~Anne~

Keep in mind also that it only takes one flea to jump on, have a bite and jump back off again to cause the reaction. The reaction is not neccessarily a reflection of the number of fleas and so even though you may not see any fleas, continue to treat well after the derm has cleared. Rappie, eons ago (in the 'olden' days) when I was nursing they actually were able to treat dogs with severe and chronic flea bite derm by building up the dogs immunity to the saliva over several months but I can not recall what it was they injected the dog with to build the immunity up. The dogs I saw treated recovered completely. Do you know if this is still available? I think it may have been in trials stage at the time I mention.

Glad to hear you got some value out of them. Please keep in touch and let us know how your boy does. Be patient as it can take up to 12 months to get his levels to the optimum amount to prevent his seizures.

The majority of seizures that Monte has are in the middle of the night......the next most common time is at breakky.

Sorry but I am very sceptical. There is no explanation as to how the medication works and their information on what seizures are and what causes them is very limited and not always factual, in fact it even states that is is only 'based on' material written by a supposed Vet. I would not risk my dog with these drugs and I would advise you to do the same. The side effects from both Pheno and Bromide are minimal. Damage to the liver can happen but this is also not common. The most common side effects are harmless and include things like increased hunger and thirst, idiosycrinic (sp) behaviour and some hind leg weakness. My advice is to stick with your vet and listen to his instructions. Athritis is a relatively harmless condtion, epilepsy is not. Before you make any decisions research epilepsy a little more. I can highly recommend these two sites (just click on the link below); Understanding Your Pet's Epilepsy and Veterinary Partner EFS (as usual )

We call ours Monte Bear because he is such a teddy bear!

Monte doesn't urinate or defecate either and can have several different kinds of seizures. Monte's seizures range from an almost 'frantic' state where he is panting, his heart races and he appears to be in anothr world, then he will stop, stare and stiffen up and usually drops at this pointnt on his stomach. He remains this way with just stiffening and a few twitches and drooling and then is up and almost manic again. This type usually lasts for up to an hour. He also has another type where he becomes very wobbly in his hind legs like he is drunk, staggers around and sounds almost like he is choking and he stops breathing almost completely. He almost 'snaps' out of these and becomes completely normal within 30 seconds and leaves no evidence of what has happended. He also has the usuaul cyclonic type where he stiffens and stares, drops on his sides, froths at the mouth and 'runs'... this also gradually slows down after a few minutes and he will be up and a little dazed for a few minutes while slowly coming to. I'd be interested to hear more about the homeopathic treatment althoug I doubt this would be suitable for Monte due to the severity of his condition.

I live with a gorgeous little epileptic Pug. Monte without meds was having up to 10 seizures in a row occurring every 10 days on average. They are scary to watch in the beginning... now I just feel soory for my poor little man and I wish I could stop the seizure and cuddle him. But, as has been said, after the siezure he is fine, albeit a little tired sometimes and if he is going to have multiples he will remain a little 'dazed' in between them. We can always tell if he has had one when we have not witnessed it because there will be wet patches on the floor or around his mouth from the drool. Monte is currently on 60mg of Phenobarbital per day and 400mg of Bromide per day. The Phenobarbital was not enough to control his seizures effectively and so the Bromide was introduced approximately 6 months later. Medications don't always control the seizures completely in dogs (or humans) that have epilepsy to a med - high degree. Expect that he will still have a seizure now and then. The meds will need to be constantly adjusted and checked throughout his life. Every 12 - 24 months he should have his liver function tested to ensure there are no problems and he should have his drug therapeutic levels tested every 6 - 12 months if there are no problems with siezures and more often if there are. We have chnaged the dosage umpteen times for Monte and this needs to be done till you get the levels perfect for your dog. Monte is a happy little vegemite and I expect he will live a full life. He has some little problems that are related to the epilepsy but nothing of great concern. One word of advice - in order to effectively control the seizures the medication MUST be kept constant in his system and this means giving his meds EXACTLY 12 hours apart every day. If we failt to give them 12 hours apart with Monte, he will begin to have seizures, not straight away but within a few days as it takes some time to build the levels again. They drop immediately but take time to build up.

Really? Thanks Rappie. Your posts are always very informative. I bet that will put the wind up the Iams argument.

You got it in a nutshell Nothing to worry about. If you don't like them make sure he lies on soft bedding all the time which ican be very diffiuclt...... you can also put vaseline on the area to soften it and help it go away but only if you can stop him lying on hard ground.

Amonia and bleaches attract cats... don't ever use them or you'll encourage her.

Scrub the area really well. There is a FABULOUS carpet cleaner liquid in Hardwrehouse that sells for around $4 for a litre bottle. Rinse the area equally well and then dry it with an old towel. Smother the area with bi-carb soda and when dry vacuum off. Works a treat every time. Perhaps also then drop a drop of Nilodour onto the area (sells in Supermarkets, tiny little green bottle of concentrated stuff, not the watered down version). Saldy, cats do some strange things as they get older. Toileting in areas that they normally wouldn't is one of them. They also can become lax with cleaning themselves. I would say a touch of age and maybe even senility. I am hoping that my cat is not about to tread that path herself. Normally she is fastidious with her toileting... this morning she was outside and did both a number 1 and 2 on the back porch on the tiles????? !! The garden was 2 foot away from her................

Harry wanting to play with me while I am trying to take his pic.

I just received an email about one of the gorgeous little dogs I fostered for Paws n Hooves a year or two ago. I am so sad. He was a lovely little dog. :D In part the email read: I'll post his pic when I find it. Edited to add his pic. This was Harry at Renbury. And the second and happier pic of him was at home.

