New To Epilespy

[My_Spaniels]

Hi All,

My English Cocker Spaniel, Bailey (who turns three today!) has been tentatively diagnosed with epilepsy.

It began approximately 6 months ago with just a sezuire about every 4-6 weeks.

Yesterday it suddenly got a lot worse - he has had 10 sezuires since 10pm last night.

When he was initally diagnosed, we opted to complete the standard blood test for lead poisoning, general health etc. Everything was perfect - very healthy. We decided to see how we went before commiting to further expensive tests or placing him on meds.

Today, to give him some respite from this sudden onset, we will start him on Phenomav. I am not entirely comfortable with starting him on medication straight away without ruling out all other possibilites, though the tests are quite expensive and I don't want to see him keep suffering while we go through testing.

I have found lots of info on epilepsy on this forum, which has been very helpful. I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced this sudden increase in seizures?

Or if this is unusual, maybe it worthwhile completing the tests.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

My_Spaniels

[Cavandra]

Can you link them to a chemical reaction like Frontline, Advantix, heart worm medication, changing flea/tick collars etc being 4-6 weekly seems highly likely.

Does he get the annual heartworm shot? This drug is linked to seizures & that is one of the main reasons it was withdrawn from the market in USA & other Countries.

I do know of over vaccinated/annual heartworm dogs that are now seizure free through detoxing etc using Homeopathics.

[Cavandra]

I have found a link finally, (I knew I had it somewhere!) This website has the epileptic diet that has been devised by Dr Jean Dodds .......

Dr Jean Dodds diet recomended for epileptic dogs

[~Anne~]

My Spaniels, you will find as you deal with your dogs epilepsy that seizures have no rhyme or reason. What you have experienced is called a cluster seizure. Some dogs are clusterers, others are not. Some dogs never have single seizures. Some dogs only have focal seizures. Some dogs may have a seizure every day for 6 months and then none for 6 months. Some dogs may have a rhythm of a seizure every 21 days for 3 years and then change to every 30 days.

There is no rhyme or reason generally for seizures in most epileptics. In this case it is called idiopathic epilepsy. 'Idiotpathic' meaning it doesn't follow a sequence and 'epilepsy' meaning seizures of no known cause.

I live with a dog that has idiopathic epilepsy and has clusters seizures. This year for the first time ever he is experiencing single seizures. He has only had 4 that we know of. It has been a great year so far.

Up until January of this year, Monte's rythms changed regularly. He would have a cluster every 14 days. This would then alter to a cluster every 12 weeks, then it might go to a cluster every 4 weeks. There is nothing that sets him off. The rhythm he is in currently is easily manageable and I hope it remains this way.

Your dog has started having seizures at the classic age. Most dogs diagnosed with epilepsy are between 18months - 3 years.

The phenomav is 'phenobarbitaol' or Pb. If the Pb doesn't control his seizures adequately they can add another drug. The most common drug added is Potassium Bromide of Kbr. Sometimes both drugs are needed to control the conditions. Monte is on both Pb and Kbr. Without medication, the clusters could mean an ealry death. The heart is put under enormous pressure during a seizure. A cluster of seizures obviously adds to this. He needs to have his seizures controlled regardless of why they are occuring.

There are many causes for seizures apart from epilepsy. Some Vets will recommend brain scans to check for abnormalities of the brain, there are also blood tests that can be performed, all of which can be expensive.

I hope this info helps you.

[My_Spaniels]

Thanks Cavandra!

We are going to try the diet and see if we notice any improvements.

We haven't used anything new with him so I am not sure its environmental. We did think maybe diet as we rarely feed him anything other than fresh meat, rolls, chicken necks but very occasionally we give him 'Chunkers' that you can get from the fridge section at Coles - its what we call a 'take away' night. We noticed that he started this cluster seizures the night we fed him chunkers and he also vomitted them.

So, to be safe, we will keep him away from those.

[My_Spaniels]

Hi Puggles,

Thanks so much for your very informative post. I did some research on the cluster seizures and it does sound very much like what he is having. Ended up telling the vet more than he could tell me!

We are now on our third day of Pb and no seizures though he is definitely not back to his old self, so I am looking forward to getting through the next two weeks and getting tested for the dosage.

