Looking for wisdom on dog seizures

[Chik a Boom]

My 13 year old lab has had 3 seizures this year...one at the end of January, one in mid April, and then again tonight.

Two years ago was her first incident...she had 3 seizures in 2 days. I attributed them to eating bad mushrooms in our yard. Vet checked her out and said she had no other symptoms and gave us a dose of phenobarbital to give her. Since she seemed to recover so well we did not use up all the medicine so I put it aside. After the 2nd one this year, we're back on medicine. No mushrooms about this time. Have 2 other dogs that eat same food and walk the same yard, but are fine, though much younger. I will be talking to the vet tomorrow (which is a different one than before) hoping to learn something, but knowing there's a lot of dog owners here, I thought someone else might have some similar experiences and be able to shed some light...thanks.

 

[tnmandpshooter]

My 13 year old lab has had 3 seizures this year...one at the end of January, one in mid April, and then again tonight.



Two years ago was her first incident...she had 3 seizures in 2 days. I attributed them to eating bad mushrooms in our yard. Vet checked her out and said she had no other symptoms and gave us a dose of phenobarbital to give her. Since she seemed to recover so well we did not use up all the medicine so I put it aside. After the 2nd one this year, we're back on medicine. No mushrooms about this time. Have 2 other dogs that eat same food and walk the same yard, but are fine, though much younger. I will be talking to the vet tomorrow (which is a different one than before) hoping to learn something, but knowing there's a lot of dog owners here, I thought someone else might have some similar experiences and be able to shed some light...thanks.

Our 18 year old aussie shepherd had mini strokes in her final year of life. Each one with worsening intensity.

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[bullmack]

Our 2yo German Shorthaired has had two seizures, 1 extremely mild the other full on which happened in the vets waiting area. They've been diagnosed by a neurologist vet as anxiety based. (she's pretty high strung - even for a GSP) The only triggers have been being dropped off to be boarded (infrequent) and vet visits. She now gets pre-mediated starting 2 days prior to these events. She's never had a spontaneous seizure at home.

 

[jscheck]

My shepherd Ranger developed seizures at just over three years of age. He was on Pheno until his death at age 8 (from cancer). Get blood work from you new vet to verify. I hope it's not permanent!

 

[mckenney99]

I had a Husky that developed Gand Mall seizures as a very young dog and was diagnosed with Epilepsy. He was put on Dilantin everyday and the seizures subsided. As Major got older the seizures started again and we had to increase his Dilantin dosage and again the seizures would abate. Eventually the seizures would return and he was finally put on Phenobarbital which controlled the severity of his seizures, but they did occasionally occur. Major still lived to about 14 years of age and was perfectly healthy other than the occasional seizure which did no harm except to exhaust him when one was severe.
When Major was about a year old we were given an older female Husky by a coworker. She could sense when Major was going to have a seizure and she would come to my wife or I and then lead us back to Major where she would hover over him until the seizure started then nuzzle him until his seizure stopped.
Just like in humans, about the only thing you can do is prevent them from bumping into anything and getting hurt while they are having a seizure.

 

[Jon651]

Our beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback/Boxer mix had seizures right before he passed at 13 or 14 years old. Our vet told us that in elderly dogs, seizures like he had (he had multiple over several days) were a late stage sign of damage already done and not something that could be successfully treated while expecting any quality of life. It is just as tough to remember today as living through it back then, and it broke our hearts having to let him go.

I fervently hope you get good news at your vet.

 

[BONDOBOB]

Ya, our 11 yr old lab gets one a year but when we brought him in they told us that they call it old dogs sickness no cure just wait and when bad enough put him down they said when he is having one after about 15 minutes, get him up and get him moving some because ADREINELIN, usually is what stops it the best. We have found out that it does work on our lab just get him up and walk him slowly. YA KNOW eventually, the best way for HIM is to let him go

 

[doublesharp]

Wonder where forum member Watchdog went? He was a real forum asset on animal care.

My old red dog Barney is nearly 16 and is often disoriented but does not have what I would call siezures. Sometimes his back legs are wobbly but then he'll chase after 3 year old Spiffy like he was a puppy. I take every good day as a gift and they are mostly good days.

