Fitting Dog

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

My understanding is that phenobarbitone has to be given 12 hours apart and with (at least some) food. The timing is crucial from what (little) I've read thus far. I've had to delay Molly's first blood work b/c she has a nasty ear ATM but we aren't sure what it is b/c Molly (even under sedation) would not allow the vet to perform a complete exam. I'm not very happy about the experience...am still deciding whether to re-visit or to try a different vet clinic.

Sorry to go slightly O/T.

I would definitely look for a more knowledgeable vet if this were my dog. While you may live in a remote or regional area, making this expensive, you do have a primary responsibility to care appropriately for the dog. Do you have a major regional centre or small city within a couple of hours' drive? Can you give us an idea of what area you live in?

There is no way I'd be satisfied with the 'help' you've received for this condition. At the very least, if a brain tumour is suspected, a scan should be done to rule this in or out. Medication can be started regardless but without a proper diagnosis (reason for the seizures), treating with medication may not resolve or minimise the problem as well as it could do. Please find further help for your dog.

[mollydog2]

Thank you for your reply, one of the reasons I wrote to this forum was to find out what else I could do to help my precious Molly, from your letter it made me sound like I don't care or have any responsibility to my dog. We have been living in hell for nearly 3 years and everyone keeps telling us to put her down but I won't give up. We have been to all 3 vets in the area and I have used all the info they have given me. We were told that Brisbane is the nearest place to get neuros done and this is not feasable for us as we have young children. I have started to give her meds 12 hours apart and I will moniter her progress. It seems that whatever we do however much mediaction we give her the cycle goes every 6 weeks regardless. I just wanted you to know how much we love our dog and would do anything in our power to help her with what we can afford.

Molly's Mum

My understanding is that phenobarbitone has to be given 12 hours apart and with (at least some) food. The timing is crucial from what (little) I've read thus far. I've had to delay Molly's first blood work b/c she has a nasty ear ATM but we aren't sure what it is b/c Molly (even under sedation) would not allow the vet to perform a complete exam. I'm not very happy about the experience...am still deciding whether to re-visit or to try a different vet clinic.

Sorry to go slightly O/T.

I would definitely look for a more knowledgeable vet if this were my dog. While you may live in a remote or regional area, making this expensive, you do have a primary responsibility to care appropriately for the dog. Do you have a major regional centre or small city within a couple of hours' drive? Can you give us an idea of what area you live in?

There is no way I'd be satisfied with the 'help' you've received for this condition. At the very least, if a brain tumour is suspected, a scan should be done to rule this in or out. Medication can be started regardless but without a proper diagnosis (reason for the seizures), treating with medication may not resolve or minimise the problem as well as it could do. Please find further help for your dog.

[~Anne~]

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

Edited May 15, 2007 by Puggles

[mollydog2]

Hi

Thank you for your reply, I have joined the epilist and gaining some knowledge. I must admit we did administer valium when she started to cluster but she found no relief from it, for some reason valium makes her even more dazed but does not put her to sleep and it doesn't stop or make her have any less fits. We gave her 2 injections last time. I didn't know that you could give more phenobarb other than am and pm she gets 200 am and pm and we were told that she is up to her maximum dose from her last bloods she had done. All her meds are given with food and she drinks like a fish so we always make sure her bowl is filled and if we are out for a day she gets 2 bowls!!

Cheers

Molly's Mum

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