Erny Posted June 20, 2006 Author Share Posted June 20, 2006 (edited) Hi Rusky - thanks for asking and thinking about us. Well, I was a bit hopeful that the anti-convulsant drugs were finally kicking in (she's only been on them for 1 week 4 days) as we had two full nights (Saturday and Sunday night) with not sleep interruption. Well, I did, anyway. During the day, for all the time I could be with Kal, there was only one little teeny weeny seizure on each of Saturday and Sunday, that I could detect. Maybe she had more while I was sleeping, because they are so small and of short duration, it's difficult to tell. Last night, however, I had to get her up from the cushion in the loungeroom to go to the toilet so we could go to bed. Maybe I picked a bad time to coax her up. I find, of late, I need to actually support her up, as she's so reluctant to move when she's so relaxed. (Although during the day, she has no trouble getting up and down - save that she's not as strong in doing it.) I did think of leaving her there, but I do prefer her to be next to me in the bedroom so I can be on hand in the event of a more serious seizure. Anyway - back to the point. I finally got her up and she had a funny turn. Don't really know what it was, but she had this urge to try to run. She seemed disorientated .... heading in the wrong direction for the toilet, and I physically had to steer her. In the cramped area of the front door (with my sister's dog Monty getting all excited and barking ) I couldn't keep up with her and had to run after her to make sure she didn't fall (her legs weren't quite her own and she was very off balance and wobbly). But that seemed to last momentarily and she came back from her wee quite normally. She had another two or three of her little mini-seizures today. I was disappointed, because I thought the drugs were combatting them. But hey, maybe the phenobarbitone needs the full 2 weeks to level things out. It's day by day, Rusky .... I'm not sure for how long. We're ok, though - just getting through the rest of the week as best as we can. I'm mindful of not making Kal live a hellish life, but don't wish to make the move to stop it, too soon. Waiting, hoping and praying for the Phenobarbs to make things a bit better. In amongst all of this, she did manage a walk in the park yesterday. She was a bit sluggish and we didn't go very far, but she did manage to trot every now and again. I'm hoping the Phenobarbs will grant her a few more of these better days and park visits. Edited June 20, 2006 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted June 20, 2006 Share Posted June 20, 2006 Erny, having been on a tonne of different psych drugs myself I can tell you they do take at least 2 weeks to start kicking in, so definitely don't give up hope yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InspectorRex Posted June 20, 2006 Share Posted June 20, 2006 Hugs to both of you, you know you are both in our prayers Colleen, Bill and "Phoebe" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfgirl Posted June 20, 2006 Share Posted June 20, 2006 :p There aren't any words to describe what you and Kal are going through, sending good wishes your way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttaburra Posted June 20, 2006 Share Posted June 20, 2006 Erny, have most of the big seizures stopped? There could be some additional medication needed to help with the small ones. (Epilim or similar?). Hoping the next few days will see things settle down. Hugs to you and Kal :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusky Posted June 20, 2006 Share Posted June 20, 2006 In amongst all of this, she did manage a walk in the park yesterday. She was a bit sluggish and we didn't go very far, but she did manage to trot every now and again. I'm hoping the Phenobarbs will grant her a few more of these better days and park visits. I think you need a few more days to see the optimum results of the phenobarb but maybe as Abegav' suggested the vet may decide to add someting to control the mini fits. I think sometimes when even humans awake from an induced sleep or relax they can feel an urge to do a wobbly run, still half asleep... Hopefully that was the case with Kal. I am pleased that there are some improvements, you and Kal are ever in our thoughts. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted June 20, 2006 Author Share Posted June 20, 2006 Erny, have most of the big seizures stopped? There could be some additional medication needed to help with the small ones. (Epilim or similar?). Hoping the next few days will see things settle down.Hugs to you and Kal Thanks Abs ..... Touch wood, Kal hasn't had a Grand Mal for the last 1.5 weeks. In fact, the last one (which was the fourth one and was within just over 24 hours from the previous one) was on the Saturday I started her on the phenobarbs. I plan to wait out the honeymoon period (ie 2 weeks) for the pheno's to kick in and then see how she is. I will be calling Guy Yates around then, as he requested I do, to discuss further. I imagine he'll give me some direction, if necessary, at that point. Had an interesting conversation with a dog trainer