Epilepsy

[morgan]

his first one was after his kennel cough vaccination

In one study, 73% of epileptic dogs developed it within 3 mths of being vaccinated.

[Sonny]

Hi

Brilliant thread.

Our boy had his first full blown seizure this morning @ around 6:30am.

What a horrifying experience, I'm so glad I found this thread.

Having witnessed the one this morning we have realised that he has had one previously about 4 weeks ago that we only got to see the recovery from and therefore didn't realise what is was.

I call my vet a 6:45am and she was wonderful. We have to take him to the vets tomorrow for a blood test and then keep a diary of the events so they can see how to treat him.

We are very upset today but he seems his usual happy self.

Again, brilliant thread, it has stopped us worrying a lot.

[Staffy-Lover]

Hi Sheltie Lover,

Gabapentin has just been trialled in Australia by Sydney University and they got a good result. it is used in conjunction with other drugs not by itself.

it is used alot in the us - you should join the epil-k9 list, it is a list of people with epi dogs around the world. many from the us use gabapentin

[email protected]

my puppy uses pb and kbr at present, with an extremely strict diet, it has only been a week so not sure if it is going to work but fingers crossed it does.

hope you find a solution that works for you soon

let me know how the gabapentin goes if you end up using it

Edited December 13, 2005 by Staffy-Lover

[Staffy-Lover]

Sonny.

sorry to hear that you have just discovered epilepsy in your pup. It is a very frightening thing, but can honestly say that once you educate yourself on what to expect it becomes a little easier. Still scary, but the panic subsides.

i have posted above to sheltielover a list for epi dog owners, you should join, they have a wealth of knowledge that they can provide on what to expect, also, it is sometimes just good to be able to talk to someone who knows how you feel.

keep us updated on your puppy's progress

all my best

[White Shepherd mom]

Sonny, I am very sorry to hear about your pup. Your vet's suggestion of keeping a diary is spot on.

Write down what the weather is doing, what he's eaten, any meds (like de-fleaing, deworming, etc), how much activity he's had, treats he's eaten, etc. It might just help you find a trigger if your dog continues to seize.

As Staffy-Lover said, do join the epil-k9 list and read other people's comments and stories on the forum.

Let us know how you go, same with you, Sheltielover and Staffy-Lover and anyone else with epi dogs. It helps to know how this disease is being treated in Aus.

Hugs to all of you

[Owned by Shelties]

Hi I don't know if anybody has heard of this Vet Dr Charles Kuntz??? "Small animal surgery specialist" He works in melbourne at the Southern Animal Referral Centre he has just had a write up in the Herald Sun 13/12/2005.. He was looking for 5 dogs to perform this new brain surgery on Epileptic Dogs, it has a 85% success rate in humans but has never been done in the world on dogs.

I foned him up on thursday and my baby girl is a perfect candidate for this treatment. All costs are on his behalf as it's still experimental if all goes well total cost is about $3500.00 for anybody wanting to have this done..

He is hoping from this that it cures all epileptic seizures or will drastically reduce all meds.

Using a miniature camera to locate the corpus callosum,a small section of brain that connnects the left and right side of the organ.By cutting that to divide brain into halves, he hopes to stop the spams travelling throughout the brain and becoming grand mal seizures." The same operation on dogs can cause serious side effects, triggered by the need to retract the brain during surgery, by using a 1.7mm endoscope or mini camera he did not have to do this on the first or second dog.

I know that there is a risk with any surgery but do I do think that if does help to stop seizures or even drastically reduce meds well Im' at the stage now where i will try anything to hell annie.

I would be very interested if anybody has got any info or opinions for me. I have done my research on him and all clear there.

Thnakyou Sheltielover

Edited December 17, 2005 by sheltielover

[White Shepherd mom]

Sheltielover, I have not heard of this vet or the surgery. Would you consider writing your post on the canine-epilepsy site? I reckon you'd get some answers there, especially from those in the States who may have heard of it.

I would not try this on Casper at this point as his seizures are so far under very good control with limited meds (touch wood).

Thank you for sharing this info, I'll be interested to see what other comments you get.

