~Anne~

They are, aren't they!

Do they!? Thanks, never too old to learn!

Isn't the sphincter located in the anus? Sorry, can't help you on the other q's though. I have had a few with infections after being speyed but a week or so on anitbiotics and they are fine. I have never had anything perm.

Yep, sounds like that is what it was. ... although I'd be surprised at there being enough to be thought of as a 'puddle'???

Surgery is the only way to correct it and is only needed in severe cases. The snorting is caused by the tip of the palate flapping into the trachea during respiration. They also are more likely to snore, gag, or retch, and in severe instances, they may collapse if the airflow is obstructed completely. An elongated palate is usually found in brachy breeds and other small breeds. It is not common in dogs the size of Mastiffs but it can affect any breed. Edited again to add this article. It should answer most questions. :p

Melbell, he will definitely need to be een by the Vet so that they can determine the cause of the seizure. It may be from disease, poisoning, head trauma or it could be the start of epilepsy. After a seizure most dogs need energy. We give ours a little jam on bread whilst on the epi list I am on they advocate ice-cream. The post-ictal phase (after the seizure) can last for anything up to 24 hours. My Pug, Monte, only has a very short post-ictal of around 10 minutes or so. He is almost trance like and is very restless and usually crashes in to things during this time as if he is blind. He remains restless for hours after a seizure though.

What about petmilk with eggs Roxi? Does he like to drink milk or even mixing it with full cream yoghurt???

Lamb mince I am told is the best for weight gain. I think it was Cordy who advised this to me once when I was trying to fatten up a Pug (a Pug... can you believe it!)

Fat and muscle are two completely seperate things. Fat does not turn into muscle. You can have a very low fat percentage with high muscle and vice versa. Muscle grows through physical activity. Sorry, I know this doesn't help your main query anyway but I thought it should be made clear.

My personal opinion is that the 'BARF' diet is a money spinner for some. While I agree wholeheartedly with the fact that a dog should be fed a raw diet that meets the canine's specific needs I do not believe that the pre-purchased 'barf' patties and similar are warranted. I prefer to follow the RAW principle when feeding my dogs. Naturally this is just my opinion and quite truthfully I have nothing but gut instinct and personal knowledge to back up my thoughts on BARF but it works for me and my dawgs and that is the most important thing.

The oil is fine if he doesn't have weight issues and if it doesn't give him loose motions. I have dogs that are prone to weight gain and a dog that has to have fats and oils restricted due to medication so I only ever feed sardines in spring water. Trial him on the oil and see what happens. If his stools soften too much then revert to spring water. The tomato sauce ones are bad as they contain added salt and sugar which dogs do not need.

I feed mine no-name brand sardines in springwater. Three tins for around $1.30. Those that are feeding mackeral - Be warned that they have a very high salt content as does the sardines in tomato sauce (which also has added sugar). Taurine doesn't hurt dogs. I also feed my guys the ocassional tin of cat food as they love it but there isn't much fish oil in most tins so I also give my cat fish oil capsules.

Weekly.

I have pm'd you the epi list I spoke of. I hope you find some answers. Canine epilepsy is not an easy condition to live with. My dog, Monte, also has clusters but he only has 5 or 6 at a time within an hour. We have been seizure free since January but this has happened before. It goes in cycles and there is no way of predicting when the next one will be. I strongly advise that you administer the valium when he starts to cluster. The strain on his system must be enormous. You can also add another dose of pheno when he starts. The most important thing is to stop the cluster. I can't stress that enough. Medicating at 12 hourly intervals is also vitally important. For every hour he goes with being medicated, the elvels of the pheno in particular drop in his system. As mentioned, always give it with food. Make sure he has plenty of water available as well to help his liver and kidneys deal with the medication. EFS

Wow, in that case then the only option is to have her properly assesed. If she is indeed having 40 or 50 tonic/clonics I am amazed that she has survived. I am sorry if that sounds a little distressing but she is in the very real position of not surviving the next cluster. I have never heard of a dog having that many quite frankly without at least going into status or going to the Bridge. Is she being medicated at exactly 12 hourly intervals? Has any vet done a thyroid panel? Could she be exposed to any known pesticides or insecticides? There is an excellent epi list that I suggest you join and see what other advice you can get. Let me know if you would like to join this list. It has people from all over the world as members who have dogs with epilepsy and there is also a resident Vet.

