We have a dog that has idiopathic epilepsy and has been on Zanicimide for years. Dr. Jennifer Rammelmeier here in our area recently also recommended homeopathics as an alternative which we are planning on exploring, especially as our Zorra ages.
The article below from Natural Awakenings Magazine details some of these alternative therapies for use in treating seizures.
Preventing Seizures – Natural Dog Remedies Can Out-Do Drugs.
Each and every kind of dog can experience attacks. Like other human conditions, epilepsy has different stages that can predict the occurrence of the seizure. There are a lot of possible things that can happen during canine seizures and it is always important to take note of some precautionary measures whenever your dog is experiencing a seizure. If it is your first time to find out that your dog has epilepsy, then it is highly suggested that you take a short read on epilepsy in dogs and get some advice from your veterinarian. You can also join some organizations that cater to owners or pet lovers who would like to learn more about epilepsy in dogs.
As aforementioned, there are a lot of safety measures to be taken whenever a pet is experiencing an attack. If you are not aware, loud and sharp noises can worsen or increase the duration of dog seizures. It is always important to keep your animal as quiet and as calm as you can.
You should also make your surroundings peaceful and quite to avoid distractions. If you have other dogs at home, it is very possible that they will interrupt or attack the dog that is experiencing the seizure. It is important that you take away other dogs from the scene to avoid this kind of disturbance. Pet health problems usually last for about 10 minutes or more if it is extremely severe but around 1-3 minutes if mild. If you would like to keep your dog safe, staying with it during the seizure will ease your worries. Apart from that, the dog itself will feel safer if there is a sight of its owner or master. Also, never forget to take note of the duration of the seizure whenever it occurs. It will help the veterinarian diagnose the condition and will also help in deciding on what treatment measures to take.
Treating the problems is not an overnight thing. There are a lot of steps to consider before being able to fully prevent dogs from having seizures. There are a lot of medications for epilepsy in dogs that are already sold in the market. However, keeping your animal safe during a seizure should always be an important thing to remember. Through this, you are also helping your pet to cope up with the situation when a dogs attack or seizure is occurring. Here’s to great pet health!
After your pet has suffered from convulsions, your vet will make a thorough examination by taking blood samples, blood serum profile, and perhaps even a urinalysis. These tests will aid in determining the benefactor of the event, thus providing a clear view as to which treatments should be undergone. If their epileptic activity is habitual and recurrent, hospitalization of the animal may be inevitable. Treatments will involve intravenous anti-convulsants like diazepam or valium in order to control the episodes. Once under control, daily medication will be prescribed for as long as the physician sees fit.
One of the cheapest and most effective anti-convulsants for dogs is Phenobarbital. This drug is overall safe and can be easily tolerated. There are few that will experience a sedative effect until their body adjusts to the medication; this may take up to two weeks. Phenobarbital is given twice a day in 12 hour intervals: it is important to give the medication at the same time each day. Be aware that Phenobarbital can cause liver problems if the use is prolonged; however, it has been known to control around 80% of seizures.
Another anti-convulsant is potassium bromide (KBr) which vets have been using for the past 10 years to control seizures in dogs. At time it is used in conjunction with Phenobarbital and it is 75% effective for fits which cannot be controlled by Phenobarbital alone. KBr is to be given once a day usually at night and causes no liver problems. So if you pet has suffered a seizure, be sure you know what to do and get to the vet as soon as possible so your companion will be put on the right kind of medication promptly.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small sized spaniel that is often called a “toy†breed. They are a highly popular breed in the United States and the United Kingdom. With its glossy smooth coat and a tail that is not bobbed, the breed comes in four colors: Blenheim, Black & Tan, Ruby and Tricolor: which is black, white, and tan. The King Charles was bred with a parent breed that has a flat nose which was a drastic change to its counterpart. Connoisseurs of this pup tried to take the animal back to its origins but were unable to do so successfully.
Unfortunately, this breed suffers from a series of genetic health issues. The most notable of these genetic health issues is mitral valve disease. This affliction can cause the victim to experience heart failure. Most Cavaliers will acquire this disease during some point in their life, as this is their most frequent reason for death.