[budgie]

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

When our boy, Lujan, was having siezures, our vet told us they are more susceptible to them when they are excited ie: when they're having dinner - and that fitted perfectly with ours. We spent may occaisions fishing mouthfuls of food out of his mouth and throat while he was siezing.

Good luck with your doggy. I hope any meds he gets put on help him. Just make sure if he has one when you're around that there's nothing he can hurt himself on - that's if he starts to thrash, and give him lots of cuddles and reassurance when he comes around. It can be a bit scary for them too.

Julie.

[White Shepherd mom]

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

When our boy, Lujan, was having siezures, our vet told us they are more susceptible to them when they are excited ie: when they're having dinner - and that fitted perfectly with ours.

Isn't it funny how they are all so different? All Casper's ones that I was present for occured while he was walking around, then he'd start his sz and fall over!

Has anyone's dog had a sz while out of the house? eg at the park or going for a walk or playing? All of Casper's 7 sz occured at home.

[budgie]

Ours all happened at home. The thing I was worried about was our kids seeing it and being quite distressed by it. In a way though, it was good for them to be exposed to it. We made sure we explained to them what was happening and in the end it didn't bother them too much. Also, extra cuddles were in it for him as well!!!

[Meg_Ed]

Greetings all,

Sorry i haven't posted sooner,but have been keeping watch over this topic since i last posted.I haven't started Eddie on meds yet as the vet has suggested to watch and wait for a couple of months.He hasn't (touch wood)had any sz for 4 weeks yeasterday.They had been about 1 every 3 weeks.

We had our family xmas yesterday and i thought for sure it would bring one on last nite,he'd had such a big day playing with the kids and chasing balls.He was was sooooo tied.But nothing,Just a very tired dog that snored very loud :cool:

With the 5 sz he's had 2 have been about 2am when he(and I) have be sound asleep, the others between 6-7am when he had just come back in from doing a pee.First the vets thought it may have been low blood sugars, so i had to feed him brekky at 8.00am and dinner at 8.00pm.But he still had a sz(that was the last one).

Good luck to all over xmas and new year.Hope all have a uneventful and relaxing time

Cheers Megs

[TTLuka]

sheltielover,

I would look a bit more into this surgery and most likely use it as a last resort. The corpus callosum connects the 2 sides of the brain and allows them to communicate. So the way I assume the surgery works is to prevent seizure spread from the focus in one hemisphere to the entire brain (causing generalized seizures, including the grand mal/tonic-clonic). Not sure what implications cutting the corpus callosum would have in dogs, but I assume it would be similar to as in people--the many studies done in the past on so called "split brain" patients. These patients have loads of trouble in completing tasks which require one side of the brain to communicate w/the other. That being said, many of these tasks involve language and object identification, which is less of an issue for dogs. As (hopefully) a future epileptologist, I know that this surgery is not the first option in humans, (seizure focus identification and local resection is preferred), and non-surgical treatment is almost always preferrable to surgery, and surgery is only performed in people with intractable seizures, ie: no response to multiple medication trials. I would talk to the people on the k9 epilepsy forum; you'll probably find that medications work to control (not completely stop in some cases) their pets' seizures. My cousin has epilepsy and has had 2 brain surgeries--you don't want to go under the knife sorta speak if you can use meds w/tolerable side effects.

Cheers and good luck; hope the best for your pup.

[White Shepherd mom]

As (hopefully) a future epileptologist,

Although I have never heard of an epileptologist before, I hope you plan to stick around on DOL so we can pick YOUR brain on the subject

Good luck with it!

[TTLuka]

Thanks! It's just a term for a neurologist who sub-specializes/focus in epilepsy; I think it's cool and a good chance to treat adults and kids

[Owned by Shelties]

Hi TTLuka,

thanx for the advice.. Im already a member of the [EPK9] epilepsy site and the respones I have received back from them are great.. basically I'm at my wits end and while there is a risk of annie passing away on the table, or it wont cure epilepsy I think it's time to try something new. I know all the risks and my girl is worth trying to do every thing for her.

Her meds she is on hasnt even helped control her "s" maybe if the meds were helping I'd just stick to them. I'm not one for having her so drugged up that she can't function it'd no life for her being like that.

