Looking after a dog with Epilepsy
Discussion
GliderRider said:
Our Staffie, Bomber, was on Epirepress (phenobarbital) for several years. It was very effective and apart from one time I forgot to bring it when he was away from home for a few days, it kept the fits at bay. Only towards the end (he lived to nearly 14) did he have fits again even when we kept up with the tablets. Despite burying the tablet in his food he would eat all around it and we would find the 1/2 a white tablet left in his dish. In the end we pushed the half tablet into a piece of sausage which he would wolf down with out noticing it.
The fits were pretty scary to watch. He would have his jaw stretched wide open, gums drawn back baring his teeth, eyes bulged and legs thrashing around, and more often than not, weeing uncontrollably. As far as I could see, there were no lasting effects though.
This is encouraging that you were able to find a level of phenobarbital that kept the fits at bay and allowed a long life, thanks for sharing.The fits were pretty scary to watch. He would have his jaw stretched wide open, gums drawn back baring his teeth, eyes bulged and legs thrashing around, and more often than not, weeing uncontrollably. As far as I could see, there were no lasting effects though.
Sporky said:
That sounds positive. It can take time to find the right medication for any individual dog. Ours is now 30 days since the last seizure, when at one point it was 7-8 days; it took a few months for the combo of drugs to build up to the right level in her bloodstream.
How's your sheepdog doing Sporky?Mixed but OK. We made it to 7 weeks without, then one, then another 8 days later, but short (20 seconds or so) and not as severe. Found out she's been pretending to swallow the pills but spitting them out - no-one ever said she was smart.
I reckon if we can make absolutely sure she's swallowed them we should be 2 months between - maybe more.
I reckon if we can make absolutely sure she's swallowed them we should be 2 months between - maybe more.
Sporky said:
Mixed but OK. We made it to 7 weeks without, then one, then another 8 days later, but short (20 seconds or so) and not as severe. Found out she's been pretending to swallow the pills but spitting them out - no-one ever said she was smart.
I reckon if we can make absolutely sure she's swallowed them we should be 2 months between - maybe more.
Well, that's positive that you've been able to get to the bottom of why the fits have occurred. Is there any way you could open her mouth and put them down her throat? This is what we do with Mads as it guarantees she's swallowed them.I reckon if we can make absolutely sure she's swallowed them we should be 2 months between - maybe more.
Origin Unknown said:
Well, that's positive that you've been able to get to the bottom of why the fits have occurred. Is there any way you could open her mouth and put them down her throat? This is what we do with Mads as it guarantees she's swallowed them.
That's pretty much what we do, but she is wiley sometimes. I forgot to say - we have levetiracetam as a cluster-buster, and it does make Sprocket act like a half-blind drunk. Better than a dozen seizures over two and a half days though.
You are doing everything right. It will get less upsetting as you get used to it, and as you get the meducation balanced they'll get milder and less frequent.
You are doing everything right. It will get less upsetting as you get used to it, and as you get the meducation balanced they'll get milder and less frequent.
We nearly made it 8 weeks 
Another cluster yesterday and very much out of the blue. Mid-afternoon a cluster of 4 seizures and exactly as before, 12 hours later at 0330 a cluster of another two. No obvious precipitating factors and nothing changed in routine or behavior. I am beginning to think this is just going to be an occurrence we are just going to have to get used to.
On the flip side, she has really turned a corner with us! She is much fitter, much healthier, and a lot more playful which are all good signs. Given the vet's statement, "she is very fragile" when he assessed her just after we got her, she has come on leaps and bounds.
Another cluster yesterday and very much out of the blue. Mid-afternoon a cluster of 4 seizures and exactly as before, 12 hours later at 0330 a cluster of another two. No obvious precipitating factors and nothing changed in routine or behavior. I am beginning to think this is just going to be an occurrence we are just going to have to get used to.
On the flip side, she has really turned a corner with us! She is much fitter, much healthier, and a lot more playful which are all good signs. Given the vet's statement, "she is very fragile" when he assessed her just after we got her, she has come on leaps and bounds.
Posting here to avoid taking any happiness away from the photos of your dogs thread.
We lost our Maddie yesterday after two weeks of seizures, got her to a neurologist on Saturday, they heavily sedated her to break the cluster and we were going to try and add a fourth treatment. But she had another seizure under sedation at 4am and the neurologist said the fourth agent had a 20% chance of success. We had no choice but to end her suffering. We held her paw as she crossed the rainbow bridge. We are completely heartbroken.
Until we meet again, my beautiful girl.
We lost our Maddie yesterday after two weeks of seizures, got her to a neurologist on Saturday, they heavily sedated her to break the cluster and we were going to try and add a fourth treatment. But she had another seizure under sedation at 4am and the neurologist said the fourth agent had a 20% chance of success. We had no choice but to end her suffering. We held her paw as she crossed the rainbow bridge. We are completely heartbroken.
Until we meet again, my beautiful girl.
Thanks Gary and Sporky
We had a great 18 months with her, and we had so many great times with her and my other BC, Lamb. She was with me and my wife 24 hours a day, she had meds 5 times a day and when she had seizures, we slept in shifts on the sofa to keep her safe and so she knew she was safe. Now there is this huge hole.
We're really hurting right now.
moorx said:
Tears here. Gutted for you.
So very sorry to hear this. Thank you for giving her the very best chance she could have.
Run free at the Bridge, beautiful Maddie, all fit and well again. Hugs to your family who are missing you.
Thank you for the kind words Moorx, I can't stop crying, a grown ass man crying his eyes out.So very sorry to hear this. Thank you for giving her the very best chance she could have.
Run free at the Bridge, beautiful Maddie, all fit and well again. Hugs to your family who are missing you.
We had a great 18 months with her, and we had so many great times with her and my other BC, Lamb. She was with me and my wife 24 hours a day, she had meds 5 times a day and when she had seizures, we slept in shifts on the sofa to keep her safe and so she knew she was safe. Now there is this huge hole.
We're really hurting right now.
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