure activity in dogs and people. So, avoiding these trigger foods can help reduce seizures in dogs.
  • Additionally, there is some evidence that seizure activity increases when dogs eat gluten. So, gluten and grain-free foods should also help reduce seizure activity.
  • As always, you should avoid any foods that are toxic for dogs like chocolate, anything containing theobromine, garlic, onions, or caffeine as these can trigger fatal seizures, or your dog may die from toxicity.

Final Thoughts

We hope that this guide for the best dog foods for dogs with seizures was helpful if you need to change your dog’s diet. While this is a good list overall, our top pick is Ollie’s Fresh Chicken Dog Food. This convenient fresh food is free of toxic byproducts that can harm your dog’s health. It’s also high-protein, low-carb, and full of cognitive health-boosting vitamins!

Edward Hollon is an avid dog lover and writer, knowing all there is to know about our furry friends. Edward has been writing for petdii for three years now, wanting to use her knowledge for good and share everything she can with new dog owners. Edward has two dogs herself - a German shepherd called Banjo and a chocolate labrador called Buttons. Edward knows more than anyone how adjusting to new life with a puppy can turn your life upside down, and she wants to ease some of the burdens through her articles.