colleague tonight. She had me email a summary of Kal's history and current status to her. She took it to her Vet (well known and respected by not only her, but also here on DOL). He has suggested that Cushing's could still be the culprit and that a liver biopsy will evidence this one way or the other. Has anyone else heard of this? It wasn't something the USA Vet specialist mentioned, that I recall .... although I will need to refer back to his email to double check. In fairness, there are some details this Vet may not be aware of. But he has invited me to telephone him. As he doesn't practice on Wednesdays, I will do so on Thursday. I'm not excited nor becoming any more hopeful, but it will be interesting to hear what he has to say. I am greatful if for nothing else, the interest my colleague has shown and the willingness and interest her Vet has indicated - even so far as to simply discussing the matter with her. He has also mentioned that Kal is in good hands with Russell Mitten and Guy Yates. Kal had quite a number of mini-seizures over a period of an hour or two tonight, but then she settled down into a heavy slumber. I'm about to settle in for a bout of heavy slumber myself (hopefully :D). Thanks to all for your thoughts. I have a couple more things up my sleeve to 'try out' (not looking for cure .... just improvement. Worth a shot. Won't know if I don't try, anyhow) and I will let you know what the results are, if I decide to go down those tracks. One relates to more wholistic care/advice .... the other sounds a bit more 'out there' :p. Ok, so I hate leaving stones unturned :p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loraine Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Had an interesting conversation with a dog trainer colleague tonight. She had me email a summary of Kal's history and current status to her. She took it to her Vet (well known and respected by not only her, but also here on DOL). He has suggested that Cushing's could still be the culprit and that a liver biopsy will evidence this one way or the other. Has anyone else heard of this? It wasn't something the USA Vet specialist mentioned, that I recall .... although I will need to refer back to his email to double check. I have never heard of a liver biopsy being done to detect Cushing's Erny. It is usually the ACTH, LDDS, HDDS tests and a look at the urine are all that I have known to be done. Just as an aside I have just read this on the US Cushing's site: As luck would have it, I recently got a free issue of Animal Wellness, a Canadian magazine, (the issue was not recent). Inside there was an article on liver problems...cushings being mentioned of course. It listed the many foods one should feed their dogs to keep the liver healthy, (yes some people food, rice, veggies, oats, flax, eggs, chicken, fish etc. milk thistle highly recommended), but what really made my mouth drop was a small blurb on the side about medications to avoid....heartworm meds being mentioned twice. I immedietly e-mailed the editor to get clarification on whether she meant heartworm preventative, (as many dogs in mosquito populated areas take) or the meds after a positive heartworm diagnosis. I give Hansel ivermectin 6x/yr. She wrote me back to say ivermectin is insecticide and that her holistic vet is dead set against it..."She is dead against giving invermectin to any animal most especially those in low risk areas such as Ontario and those with liver or immune problems..."I don't wish to scare anyone but for those of us that are dealing with dogs whose livers are compromised due to cushings, it may be something to rethink if your dog is taking a heartworm preventative. Please note ivermectin is the hw drug, not the brand name. She also recommended I read another article from the regional headquarters, and she gave me the # to request it. For those outside of Canada, I am not sure the # will work. Bottom line, I am not sure these meds cause liver problems or cushings but it is worth checking out further I think. Heartworm Article recommended: 1-866-764-1212 issue V713 Article I read:Animal Wellness magazine Volume 7 issue 3 1-866-764-1212 or www.animalwellnessmagazine.com Marena Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InspectorRex Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Ivermectin has been known to kill dogs and my breed, Rough Collies, has an ivermectin sensitivity, as does Shelties, Border Collies, Aussie Shephers, Cattledogs or crosses of these breeds. we can at least now DNA test for the Ivermectin Sensitivity and if the dog is Affected there are a whole heap of other drugs that can cause fatal or near fatal reactions to the dog concerned I have heaps on info on the sensitivity if anyone wants it. The only heartworm preventative we use is Sentinel Spectrum Ivermectin is a cattle drug and it and it's related ingredients are contained in drugs such as heartgard, Revolution, Advocate. If the word "mectin" is in any of the ingredients then steer clear. Hang in there erny and Kal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loraine Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Erny I have just found this site with regard to liver biopsy's and Cushing's http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dcushliver.