New Delhi, Sept. 2 -- Few things are as frightening to a pet parent as seeing their dog or cat have a seizure for the first time. They may suddenly fall over, become stiff, paddle their legs, salivate, and seem unaware of their surroundings. It looks alarming, but knowing what to do can make the situation safer for everyone.

A seizure occurs when there is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The classic seizure involves collapse, stiffening and paddling, but seizures can also be subtle. Some pets stare into space, twitch their face, repeatedly snap at the air or show unusual movements affecting only one part of the body. Cats can have less obvious episodes that are mistaken for strange behaviour.

I've seen dogs w...