Adding to their list of hereditary malignancies is Syringomyelia: a genetic issue that affects both the spine and the brain. Said condition can have varying symptoms that range in severity; such as, Partial Paralysis, Severe Pain, and Mild Discomfort. The cause for this issue is the malformation of the lower, back half of the skull; this is called a Chiari Malformation. This occurrence reduces the available room suited for the brain, squeezing it and forcing it through the cavity and into the spinal cord. The blockage of cerebral fluid around the spine and the brain makes the internal blood pressure of the animal rise; in turn, creating fluid pockets within the spinal cord.
With more than 90% of Spaniels incurring said condition, the symptoms for this disease usually show up between six months and four years old. The signs present themselves as frequent scratching of the neck or shoulders on one side of the body and sensitivity in the shoulders, neck and head. A dog that appears to be clumsy or falls down, may also be afflicted by this disease. The pet could also be suffering from primary secretory otitis media or PSOM. The common name for this condition is glue ear. Episodic falling syndrome can also have the same manifestations’ proper diagnoses requires an MRI.
Cavaliers can also be affected by attacks on the central nervous system, which includes the spinal cord, brain, pituitary gland, raquideous bulb, and the cerebellum. Dogs suffering from health problems that affect the spinal cord, namely syringomyelia, will have complications with its reflex actions. The pet may have problems with twitching its ears, blinking its eyes and so on. These occurrences may resemble an epileptic episode.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can also be plagued by ear problems and ocular complications. Adding to the list, this breed often suffers from Hip Dysplasia and Luxating Patella. These progressive defects may not be present at birth but will develop as the pet ages. Diagnosed via x-ray, genetic defects of the knee and femur are also known to occur.
The initial listing of a Cavalier residing in the U.S. was in 1952. The Cavalier King Charles Club in the U.S. was founded by Sally Lyon Brown and Elizabeth Spalding. The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was founded by a group of people so they could gain recognition by the American Kennel Club. The breed became recognized in 1995 and the initial club became the club of the Cavaliers.
These dogs are among the most popular breeds in the United States: ranked 25th most popular among canines. They are playful, affectionate, eager to please, and patient; they are a great addition to families with children and other pets.
One of the more recently recognized disorders in dogs is one known by several terms, including Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome, CECS, or more commonly known as “Spike’s Disease.” A tricky disease that is often misdiagnosed as epilepsy, CECS is considered to be a problem of multiple body systems, including the metabolic, neurological and muscular systems.
The symptoms of CECS vary, and an affected animal may display many of them or only a few at one time. Symptoms include trembling, staggering, dizziness, exaggerated stretching, and an unusually slow or methodical posture while walking. Also, the dog’s abdominal and lumbar (back) muscles may cramp severely, and the animal may fall over and be unable to rise. In other dogs, the cramps occur in the head and neck and are usually associated with exaggerated stretching as the dog attempts to relieve the cramped muscles. Finally, in some cases, the animal’s intestines will rumble loudly and it may have intestinal pain, which often leads to a misdiagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Through all of these symptoms, the dog will remain aware and able to respond to voices and other outside stimuli.
Most dogs develop CECS between the ages of 2 and 6; however it can appear in older and younger animals. Some dogs may experience only one or two episodes in their entire lifetime; others will be affected as much as several times each week. Also, the episodes themselves can range from a few seconds to several minutes. In more severe cases, the dog may need a veterinarian’s help to stop the seizures.
One of the most difficult problems with CECS is that every dog will exhibit its own unique combination of the above symptoms. Since this syndrome is so easily confused with epilepsy and IBS, it is helpful for the owner to videotape the animal during one or more episodes, so that the veterinarian can perform a more in-depth evaluation. Most owners also are advised to keep a journal with a complete description of their dog’s seizure-like episodes. They should write down the dates, time of day, frequency, duration, severity and any other relevant observations about the animal’s condition. If a dog is having a seizure episode that lasts for longer than five minutes, or if it has several episodes consecutively, the animal should be taken to a veterinarian right away.
Diagnosis of this condition is made after a number of blood and laboratory tests to rule out other medical issues, and after viewing the dog during an episode.
CECS is a hereditary syndrome in Border Terriers, but it can occur in any breed of dog. Changes in diet allow most affected animals to go into remission or greatly reduce their symptoms. Your veterinarian can recommend a specific diet plan, based on the individual dog’s condition. Above all, affected dogs should not be given certain items, including: rawhide and rawhide chew toys, pig ears, high-protein treats, canned or tinned moist dog food, and most importantly, it is critical that you do not feed your dog human food. Care should be taken as well to prevent the animal from eating garbage, birdseed and/or feces.
Once a dog has been diagnosed with CECS, treatment with the epilepsy medications Diazepam and Clorazepane Dipotassium have been helpful in some cases. In others, intestinal spasms can be minimized through drugs like Buscopan and Gaviscon. Above all, it’s necessary to work with your doctor to ensure your dog maintains a relatively high quality of life.
I recently had an email from a former client who has a dog that suffers from seizures.Percy is a 4 year old yellow Lab with epilepsy. He has been on traditional ant-seizure medication, and is not responding very well now. He is suffering from seizures once a month, even on the highest doses of these medications.My former client asked me if there was anything she could do at home, holistically. She wants to avoid conventional medications as much as she can. So I sent her the information in this article. You may not have a seizuring pet, but you should be aware of the signs and possible solutions.Seizures in DogsThe signs of seizures vary, but they generally include some of the following symptoms. Loss or derangement of consciousness, contractions of all the muscles in the body, changes in mental awareness (from non-responsiveness to hallucinations), involuntary urination, defecation, or salivation, or behavioral changes, including non-recognition of owner, viciousness, pacing, and running in circles. Seizures consist of three parts:1) The pre-ictal phase (aura) is a period of altered behavior in which the dog may hide, appear nervous, or seek out his owner. He may be restless, nervous, whining, shaking, or salivating. This may last a few seconds to a few hours.2) The ictal phase is the actual seizure itself. This lasts from a few seconds to about five minutes. During this period, all of the muscles of the body contract strongly. The dog usually falls on his side and seems paralyzed while shaking. His head will be drawn backward. Urination, defecation, and salivation often occur. If it is not over within five minutes, the dog is said to be in ‘status epilepticus’ or prolonged seizure.3) During the post-ictal phase, there is confusion, disorientation, salivation, pacing, restlessness, and/or temporary blindness. There is no direct correlation between the severity of the seizure and the duration of the post-ictal phase. Despite the dramatic signs of a seizure, the dog feels no pain, only bewilderment. Unlike with us humans, dogs do not swallow their tongues. If you put your fingers into his mouth, you’re not going to help! You will run a VERY high risk of being bitten – and bitten very badly. Do NOT place your hands in his mouth. The important thing is to keep your dog from falling and hurting himself. As long as he is on the floor (or outside on the ground), there is little chance that he will harm himself. If the seizure continues for longer than a few minutes, his body temperature will begin to rise. If hyperthermia (over heating) develops along with a seizure, you will have another set of problems. Prolonged Seizure (Status Epilepticus) Status epilepticus is very serious. It is characterized by a seizure that lasts more than five minutes. When this occurs, your dog’s life is in danger. Unless intravenous medication is given quickly, death can occur. If your dog is in this state, you should IMMEDIATELY take him in for emergency veterinary care.Causes of SeizuresThere are many, many causes of seizures. Epilepsy is the most common reason and of least consequence to the dog. The other extreme includes severe diseases such as brain tumors. Fortunately, most seizures are due to epilepsy.Possible SolutionsWhen a seizure occurs, we begin by taking a thorough history concentrating on possible exposure to poisonous or hallucinogenic substances or history of head trauma. We also perform a physical examination, a basic battery of blood tests, and an electrocardiogram (EKG). These tests rule out disorders of the liver, kidneys, heart, electrolytes, and blood sugar level. A heartworm test is performed if your dog is not taking heartworm preventative very regularly. If these tests are normal and there is no exposure to poison or recent trauma, further diagnostics may be performed depending on the severity and frequency of the seizures. Occasional seizures are of less concern than when the seizures are becoming more severe and frequent. In this instance, a spinal fluid tap and fluid analysis may be performed. Depending on availability, specialized imaging of the head with a CAT scan or MRI might be performed. Fortunately, these additional tests are usually not needed.To The Veterinarian:We generally prescribe 1-2 weeks of anticonvulsant therapy. If there are no more seizures during that time, the anticonvulsants are gradually discontinued. The next treatment is determined by how long it takes for another seizure to occur. That may be days, months, or years. At some point, many dogs have seizures frequently enough to justify continuous anticonvulsant therapy. Since that means that medication must be given every 12 to 24 hours for the rest of the dog’s life, we do not recommend that until seizures occur about every 30 days or unless they last more than five minutes.It is important to avoid sudden discontinuation of any anticonvulsant medication. Even normal dogs may be induced to seizure if placed on anticonvulsant medication and then abruptly withdrawn from it. Your veterinarian can outline a schedule for discontinuing the medication.Hypoallergenic Diet:There are reports that show a link between diet and seizures in dogs. Every seizuring pet should at least try a commercial hypoallergenic diet for 12 weeks. You can also make your own elimination diet.Melatonin:This has been used an anticonvulsant for some dogs. Many dogs only have seizures at night.Homeopathic:Cicuta virosa. This can be given to control seizures.Serenity:Many pets with epilepsy will seizure in response to certain stimuli, such as loud noises or bright lights. Get to know what triggers your pet’s seizures, and avoid these situations.Try the above solutions to see what works for your dog. Note how I mention diet as a possibility: if you are not feeding your pet a quality premium NATURAL food, make the switch NOW. This will help with more than just seizures – this will help in almost all areas of disease. Do what you can! Become a member of my Inner Circle and stay up to date with ways to treat your dog at home. See the link to my site, theonlinevet, below. Until next time…
Convulsions or fits are usually called seizures by veterinarians. They are relaÂtively common and have many causes. These causes can be due to problems outside the brain such as toxins, low blood glucose or liver problems. They can also be due to a problem within the brain itself such as epilepsy, encephalitis or tumours. Seizures can be generalised and cause unconsciousness, rigid limbs, continuous, violent, limb movements or ‘paddling’, salivation or frothÂing at the mouth and possibly urination or defecation. Partial seizures vary greatly but usually involve involuntary movements such as facial twitching or changes in behaviour. Sometimes a seizure may just be an episode of staring into space. Prior to a seizure, a period called the aura, the dog may be anxious and behave abnormally. Similarly once a dog has recovered from a seizure, they may be disoriented and are often very hungry or thirsty. They may even appear blind, behave very strangely and sometimes seem demented. This is called the post-ictal period and can last for hours or days, even after only a short seizure.
Seizures are upsetting for onlookers, especially if it is the first time that you have seen one. If your dog has a seizure for the first time, the cause may not be obvious, or there may be evidence that they have ingested a toxin, in which case you should take them to your veterinarian immediately. Seizures may occur due to low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia in diabetic dogs that have had an insulin overdose. They can also occur in young puppies that have not eaten regularly enough or have been vomiting. They can also be caused by the artificial sweetner, Xylitol. If you suspect that the seizure has been caused by low blood sugar you should rub some honey or another sweet substance on the dog’s gums, being very careful to avoid being bitten, and take them to your veterinarian immediately.
If they recover from the seizure, offer them something to eat and then take them to your veterinarian. When the cause for the seizure is not obvious you should take your dog to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Regardless of the cause for the seizure you should move any objects such as furniture away from the dog so that they do not hurt themselves. You should not try to comfort or hold the dog as they are usually unconscious and the movements are involuntary. Similarly, do not try to rouse the dog. A seizure will last as long as it is going to last and talking to, yelling at or shaking the dog will not stop it. You should also not put your hand in their mouth as the dog may bite you involuntarily. Dogs rarely swallow their tongue or even bite it. You can start to comfort the dog once they start to recover.
If your dog has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder such as epilepsy and perhaps is on anticonvulsant medication, a seizure may not be as surprising or upsetting and the cause is usually more obvious. So there may be less urgency to see your veterinarian. However, you should take your dog to a veterinarian if a seizure lasts more than 90 seconds. Seizures typically feel much longer than they actually are so you should time this. Sometimes seizures will be continuous without the dog recovering and this can be very dangerous as it can cause the body to overheat and damage the brain. You should also take your dog to a veterinarian if your dog has more than two seizures in quick succession. If your dog is having a continuous seizure or is having seizures one after another you should try to keep them cool while you transport them to your veterinarian. Spray their coat with cool water or cover them with a wet towel and turn your car’s air conditioning onto maximum or open the windows.
It is also very important to make the environment as safe as possible for dogs with a seizure disorder so that they do not injure themselves if they do have a seizure or during the post-ictal period when they are very disoriented. Swimming pools and other bodies of water are especially dangerous as a dog can drown during a seizure. Cliffs and other heights where a dog may fall are also dangerous. These areas should be secured so that a dog with a seizure disorder cannot access them.
You may have medication to give your dog if they have a prolonged seizure at home. This may be a drug such as Valium (diazepam) that can be administered rectally. In my opinion this is not warranted unless the seizure has been continuing for longer than 90 seconds, however your veterinarian may have given you specific instructions for your dog. You can draw the Valium up into a syringe. The outside of the syringe can be lubriÂcated with water-based lubricant and gently inserted into the anus. The plunger is then depressed and the contents evacuated into the rectum where it is quickly absorbed. Your veterinarian may also have instructed you to give your dog’s regular anticonvulsant medication early, as an additional dose or at an increased dose on days when your dog has had a seizure. This is usually very safe but can cause some sedation and drowsiness. If the additional medication is not controlling the seizures or if you have to continue giving additional medication for 48 hours because of ongoing seizures, your dog should be seen by your veterinarian. You should not try to give any oral medication to your dog while they are having a seizure.
Related posts:
January 3, 2013
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: canine seizures, ice pack, mild, mild seizure, salt and seizures, stress and seizures |
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My beautiful Chancellor
Four and a half months since last seizure; first seizure of the year; and it was very mild – no urine; very little saliva; and no post ictal. I administered ice pack right away; got all house dogs out (I could see Chancellor was going to have a seizure by the way he was walking, and looked dazed) – and got his Keppra ready to give him. The seizure only lasted 1 M 30 seconds approx (usually his seizures last between 3 and 6 minutes so this was very low). It was 4:47 a.m. just 15 minutes before his next Keppra was due. What was different? We had two consecutive boarders; and Chancellor got a hold of one of the boarder’s dropped treats last night which contained “saltâ€. So just that tiny bit of change can throw the system into turmoil. Stress, coupled with this led to a very mild seizure. A MILD seizure is a first for Chance – he came right out of it and at 5:13 a.m. is lying at my feet resting. Rare. Usually after a seizure we have one to two hours of pacing, running into walls – no vision inhibition this round. So many things to be thankful for. Seizures 2012: 4 First seizure 2012: May
December 7, 2012
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: canine seizures, diverting a seizure, keppra, pre-ictal |
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Chancellor is on 3 Keppra a day – last night at 1:19 a.m. Chance started pacing and panting and acting pre-ictal. He was drinking a lot of water, walking strangely, weaving, getting up and down, looking frantic, sticking by me, very unrestful. So at 2:35 a.m. I gave him a 4th Keppra; we did a lot of Ttouch hair slides and ear strokes and application of “ice bag†to area behind last rib and base of tail. By 4:09 a.m. I had diverted a seizure and he is fine as I type this. I think there is a lot unknown about seizures and the hope is that the veterinary community studies it more thoroughly! At 4:09 a.m. Chancellor lay down to sleep the rest of the morning, had his hypothyroid at 6:30 a.m. (skipped the 5 a.m. Keppra) and had an 8:30 a.m. Keppra. Now we’ll go back to his regular schedule of 5 a.m., 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. Today he is energetic, playing, acting normal and resting.Â
Last seizure was August 18. Today is December 7th. The past week we had gone to San Diego on vacation and had a caretaker for the dogs – so there was some definite stress. Prior to that we had a boarder. Stress can cause seizures and so I am very careful Chancellor has a lot of stress vacations.  
November 7, 2012
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: canine seizures, dogs and seizures, Keppra and B vitamins, seizures and B vitamins |
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Here we are three months later and no seizures. We did have an incident where Chancellor had twisted his back leg and had trouble walking for about three days – but you wouldn’t know it today – as he races through the forest off lead having a good old time. What I did was add B Vitamins – 2 tabs – to the 1 p.m. Keppra medication. So that is working very well and I am hoping it continues to do so.
May 10, 2012
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: canine seizures, epi-dogs, seizures in dogs, weather and seizures |
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After Chancellor’s last seizure, I posted this question to a great yahoo group for dogs with seizures K9 Epileptics: I’ve noticed a pattern over the past 3 – one being springtime and the other happening after the last Keppra of the night. I’m thinking I need to increase the evening dosage. Has anyone noticed this in their dogs? We just had levels done and hypothyroid pill increased by 1/2 tablet to 7 per day and Keppra levels were good. Waiting on the kBr at the moment.
Noticing patterns are so important and taking a proactive stance on treatment of your dog is vital. The answers I received were wonderfully revealing (the difference you’ll see is Chancellor is NOT on PB (phenobarbitol) but IS ON kBr (potassium bromide). The references to half life differences if a dog is on PB vs. kBr were interesting to note.
Answer from list leader Alexandra: Technically, there is not a scientifically determined ‘range’ for dogs (in Keppra),so they (veterinarians) are going by human values. I am not sure if human ranges are the same for therapeutic ranges in dogs (for PB?) but it is what we all are going off of. Is Chancellor on PB? From Plumb’s vet manual for Keppra – the half life in a dog for Keppra while on PB (I would need to re-read to be precise) is ~1.73 hours (half of the half life without PB). I dose 4 times a day, but even that would fall short on coverage. I am not sure how often you dose, but you might consider giving an extra dose at bedtime. We give meds (Keppra) at 11pm, then again at 5-6am (Keppra). Could be that the Kbr needs adjusting.
This was my gut feeling in watching Chancellor’s behavior and will be a consideration after some more research.
Another post was equally as interesting and certainly food for thought.
By Lynne: I routinely up PB from 105mg BID to 120mg BID when the
temperatures get above 80 degrees (F) for more than a week. If he gets
twitchy, his evening PB will be increased another 15mg. Once the
temperatures back down to the 70s and below, we’ll drop his dose back down.
We’ve been doing this for about three years now.
NOTE: Chancellor’s last seizure was during the BIG full moon, a time when temperatures do change and even other unexplained phenomena may be occurring. Shows how sensitive dogs are to their surrounding environment, weather, atmospheric changes.
These are considerations veterinarians need to take more seriously when treating a dog with seizures and provide proper protocols for dog owners.
March 24, 2012
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: Belgian Shepherds, Beligian Tervuren, canine seizures, chromosome 37, epilepsy study, new chromosome |
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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120323205337.htm This is a study on a new epilepsy gene located – chromosome 37 – for idiopathic epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds (which Chancellor is – Belgian Tervuren).
The study says: Both focal and generalized idiopathic epilepsies occur in Belgian Shepherds. The research group of Professor Hannes Lohi, working in collaboration with Danish, Swedish and American researchers in an EU-funded project, has made a major breakthrough by identifying a chromosome region associated with the most common form of epilepsy in dogs. By comparing the genome of dogs with epilepsy and healthy control dogs a gene region in chromosome 37 was discovered, which if homozygous, increases the risk of epilepsy seven-fold. In addition the research findings indicate that other, still unknown, genetic risk factors may be present in the breed.
Ongoing research will continue: “â€The identified genomic region is likely to be the strongest single risk factor for epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds, and we are studying an interesting gene variant causing an amino acid change in the protein level. However, this homozygous amino acid change is also present in one fifth of healthy Belgian Shepherds. The research continues in the breed and aims to identify the specific mutation for genetic testing in this loci and possible in other chromosomes. The need for the gene test is urgent since as much as 20% of the dogs in this breed are estimated to have epilepsy,†comments the first author of the article Eija Seppälä, PhD.
It is very satisfying to me and Chancellor that these studies are prevailing and it is our hope that for our breed and for dogs in general that seizures will be a malady of the past (as breeders take note of these studies) and/or more help in the form of holistic, nutritional and medical keep seizures few and far between.
August 26, 2011
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: brewers dried yeast, canine seizures, chondroitin, glucosamine |
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Last seizure occurred 3 months ago. Most of this year’s seizures have occurred AFTER giving the last Keppra of the day (one was because I ‘forgot’ to give one dosage), just minutes after. This one occurred at 940 P and lasted 3 minutes. Grand Mal.
When seizures happen I always ask what was different, because there are causes. In this case:
1) Getting a new puppy and having company were major stress factors. Stress easily causes Chancellor to have a seizure, so I try to keep him as unstressed as possible from ttouch, to music getaways, time alone and lots of walks.