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted June 21, 2006 Author Share Posted June 21, 2006 (edited) Hhhhhmmmm (erny searches for 'pondering' emoticon) ..... Thanks guys - I will follow this through out of interest and let you know what I find out, information wise. Edited June 21, 2006 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted June 22, 2006 Author Share Posted June 22, 2006 (edited) I will follow this through out of interest and let you know what I find out, information wise. I spoke to Guy about the liver biopsy. He's informed me that whilst Cushing's does/can cause liver degeneration (of some sort ... can't remember the actual words he used), taking a biopsy of the liver and finding it degenerated is not in itself a conclusive indicator of Cushing's. He suggests the tests we have conducted are the mainstay tests for Cushing's and given that all have returned negative, he is as confident as anyone could be that Kal's condition is not Cushingoid. Gotta say, this makes sense to me and that I'm tending to believe it's not Cushing's either. Bummer. Edited June 22, 2006 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted June 26, 2006 Author Share Posted June 26, 2006 Update:- It's been an emotional roller coaster ride over the past couple of weeks. Phenobarbs seemed to be now doing their job with only one VERY minor mini seizure (smaller than small and only lasted about 5 seconds) that I've noticed, anyhow, since last Friday (touch wood). However, nasal discharge with blood (from right nostril, again) has reappeared. This gave Kal a difficult time both with breathing and comfort over the last couple of nights. She snorted back, in the early hours this morning, and this seems to have cleared what I've not been able to clear from the front (with a tissue). It's still there, but seemingly and considerably less. She's been quite low and I was thinking those thoughts we all like to avoid, last night/this morning. First thing this morning I left a message for the Vet to call me. He rang this evening and doesn't think there's much we can do for the discharge, but agrees there's nothing lost in trying out antibiotics, to see if they will at least for the meanwhile, reduce the amount of phlegm. When I arrived home after training today, though, she was very bouncy and I grabbed the opportunity to take her in the car to the park. She cantered a little, and otherwise trotted (mostly) a full lap of the park, with a bit to spare. She's wandering around the house as I sit here and type - she's smelt the chicken I've cooked up for tomorrow's meals. These are small moments that I have learnt to treasure and will continue to do so while Kal is still capable of giving them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfgirl Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 Erny glad to hear that Kal is feeling bouncy, hopefully the antibiotics will help clear the nasal problem. I'm so pleased to hear the seizures seem to be subsiding, that is great news. Our weather is good, Kal's has a zest for life and you're feeling relieved, that sounds like a perfect recipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 Great news about the reduced number of seizures. Hopefully the antibiotics will help with the discharge. Give her a big hug from me - I think about her, Lucinda and Oscar often. (Ollie is a constant reminder that we are all in the same boat)... Cheers Jodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loraine Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 Hi Erny, glad to hear that the pheno is kicking in, and that Kal has enjoyed a trip to the park. Bugger about the nasal problem, poor Kal (poor you). Woman, you should be in charge of an army, you are putting in one heck of a fight for that girl - what a great Mum you are . Keeping you both in my prayers and thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnauzer Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 Hi Erny and Cal, I think of you both almost every day. I battled many years of seizures with my german shepherd dog, and thanks to a wonderful vet and great meds nursed him through to the age of 14. Kal reminds me of him, he fought with a great strength and determination. Best wishes to you both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allerzeit Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 Just wanted to send a huge :rolleyes: :D to you and Kal, Erny It brought a big smile to my face to read of Kal trotting around the park - cherish the moment, and love every minute that you can, I'm sure that's their message Lotsa thoughts and hugs to you both, Trace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 Good to hear she was feeling pretty good Hope it continues for you both :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 Glad to read Kal's seizures seem to be under control. You actually made my night!!!! The nose problem is odd. Hopefully we will hear good news in this regard shortly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now