Think my dogs having seizures..

BroadfordQueen

BroadfordQueen

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 January 2006
Messages
11,463
Location
Worcs
Visit site
Hello,
My lovely jack Russell has recently been having what I think are seizures. She had her first one just before christmas- I was at work, and got a phone call of my OH who had been taking her for a run on the quad when she suddenly seized up, couldn't stand up, totally stiff and shaking and kind of licking her lips? He was going to take her to vets but needed my car so I was about to leave when he called to say she had stopped and was totally back to normal (a couple of minutes later) so we decided not to take her.
She then had another one, again when I wasn't there, about a month ago. Apparently this time she had all above symptoms but also drooled a little. Again it passed quite quickly and she was fine.
She has just had another one- the first I've seen. Just sat on the sofa with her and she suddenly jumps/falls/flops off, walked a few steps like Bruce Wain(!) and then hid under the sofa? Got her out and she was totally stiff, doing all above symptoms. Totally fine now. Was really scary to see, and all I could do was comfort her until it passed :(
So the frequency is pretty much bang on one a month. Is this frequent enough to warrant going to the vet for tests? She's only 4 so don't think it's a tumour, more likely toxins/blood sugar, is there point in taking her to the vets? She is insured, and obviously I want what's best for her, but on the other hand she will hate having to spend time at the vets and she never looks in danger of hurting herself?
Would love to hear if anyone has any similar experiences. She's my baby and I hate seeing her like it!
 
Absolutely take her to the vets- I would have taken her after the first but everyone is different!!
Fits are not a nice thing for a dog to experience and the fact she has now had multiple and is young should be of concern to you. I must say I'm a bit surprised you are actually asking if she needs to go to the vets!

She may have epilepsy and that needs managing with medication. they may only last a short time but any damage they are doing will be long lasting. Dogs fitting is definetly not normal.
 
I recently took my dog to the vet as she had a bit of a strange moment. it was 3 in the morning and I heard her crashing about, jumped out of bed and she was staggering round the room and panting, I cuddled her for about a minute and she was then perfectly normal..this was Christmas eve so not a good time to contact the vet so I went after Christmas as she had previously fallen down the stairs so I was worried. the vet said if she had regular attacks to bring her back but fingers crossed she hasn't so far had another one. the vet did say it can sometimes be caused by infection and a blood test would show if this was the case. hope yours is ok
 
BroadfordQueen said:
Hello,
My lovely jack Russell has recently been having what I think are seizures. She had her first one just before christmas- I was at work, and got a phone call of my OH who had been taking her for a run on the quad when she suddenly seized up, couldn't stand up, totally stiff and shaking and kind of licking her lips? He was going to take her to vets but needed my car so I was about to leave when he called to say she had stopped and was totally back to normal (a couple of minutes later) so we decided not to take her.
She then had another one, again when I wasn't there, about a month ago. Apparently this time she had all above symptoms but also drooled a little. Again it passed quite quickly and she was fine.
She has just had another one- the first I've seen. Just sat on the sofa with her and she suddenly jumps/falls/flops off, walked a few steps like Bruce Wain(!) and then hid under the sofa? Got her out and she was totally stiff, doing all above symptoms. Totally fine now. Was really scary to see, and all I could do was comfort her until it passed :(
So the frequency is pretty much bang on one a month. Is this frequent enough to warrant going to the vet for tests? She's only 4 so don't think it's a tumour, more likely toxins/blood sugar, is there point in taking her to the vets? She is insured, and obviously I want what's best for her, but on the other hand she will hate having to spend time at the vets and she never looks in danger of hurting herself?
Would love to hear if anyone has any similar experiences. She's my baby and I hate seeing her like it!
Click to expand...

Take to the vets - its the bodies way of saying something is wrong, book tomorrow please don't wait.
 
This sounds similar to my GSD. He is almost 9 now and this started when he was about 18mths old. Same symptoms as your dog. Vet started him on Epiphen. He has 90mg twice a day. He has taken it ever since he was 18mths old and has not had another seizure since. 6monthly blood tests are included in the price of the medication, which monitors how much of the medication is in his bloodstream to check it's enough or too much.

Thankfully we had life time cover with Petplan and the insurance pays for the medication. It costs about £34/mth. I would imagine your dog would not cost so much as he is much smaller and would not need as high a dose as a GSD.

Anyway, definitely take him to the vet ASAP. I have to say that I find it hard to understand why you have left it this,long since his first seizure.
 
I'd definitely want the vet to run a few tests.. Even a blood test will indicate if she is out of the normal ranges.
This is not a one off so something is triggering this..has she been exposed to pesticides etc?Sometimes low blood sugars can trigger an episode..is she eating regularly and often.she could even have low thyroid...
The thing about epilepsy is one attack can open pathways in the brain,facilitating the next attack...I'm saying if you allow it to go unattended then things could get worse.
 
Dizzydancer said:
She may have epilepsy and that needs managing with medication. they may only last a short time but any damage they are doing will be long lasting. Dogs fitting is definetly not normal.
Click to expand...

I had a Labrador bitch who first showed signs of epilepsy at 18 months. She was prescribed medication, which changed her personality and made her very subdued. I elected not to have her medicated long-term. She lived a long and happy life, with other dogs, until she died a few days before her 15th birthday. She had 3 or 4 seizures each year, on average.
I would get your dog checked, OP
 
As Pearlsasinger except my lab first had a fit as a puppy and had rather more fits than hers. We also decided not to medicate as 'the lights were on but no one was in'. Our choice, we felt a shorter normal life was better than a long half life. We lost our girl at 13 1/2 years of age from unrelated problems.

Do get your dog blood tested at least to check for possible treatable problems.

We have a 7 year old lab that has just had a fit, completely out of the blue. Her blood tests showed nothing. That was a few months ago and no fits since, so we wait and see, fingers crossed. Hopefully a one off but in reality, probably not.
 
To those not medicating that is fine but you have had your dog checked by a vet and made a decision once knowing what was going on.
OP have you taken your dog to the vets yet??
 
You have a duty of care to seek veterinary attention for a medical problem so yes you need tot ake her.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top