:D No hope of survival without urgent veterinary care........... The pups will literally bleed to death................. can take 1 hour... can take 4 weeks..... but it will happen.

There is no proof yet that epilepsy is genetic however so the breeder shouldn't be concerned.

But the change only shows the theurepetic levels of the drug in the dogs system. Meaning that it should be a certain level for the weight of the dog, the type of dog and dependant on the level of seizures i.e. - 20 kg dog should have 'x' level of drug in system to be effective in the control of the seizures. In this instance there is no seizure activity so I am very surprised they even upped the levels . Please let us know what the new vet says. I'd be really curious to hear. Is the new vet experienced with epilepsy??

If he is now 12 and has only had one more siezure in the last 10 years I would be cutting him off his meds. Epilepsy will not kill him unless he is having multiple and or massive siezures. Dogs that only have one or two episodes every year are usually not put on medication becuase the medication is more trouble then the epilpsy. I'd be having a talk to your vet and asking why he has been on Meds for this long even though he is not haveing siezures. Usually vets will advise if the dog has been seizure free for 12 months they take them off meds.

Theoretically it is not ataxia. Ataxia is the inability to coordinate movements (limbs)... and in this instance, the limbs are coordinated just slow and clumsy. Ataxia as a disease is a degenerative conditon of the brain I think that causes similar type symptoms to multiple sclerosis.

The sluggishness is the result of the meds. Not much can be done. There will always be a degree of lethargy regardless while he is on his meds and that is another reaosn why you must persist in adjusting the meds till you get them at optimum levels for him. Monte still drags his feet when I take him for a walk to the point where he wears the front nails down to nothing and they bleed. I am currently seeking for appropriate foot wear to prevent this. It sounds bad but Monte is actually a very happy little chap even though he can be a bit lethargic at times. The bromide and pheno also have side effects - and Monte suffers from almost all of them. * Increased hunger (.... and Labs being as gutsy as Pugs, you'll have fun with this one! ) * Restlessness (sounds like it goes against the lethargy but in reality it doesn't.... he paces the lounge room looking like he is half asleep... although this mainly happens at night and throughout the night) * Increased thirst and urination (I always put paper down at night just in case but he doesn't always need it) * Weakness in the hind legs (when his dose is upped - usually after he has suffered a seizure we up it for a moth or so to get the levels back up and this is when the weakness is really noticeable) * Clumsiness (when he is on high doses whe have to be careful if he jumps up on the lounge because he is likely to fall when not concentrating) EFS and to add a pic of Monte... isn't he adorable!

Hi, The term 'epilepsy' actually refers to any seizure disorder for which there is no obvious reason (i.e. brain tumour etc). I have a Pug, Monte, who has epilepsy. He was diagnosed just on 12 months of age. Monte also continued to have seizures after the pheno was prescribed. We then added another drug to the mix called bromide. Monte still has the occassional seizure and we are always adjusting his meds. Be patient. Epilepsy is not easy to control. It takes many, many months of adjustment of his medications and lifestyle before it will settle. Expect that your dog will probably always have seizures, but that they will be far less in frequency once you have got him on his optimum level of drugs. Blood tests need to be taken often, particularly while you are adjusting his med levels. It can take up to three months for the levels of the current amount to settle in his system. Each time you change the levels, expect that it may take this long again to settle. Be warned that the tests can cost up to $200 each time. We have adjusted and re-adjusted (remember, giving 3/4 of a tab is also an option - most people only think in halves or full tabs) his meds and now have them just right. He also becomes very sleepy if they are too high. Currently his meds are at a level that 'just' covers him and this sees him at his best and not too sleepy, although he still has the occassional seizure. To stop them completely would mean having a dog that is too dosed up and I really don't believe he enjoys being that way just as much as I hate to see him that way. One last important thing and this I believe is the MOST important thing overall and is more oftent then not overlooked by vets giving advice. His tabs MUST BE GIVEN EXACTLY 12 HOURS APART. Timing is crucial, particulary for us where the dog is on the minimum dosage possible. If I fail to give him his meds 12 hours apart and leave it till 13 hours apart, he is at risk of suffering a seizure because the levels of meds in his system drop very rapidly at this point. I get up at 5.30am EVERY day of the week, 365 days a year to give him his meds and I have either myself or someone else in my family meducate him at 5.30pm EVERY day of the year without fail. On the odd occassion I have slowly altered this time slot but always maintain the 12 hours apart as much as humanly possible.

Hi Yogi, I'd suggest a look at the DDEAF site for training tips. It is specifically for deaf dogs (including re-homing deaf dogs). Look here: Deaf Dogs

Really????? I was always under the impression that dogs were not affected by the 'saliva' as humans are i.e. It does not cause a reasction in dogs that makes them itch as it does in humans.

I can't really help much as my dogs are all small (under 10kg's) so I can afford to spend up 'big' on them. I would probably spend around $10 a week and I feed mince, eggs, pet milk, kibble (variable), sardines, veges, pasta, rice and yoghurt. I don't feed treats.

Vaccines are given subcutaneously (i.e. under the skin)..... not intramuscular (i.e in the muscle).... so why was she given it in the bum and side??? The most common spot is at the back of the neck near the shoulders as this is where there is usually the most excess skin. Are you sure it was a C5 injection?

Pugs are also candidates for hotspots. One of my boys gets them on the odd occassion but usually only in the warm sticky months of the year. His are caused purely by the the heat and humidity. He gets them in the folds around his neck. They take ages to settle again and for the hair to grow back after treatment.