 

[Old_Cop]

Our shih Tzu Buddy was about 13 when he started having seizures. They got closer together and finally we had to acknowledge that we were keeping him alive for our own sake. The vet said that it had to do with a loss of protective wrap around his nerve pathways. He was a good boy.

 

[rwsmith]

Big Beau....

....got caught under some furniture and my drawing board and was having a fit trying to get out. While I was thinking how to extricate him, he seized, hit the floor, foamed at the mouth and peed a gallon on the carpet. I wasn't looking for finesse then and upended the whole works to get it off of him. He didn't show any bad signs after that. He got Bright's disease though and made it to twelve.

PS: Reading the stories here......"Aw, poor puppies'

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

My shepherd Ranger developed seizures at just over three years of age. He was on Pheno until his death at age 8 (from cancer). Get blood work from you new vet to verify. I hope it's not permanent!

Same thing with my lab Bubba. Was on phenobarb until he just up and died in the living room while we were at work. Wife found him at lunchtime and I was in the middle of a deposition when she called frantic. Broke my heart. Good luck-my experience says it will lessen the seizures a lot, but it WILL shorten the life span.

 

[Big Cholla]

I agree with Post No. 5; Epilepsy seems to becoming more common in pet dogs. A daily dose of meds is the only help until the seizures become too close together. Then the humane thing do do is put them down.

 

[Chik a Boom]

Thanks, one and all for your input. The seizures seem to strike in different and various ways. I ache and am so sorry for all those who have lost their best 4 legged friends.

We are awaiting blood work results after a vet visit today.

 

[Gunslinger808]

I had a Shepherd mix that developed seizures at about 8 years old.

The vet after many test determined that his problem was a calcium deficiency, a bowl of milk every other day cured his issue.

 

[Chik a Boom]

a bowl of milk every other day cured his issue.

Oh, how I wish it were that easy. I will certainly try.

Poor girl has had 3 seizures in 2 days now. No vets available til Tuesday after the holiday weekend, sigh. I'm sure the end is not far away, don't want her to suffer.

I really, really appreciate everyone's posts; I learned a lot more and felt very supported by all of you who have had to see this sadness...thank you.

 

[STCM(SW)]

My Shadow had seizures for over a year and a half. On several meds.
Sometimes she was OK for a week or two but then would get several
in a few days. Had a med you squirt in her nose to stop it.
Last Friday night was the beginning of the end. At least 15 seizures, one so bad on Sunday she could not move for over 5 hours.Last one was Monday morning at 07:20.
Had her at the Vet at 08:30 and stayed with her to the end....
Just picked up her cremation box this morning.....
Her buddy Shady Lady is not eating much and I think misses her as much as we do...
Don't go through what we did...
Think I need a stiff drink.

 

[Muley Gil]

One of my chihuahuas had several seizures one night. Called the emergency number and had her at the vet's office at 0800 the next day. She takes 2 ml of Phenobarbital every 12 hours. She hasn't had another seizure since. This started about 2 1/2 years ago and she is doing pretty good, considering she will turn 12 next month.

Good luck with your fur baby.

 

[Farmer17]

One day I was home and heard this thumping sound and found our 7 year old Sheltie Riley in our bedroom closet behind the clothes walking into the wall and bumping his head. Right after that seizures started and became worse and worse and we put him down about six months later. I've heard from others that marijuana CDC oil helps their dogs.

 

[Chik a Boom]

My Shadow had seizures for over a year and a half. On several meds.
Sometimes she was OK for a week or two but then would get several
in a few days. Had a med you squirt in her nose to stop it.
Last Friday night was the beginning of the end. At least 15 seizures, one so bad on Sunday she could not move for over 5 hours.Last one was Monday morning at 07:20.
Had her at the Vet at 08:30 and stayed with her to the end....
Just picked up her cremation box this morning.....
Her buddy Shady Lady is not eating much and I think misses her as much as we do...
Don't go through what we did...
Think I need a stiff drink.

Ouch. So sorry, STCM.
Hoping to not have to see an end like you did, but it's just really hard to know when to take what action.

 

[Chik a Boom]

Good luck with your fur baby.

Very kind, MG, thanks. And glad to hear your 12 year old is doing well!