He doesn't appear to know who we are and has 'fairy syndrome' seeing imaginary things with a lot of head jerking. But he is eating and drinking - alot! And seems to be comfortable.

I was concerned about brain damage - as by the time he got to the last seizure (which ended up being 13) he was entirely non responsive. We bathed him and he just lay in the bottom of the tub and couldn't stand up for hours. After the seizures he would pace the entire house and appeared to be blind to any objects and walked himself into corners and furniture. It would last for about an hour or so, then he would rest for a while and then another seizure.

Is brain damage a common thing with this?

Its wonderful Monte's seizures appear to be under control. I am just hoping we get to the point very soon..fingers crossed!

[fiery_di]

My iggy has quite bad seizures. He is approx ten (dont know correct age as he is a rescue).

The last time I left giving him his Phenomav a bit later than normal he suffered a seizure for half hr, then another for a few minutes after the half hr one lapsed. He was exhausted to say the least. As I suspect your dog would be also after 13 seizures.

It is best not to 'allow' the dog as such to go thru these seizures and would recommend the Phenomav if this has been given as a way to combat this... Bobby has been on them since he came with me in April and is just a normal happy go lucky dog.

Puggles is the BEST person for advice in regards to any epilepsy questions in regards to your dog. She is the WEALTH of info for this topic on DOL...

[~Anne~]

Thanks so much for your very informative post. I did some research on the cluster seizures and it does sound very much like what he is having. Ended up telling the vet more than he could tell me!

Epilepsy you will find is a quite specialised veterinary field and so although most Vets know what epilepsy is, they really only know the basics unless they have spent time treating and researching the condition. My Vet has ofetn phoned me up over the years to ask something or requested urls and things from me. Between us I think we have it down pat thogh, I sitll couldn't manage the condition without him and his knowledge, it just needs to be a team thing.

We are now on our third day of Pb and no seizures though he is definitely not back to his old self, so I am looking forward to getting through the next two weeks and getting tested for the dosage.

It may take him up to 6 weeks to settle in with the drug. At first he may be clumbsy (usually termed 'ataxic' and is primarily in the hind region) and spaced out but as his body adjusts to the Pb these side affects will lessen. Depending on the dose they may dissappear altogether.

His thirst will increase as well which also means he will urinate more and so you will need to be mindful of his access to outside for toileting (assuming he is a house dog). His hunger may also increase... which usually makes it easier to medicate them anyway but be wary of letting him get fat.

He doesn't appear to know who we are and has 'fairy syndrome' seeing imaginary things with a lot of head jerking. But he is eating and drinking - alot! And seems to be comfortable.

The head jerking is a worry? Is he like this all the time? If so, then I would suggest that this may be seizure activity... and I would think there may be a neurological disorder? If it happens on and off then it will also be seizure activity (not all seizures are grand mal) and his meds may need to be adjusted to try and stop this.

I was concerned about brain damage - as by the time he got to the last seizure (which ended up being 13) he was entirely non responsive. We bathed him and he just lay in the bottom of the tub and couldn't stand up for hours.

One of the most important things is to keep him cool as his body temperature will rise dramatically during prolonged seizures and to prevent further injury. You should try to get the cluster under control to minimise damage. We actually give valium orally and or rectally to stop the cluster. The valium is only administered at the time of the seizure activity. The brain damage will occur only if the seizure is prolonged as he will not breathe during parts of the seizure.

After the seizures he would pace the entire house and appeared to be blind to any objects and walked himself into corners and furniture. It would last for about an hour or so, then he would rest for a while and then another seizure.

That is exactly what Monte does. I actually try to nurse Monte as much as I can in between the seizures to stop him walking into things and to allow his body temp to drop (no activity also helps drop their temp). This phase is called post ictal (although with clusters, he may not be coming out of the seizure entirely and so it still could be part of the seizure). Some dogs can be post ictal for up to 24 hours, but most are like your dog.

Is brain damage a common thing with this?

I am sure that a few brain cells are killed off with every seizure a dog has... but I am not so sure that many dogs suffer serious brain injury. It is the pressure on the heart and overheating that is more of an issue. My Monte has always been dumb... and I think he is a little dumber these days but he is still awfully cute. :cool:

Its wonderful Monte's seizures appear to be under control. I am just hoping we get to the point very soon..fingers crossed!

Thanks, we are happy with his recent health too. Good luck with your guy.