Hi, Has anyone done any kind of neurological exam to determine it being a brain tumour? I find it odd that a dog that is having seizures that are caused by a brain tumour is put on medication prescribed for epilepsy and there is not further treatment of the cause of the seizures. When you say she is having 40 - 50 'fits', what exactly is a 'fit' in your eyes? It would seem that your dog could not possibly be having tonic clonic siezures as this number of seizures within a 48hours period would undoubtedly kill her. The strain on her heart for one thing would be astonshing. She would also be declared as being in status and would need emergency veterinary care. I assume she is therefore having a focal type of seizure?? A quick note on her meals. I was advised some time ago to cease all carbohydrates for my epileptic dog. I no longer feed rices or pasta and give minimal kibble. He eats only beef and chicken mince, sardines, eggs, yoghurt and veges.

mollydog, your first priority is to determine a way to bring the seizures under control. What state are you in? What are the therapeutic levels currently of the bromide and pheno and when were they last checked? When you say you are giving valium, are you giving this during the seizure? In what form - oral, IV or rectally? Is the Bromax replacing the Epibrom? How much experience has your Vet with epilepsy? I have an epileptic dog as do several other members of this site and I know from experience that some Vets are not very good with dealing with epilepsy. Given that your dog started her seizures around 4-5 years of age did they initally check for other causes? Has she visited with a neuro? Has she had her thyroid checked? Do you give the medication EXACTLY 12 hours apart religiously? This can affect the levels quite severely if the routine is not adhered to. Do you feed the medication with a little bit of food? What food doe you feed her. Different food compositions can affect the regularity of seizures for many reasons. The food that your dog eats will also predict the way that the Bromide is absorbed.

So? You've have just said you didn't know if it was or wasn't followed up. Perhpas you didn't express yourself well?? If you don't know then what are you angry about... they may have followed up. Are you angry because they didn't call you back?

I'd be interested to hear of any results from the sandpaper and foil. I have many pairs of blunt scissors lying around and have no idea how to sharpen them apart from trying to use that rod thingy... and all I seem to do is make them more blnt when I use it????

Depending on what meds they put him on he may need to have all sodium reduced as this can play havoc with certain epilepsy meds. Also avoid carbs. I have stopped all rice, pasta and many limit kibble. His thirst will increase with phenobarbitone and he will also need to go to the toilet more frequently. His appetite will also increase but all of these symptoms will depend on the doesage. Be prepared for many, many months of sorting out his meds.

Yep At Priceline they currently have a special on glucosamine tabs (i take these for runner's knees) and fish oil tabs under the Nature's Own brand. I think it was around $19 for both. 200 tabs in each.

The Neuro that both Staffy-lover and I have seen (Ryde Speciliast Clinic - Dr Georgina Childs) recommends it as it is beneficial for the brain (exactly how I am unsure). I have started my guys (all of them... and the cat!) on 1 capsule a day. The main difference I have noticed is in their coats. I have always fed sardines but the fish oil has made a big difference, particularly for the cat.

LM, I can always tell Monte has had a seizure by the sides of his face being wet or the fur hard as he drools a lot and it sits under the side of his face. This is the first thing I check and then I look for signs of wet patches from drool anywhere on the floor.

Good news CK. We are also doing well in the world of seizures..... nothing since January which is so unusual but it did happen once before. He went 8 months without a seizure once...... we have now hit 3 months and counting.

It is usually noticed more in 'lap dogs' Tim because the timing of it can be a little off....like when they are sitting in your lap. :rolleyes: