Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 3 - Wonton"s Amazing Start

The story continues happily.

First some background on Wonton, the pug. Now 6 yrs old Wonton has been suffering from seizures for 4 years. That’s most of his young life. They are grand mals that happen about once every two weeks. He also has some chronic dermatitis, with much rubbing of his face and licking of his paws. Very uncomfortable. He has had multiple adverse vaccine reactions – acute facial swelling, generized pruritis, rashes, hives, urticaria. He has also suffered from chronic otitis (ear infections) treated palliatively with topical corticosteroid/antibiotic ointments. His personality remains true to his breed – happy, sweet, bright.

His treatment included a customized supplement protocol, a grain-free home-prepared diet to correct his dysbiosis (poor bacterial mix in his stomach and intestines) and the homeopathic drug Thuja occidentalis. You might notice this is the same hp rx as for Arden, our other seizure case in this blog thread. This is just coincidence. Supplements included a good multivitamin (most multivits on the market are poor quality), and another to help with the environment in his GI tract. This is very important. The environment in the stomach and intestines will dictate the environment in the rest of the body, including even the brain.

First Follow Up Appointment – 3.14.11
Amazing! Wonton’s owner, Jenna, has been seizure free for the first time since he was two yrs old! It has been six weeks. He should have had three in that time frame. Once he showed signs of starting one but it never came. I have been a doctor in practice for 26 years and practicing homeopathy for 24. I am still amazed and delighted like a child every time I see results that seem so miraculous like this.

Understand that the homeopathic drug did not do what conventional drugs do. The Thuja did not suppress the seizure chemistry, or alter the brain chemistry in any way. All it did was stimulate Wonton to change it, to correct it himself! Like a coach that trains an athlete, Thuja gave the instructions and Wonton’s body did the work. This is why homeopathy can truly be called curative. Once a patient’s body returns itself to normal chemistry, a state called homeostasis, it tends to stay there. Homeostasis is the default for body function. That is why, when done properly, there is no need for homeopathic treatment after cure is reached. The body is in “balance” and tends to stay there.

Wonton’s paw licking has also decreased by approx. 90%. He used to lick for 20 minutes at a time. Now it is just 1-2 minutes. That’s a huge difference. There was an aggravation of his occassional tendency to vomit. He had one week where he vomited three times. A typical flare up of symptoms during a move toward cure.

This is a very promising beginning for Wonton!

The Thuja dose was increased and a recheck set for one month.

Epilepsy in Dogs Part 1

What is epilepsy?

Know the signs of seizure

It is a condition of recurring seizures wherein uncoordinated firing of the neurons in the cerebrum takes place. In dogs, it is not fully understood but it has some similarities with the causes in human beings. Neurotransmitters are chemically imbalanced so the nerves are uncoordinated. An epileptic dog will show uncoordinated firing of the neurons within his brain. These are called seizures, also known as fits or convulsions. It usually starts in dogs at the age of 6 months to 5 years.

Two different types of Epilepsy:

1. Idiopathic Epilepsy- The cause is unknown, it may be inherited.

2. Secondary Epilepsy – Normally, a vet will run some tests to rule out possible toxic, or physiological causes before he makes his diagnosis as the dog having idiopathic version. There are many types of seizures seen in dogs and often, the owner is not aware of his pet’s condition. Epileptic seizure is the abnormal brain activity manifested in the part of the brain called the cerebral cortex. These abnormalities that cause convulsions vary from petit mal to generalized, full body grand mal.

4 stages of seizure:

1. The Prodome – It lasts from minutes to hours and sometimes days before the actual convulsion. The dog will show changes in his behavior or mood.

2. The Aura - The owner will notice the initial signs during this stage. Some pet dogs will begin trembling, salivating, licking, pacing, wandering aimlessly, hiding, urinating, or whining. Some other dogs may show stranger behaviors like excessive barking and attempts to get the owner’s attention.

3. The Ictus – This is the actual seizure stage, wherein the dog may lose consciousness, gnash his teeth, thrashing about his legs and head, crying, drooling, losing bladder and bowel control, and paddling his feet like he is running. Some stranger types of seizures in dogs will make the dog suddenly go blank and just stare into space, while others will frantically run in circles. The ones with partial seizures will experience twitching in one area of his body only, it could be in one leg, his face, in his hips, or in the shoulder.

4. The Ictal – It happens just after a convulsion. The dog will act like he’s doped, drunk, deaf, or blind. Some dogs may endlessly pace, or drink lots of water. Others pass out and sleep. 

Causes of seizures

Seizures can be caused by many conditions:

• Liver disorders


• Brain tumors


• Congenital  defects


• Low sugar (hypoglycemia) or conditions like diabetes mellitus


• Fever or hyperthermia


• Heart problems, difficulty breathing, or anemia  


• Kidney disorders


• Brain damage resulting from trauma or poor blood flow to the brain


• Infections like canine distemper


• Low calcium in females that are nursing young


• Toxins such as antifreeze, chocolate, or lead


• Primary / idiopathic epilepsy


• Certain medications the dog is taking

What triggers a seizure?

It is unknown but a lot of dogs experience convulsions when excited. Very often, the dog seizures while playing, or when children have just returned from school. One dog had seizures after visiting the vet hospital. Other dogs have seizures while asleep. Do not confuse this with dreaming since it is not uncommon for dogs to shake or bark while asleep. You can awaken a dreaming dog, but not a dog having seizures.

How is epilepsy diagnosed?

Firstly, the vet will obtain detailed history. Neurologic, physical exams, and laboratory tests are then be performed. Sometimes x-rays are also taken. If the vet cannot identify the cause of the convulsion, the condition is then diagnosed as idiopathic. No test is yet available to diagnose epilepsy per se, the tests simply rule out the other causes of convulsions.