Thankyou for your in put.

[Owned by Shelties]

Hi Everybody, thought I'd give you all an update on Annie, she has made it thru surgery. She is doing alot better than the two previous dogs before her that had this done.

Apparently she was up and nearly bounced of the table.. I will know more when I the vet calls me back after surgery.

So at this stage if all goes well she may come home to me on friday.

We will also know more in a couple of weeks to see if she has any "s" fingers crossed she doesn't, if going by her pattern at present she's due to have a "s" this saturday morning....

Just spoke to vet now and he said they are getting more responsive signs from her , surgery took 1.5hrs on previous dogs but only took 45mins with annie...

I think we have some guardin angels looking after her today..

[Owned by Shelties]

Hi All, another update on my epi "Annie" well she's not doing so well she is still in hospital on a drip (fluids) she has a high temp 39.4...

They took some xrays today to check her lungs and they have told me that they are pretty hazy???

I went to see her yesterday and took my pyjama top so she will have my smell, she was so cold to touch almost like she had died. I know it was major surgery but for her down wood spiral is what is really worrying me.

If she doesnt eat today they will be placing a tube into mouth and feed her that way..

I'm starting to second guess myself bout the surgery,then on the other hand I know it's only been 4 days and I should give her time..

Well hope you all have a merry xmas.

I will be going to the vet in morrabin tomorrow to have xmas with my baby girl.

Will update you tomorrow

[White Shepherd mom]

sheltielover, I really got excited when I read your first updated and just as quickly was upset by your second update.

For starters, never second guess yourself because your decision was based on Annie's best interests.

I am sending prayers that she will pull through. Please let us know how she goes.

:p

[Owned by Shelties]

Hi Whiteshepard Mom,

Thankyou for your prayers they will come in handy.. it has been a really sad time for my family at present.. I went to see her today and she is responding to my voice which is good.

Her temp has come down to normal and her electrolites are with in the normal range.. she has not been on any meds for epilepsy since last tuesday and has not had any "s". She was due to have one on saturday...

They seem to think that she may have had stroke (hence her long recovery) a small air buble has got into er blood vessels.

I can't thank Dr Kuntz enough for giving us the chance to hopefully cure her epilepsy if she pulls thru..

They are putting a feeding tube in tonight or tomorrow and also starting physio on her back leg as they are starting to not move :p ( just one of her back legs)

I'm back up to vet tomorrow morning to spend few hours with her.. my phone bill is going to be huge as I call 5-7 times a day for updates.

I will keep this list up to date as Im doing with the EPK9.

Thankyou all again

Sheltielover and Annie xxxx

[wayno]

Hi Everyone

This is my first post and I am extremly concerned for my beagle.

She was 2 in August and suffered her first seizure in June. It was about 30 minutes after her yearly booster shots. She just dropped to the floor and began foaming at the mouth, thrashing around, urinating and defecating. On speaking to the vet afterwards she said just to keep an eye her and see how she behaves.

As with most stories on here she was dazed and confused but not for 10 minutes or so, this could go on for a few days. And she wont drink, eat or some anywhere near anyone for at least 36 hours.

She has had a number of seizures since that day also. I do not know the exact number as since the first my wife and I have seperated. One she had in October was so bad that the vet demanded to see her. A day at the vet running blood tests, a night at the local animal hospital running more blood tests, MRI scans and everything else found nothing wrong at all.

Since then my wife said she could not care for the dog anymore. As I live in a small house with a tiny backyard I gave the dog to my brother and sister-in-law. They have a huge yard with plenty of space for the dog to run around in.

On christmas morning she had what seems to be another seizure although no one has seen it. Since then, she has not drank anything, nor eaten anything. And as of about an hour ago was still walking dazed and confused, refused to come close to me, or anyone else. And the only time anyone could get close she snapped back and bit them on the hand. She was very scared this afternoon and was shaking quite alot as if she was scared or extremely cold.

I am at a loss as what do to next. My brother has already said he doesn't want the problem of caring for her which I completely understand. But with me working 50 hour weeks before overtime neither can I.

If anyone can help out with suggestions it would be great. You can email me directly on [email protected]