Dogs with Seizures...

[Mona]

When my Mom passed away in November 2010, we adopted her little dog "Brandi". She is an 8 year old, 10# Terrier/Chihuahua mix. Brandi has had occassional seizures, throughout the years, but nothing consistent. The vet told Mom that they did not want to do anything at that time as they were not happening often enough, and to start her on meds for it, may cause them to in fact happen more often, so she was never put on medication. October 2010, she had 2 seizures back to back while I was staying there with Mom. We took Brandi to the local vet (not her regular one) and they did a blood work-up on her and put her on some Phenobarbitol. (15mg, 1/2 tablet, twice a day) I am very consistent with her meds, never missing a pill, and she has not had any seizures since that time, at least that I am aware of. That's not to say she hasn't had any, as she may have had some when we are not in the house with her, or maybe throughout the night etc., but nothing that we have seen...until tonight. She did have a seizure, and now I am wondering if maybe her meds need to be increased?? Have any of you had this happen with your dogs and seizures? How was it handled? Thanks in advance for any info you can share.

 

[chandab]

My Aussie started having seizures after I moved home, she had them infrequently enough that the vet said to just watch her and if they became frequent we'd start medication (I'd say she maybe had 6 per year). She had them occassionally over the next few years, then to my knowledge they suddenly just stopped. She was seizure free for 2-3 years before she passed two years ago at 13.5 years old.

I'd check with the vet to see if she needs her medication increased, as my dog never was put on meds, I don't know the protocol.

 

[Miniv]

Mona,

Randy, our Golden Retriever, is 9 years old. Just out of the blue this past year he began having seizures. (I was by myself for the first one and it was frightening!) After three or four major Grand Mals the vet put him on Pheno, twice a day. He had a couple more and then would occasionally have what the vet tech labeled "mini seizures".

Fortunately, I have been documenting Randy's behavior since the beginning, including exactly when he receives his twice daily meds. The prescription states to give each pill 12 hours apart and we've learned that we need to be vigilant about that. If we are off even by a half hour, we risk having him go into a mini seizure. (Although we haven't needed them recently, we keep Rescue Remedy and Valerian Root (both liquid form) on hand, which helps calm him until the Pheno kicks in.)

Also, our vet stressed that Randy needs to have blood work done at least once a year to read his Pheno level in his system to see if his med needs to be adjusted up or down.

Hopefully all of this will give you some help with your little gal.

Maryann

 

[Marty]

I had a little dog I adored named Shawn. She was run over by a truck when she was 2 years old and the end result besides a broken pelvis and leg were grand mull seizures. She was put on prednisone. The first few months it had to be adjusted quite often because she was still having the seizures; several a day and they were horrible. I always kept a thick blanket around so I could cover her with it and basically pin her down and keep her still so she wouldn't hurt herself. Over the years she improved a lot and the medication was lowered considerably and a small maintenance dosage kept her from having any at all. Eventually she was removed from taken any meds and she never had another seizure. She lived to be 13 years old.

I'd say just to watch her as much as you possibly can and try to keep track of how often the seizures are coming and go from there. Eventually you'll get a handle on it. Watch her eyes a lot. When they look "glassy" that's a sign that she just came out of one.

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Seizures are difficult to watch, but other than creating a high level of exhaustion, they are non-painful for the patient. The 'good' news is that apparently the Phenobarb is not only needed it is also at near the right dose. Our goal should not be to eliminate seizures 100% (that would require a consistent overdose), but rather reduce seizures by at least 75%.

Unlike other drugs, 12 hour intervals are critical when administering phenobarb and blood work should be done at least every 6 months.

I know you had a difficult night and I sympathize, but after you go to see your Vet I'll bet you will find things are better than you may think.

Dr Taylor

 

[Sonya]

Brutus, my lab, who has since passed away had petit mal seizures, they started when he was about 2, he had them about 3-4 times a week...he too was on phenobarbital and we had blood work done on him frequently. After the pheno, in 2 years he had maybe 2 seizures (that we saw since we work)...another 2 years on the pheno and we never saw another one. We weened him off the pheno and he lived another 6 years without ever having another seizure. They are so disturbing to watch, it's very scarey. So to answer your question, yes Brutus still had seizures after being on the meds, but they were definately less. I don't know why Brutus' just stopped after 6 years, but I hope Brandi's do the same.

 

[Lizzie]

Mona. Chihuahuas, Border Collies and several other breeds and crosses of those breeds, seem to be prone to apileptic seizures. In Chihuahuas and Chi crosses, it is often associated with low blood sugar. (Hypoglycemia) You might like to consider having your Brandi checked for that.

Lizzie

 

[Reble]

Seizures are difficult to watch, but other than creating a high level of exhaustion, they are non-painful for the patient. The 'good' news is that apparently the Phenobarb is not only needed it is also at near the right dose. Our goal should not be to eliminate seizures 100% (that would require a consistent overdose), but rather reduce seizures by at least 75%.

Dr Taylor

I agree, had a lab many years ago with seizures, had many episodes but with meds decreased them. Never took them away 100 % but did live to be a great old dog of 13 years.

We put up a gate near our downstairs, I was always afraid he might have one when we where not home and he loved to lay on the landing.

When he had a seizure I sat on the floor beside him gently petting and talking to him. Also notice when on meds his episodes where shorter.

 

[Mona]

Thanks everyone for your responses. And thanks for telling me the importance of the exactly 12 hours for her Phenobarb doses. I usually have an hour or two difference from the time given in the morning to that in the evening.

I used to raise and show Chihuahuas for many years, and was/am very well aware of the hypoglaucemia, but the seizures Brandi is having are not due to the low blood sugar.

I guess I was just surprised not expecting her to still have them if she was on the meds. I just hold her on my lap nice and still and quiet until it runs it's course. I am used to seeing them, as we used to have a little Chihuahua that would have seizures once in awhile too, and ultimately died from them. Vet thought brain anyeurism. And yes, it is awful to watch. I am strong in that manner, that I am able to deal with it without falling to pieces, but just didn't understand how it works when they are on meds.

When this all started however, and they did the blood work-up on her, they found that she had severe panchreatitis. My Mom was notorious for feeding Brandi more "snacks/treats" than food. She did not let her get fat, but she just fed her lots of dog treats and people food. The vet had me take her off of everything to start with, and feed her only a very bland diet twice daily of lean ground beef mixed with white rice. Brandi loved it...thought she was in heaven and getting "people" food! LOL! Then we were told to wean her from that and put her on a very low fat dog food, which she has been on ever since...she gets Beneful (dry). It is very low fat, easy for her to chew, and she likes the taste. She does get treats, but we do not overdo them here with our dogs.

When this happened, I spoke to Mary Lou and she said something similar (the panchreatitis) had happened to her Collie too, and they found he had low thyroid, and she encouraged me to have Brandi checked for low thyroid. They checked at my request, and sure enough, she had a low thyroid, so is also taking thyroid meds twice daily for that. She has been getting the bloodwork done for that, but I didn't even know I needed to have her bloodwork done for the phenobarb. Dr. Taylor, is there a specific test name I need to ask to have done to ensure they are checking the right thing?

Thanks again to everyone for your help and input.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

[Miniv]

Now the thyroid issue is interesting, Mona....... Randy also has a low thyroid and was already on the meds when he started having seizures. That's curious.

 

[disneyhorse]

My dads Aussie gets grand mal seizures... First he was tested for thyroid and put on mess, but the seizures continued so he's now also on the phenobarbital. We'll see. This dog has tons of other behavioral and medical issues... I blame poor backyard breeding...

I meant meds, not mess... Darn iPhone...