Epilepsy in dogs - long sorry

[piebaldsparkle]

My JR appears to have the occasional epileptic fit, now his fits are a bit strange as he doesn't lay down and paddle (like my 1st dog used to do) and there seems to be no trigger (my old dog always fitted when the weather was thundery). Ozzie's fits always seem to start when he is sleeping or resting. He jumps up and the runs drunkenly round tilling he crashes into something, the he stands when his head against said object flicking his feet. Fits last a couple of minutes 3 at most. I have discussed them with my vet, who says unless they get more frequent (currently 3-4 per year) or start to last longer, then not to worry.

However having watched him have another today (he hadn't had one since March), I can't help feeling if more should be done (Oz incidentally doesn't seem to know or care!!). So does anyone else have an epileptic dog? Is she/he medicated, and if they are do they still have fits, or has it stopped them completely?? Are their fits weird like Ozzie's, how often do they have them and how long do they last???

 

[SSM]

Bumble Dog fits

The paddling and loss of control lasts for an hour each time - we give her 10mg of anal valium and also put a bag of ice cubes along her saddle area to keep her cool - the biggest risk is overloading the brain so it is important to keep them cool. It had also been suggested on a Canine Epilepsy forum that fits could start when blood sugar drops - our vet is not convinced, however we now keep in the freezer at all time a tub of Vanilla Hagan Daz, she gets a spoonful with a drop of rescue remedy - BD is capable of eating while she is fitting

Since she was dignosed in January with a tumor on the brain and the subsequent chemo she has only fitted 3 times, and twice were after a visit to the outlaws, so I convinced there is something they put on their garden that makes her fit.

She is not on any daily medication (not even steroids any more

)

 

[dun_in]

If this is like seizures due to kidney problems then if fits are minor/irregular vets aren't keen on prescribing medication as it has to be given at very regular intervals and I believe that missing a dose/giving it late can in fact trigger a fit.

If your dog isn't worried then don't worry (-too much). Overheating is I believe one of the main dangers of prolonged active fits. Luckily mine just collapses, loses consciousness and her stomach moves heavily, and they aren't too frequent.

Don't risk handling your dog during a fit, unless you have to move it very slightly away from any vomit that may obstruct its breathing. Your dog may attack you however friendly it normally is as it won't recognise you and has no control over its actions.

I've found that keeping to a routine helps as any change in routine tends to increase the likelihood of a fit.

 

[SSM]

[ QUOTE ]



Don't risk handling your dog during a fit, unless you have to move it very slightly away from any vomit that may obstruct its breathing. Your dog may attack you however friendly it normally is as it won't recognise you and has no control over its actions.



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We have to hold Bumble Dog, she is aware of us while she fits and gets much worse if we are not touching her.

 

[dun_in]

In all probability it's probably actually safer to handle mine when she's having a fit than normally as she's so agressive the rest of the time anyway. Read an interesting article in Your Dog saying that agression can be a form of entertainment if a dog doesn't get enough stimulation. Suspect this is the origin of her problem with her first owner. She does seem to find being agressive entertaining. Tail wags etc. Good job she's so cute and absolutely charming to everybody outside the house.

Keep on holding if it helps. I reassure mine but I'm not sure how much she takes in. Once she comes to I put her in her basket to recover fully.

Re the OP my dog tends to fit most when resting/at night as well.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Interesting theory re: the blood sugars dropping low, although Oz doesn't vomit when he fits, he does vomit if his dinner is too late (which I'm sure is blood sugar related). I too pick up Oz and hold him when he is fitting (if only to try and stop him running into something

- which he would just lay down and paddle).