2) He may have had too much mozarella cheese and hubby gave him a pizza crust in a time of weakness, lol. All these items contain salt and are NOT to be given if a dog is on Potassium Bromide. It interferes with the absorption and effects of the kBr. When seizures are less frequent we tend to sometimes forget.
3) The only other difference was about 5 days ago I added a Hip and Joint PLUS by Best Pet Health. At the time the ingredients seemed to be good and I did very little research on it. What I found was:
Glutamine (L-Glutamine), Sodium Gluconate – Manganese and Copper Gluconate – side effects – Seizures: There is some concern that glutamine might increase the likelihood of seizures in some people. Avoid use. (WebMD) Gluconate interacts poorly with kBr.
And worse, Glucosamine Hydrochloride (from shellfish) and Chondroitin Sulfate while okay in normal dogs CAN have bad side effects on dogs with neurological disorders and therefore, exacerbate seizures.REPORT HERE: http://www.thedogpress.com/DogFood/Ingredients_Liquorman.asp
From this site: (and understand when you are dealing with seizures the smallest, unknown can be causative, and stimulate seizures)
Chondroitin Sulfate
This is normally a remedy for arthritis and degenerative bone and joint problems. It is considered a nutraceutical (this name represents the blurring of lines between food and drugs), and there are no clinical studies to support the use of it in dog food and cat food.
Side effects range from nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, and vomiting to elevated blood pressure. It is a natural blood thinner, therefore use should be suspended before surgical or dental procedures. Since this warning does not appear on pet food labels, Chondroitin Sulfate could be problematic. There are however, warnings from the nutraceutical industry for use during pregnancy and breast feeding. This ingredient should be of concern to dog or cat breeders who have experienced reproductive problems that they believe are caused by pet food.
Glucosamine Hydrochloride
While Cargill, Inc. is making glucosamine hydrochloride from corn and claiming to be the only USA producer, most such products on the market are made from the outer shells of shellfish and much of it comes from India and China. Most makers claim there are no known side effects from glucosamine hydrochloride (then why include it if it has no effect?) but many nutritionists consider it risky for people or pets that are allergic to shellfish which can cause severe reactions in humans, including anaphylactic shock. In addition, some dogs and cats could react to the version made from corn. It is used as a remedy for osteoarthritis and probably should not be used in pet food that will be fed to pets that do not need treatment.
If your pet exhibits stomach upset, indigestion, gas, bloating, diarrhea or chronic itching, you may wish to avoid corn-based ingredients and/or shellfish derivatives such as Glucosamine Hydrochloride which incidentally, does not show up on the AAFCO list of required nutrients. It is also noteworthy that glucosamine and Chondroitin are considered nutraceuticals and therefore are not strictly controlled by the FDA. Also check labels for poultry by-product meal or fish meal as listed as natural sources of glucosamine.
In addition I started seeing more itchiness and dandruff (my dogs have NEVER had dandruff and Chancellor never has) – well folks, Brewers Dried Yeast can have allergic reactions to dogs with seizures and cause…wait for it….itchiness. This one thing clued me in that something wasn’t quite right. Now I know.
There are more ingredients listed in the product, but I don’t have to go much further to understand for joint discomfort I have to look further than false claims and no warming labels. Having dogs with seizures means we need to go over each and every ingredient BEFORE it passes through the mouth or our treasured family members. Each life stage presents a different situation for our canines. Had I known these ingredients were indeed “toxic†to his system, they would not have been given.
All that said, all seizures in 2011 have seen quick recovery (what was usually 2 hours, is now 45 minutes to 1 hour. We can only try to do our best and KNOWLEDGE is important with seizures and increasing time between or doing away with them altogether.
Assume nothing.
May 21, 2010
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: animal communicators, canine seizures, healers, keppra |
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There have been about 7 seizures since last posting. In between that and this one, 10 weeks and 2 days apart (alleluia) did two things added Keppra to medications first week in March, and two weeks after that had Chancellor go through an animal communicator and healer. Otherwise we changed very little. This seizure came on with no prior warning or symptoms and was a Grand Mal, May 21, at 241 a.m. lasting 3 minutes. So we start over but I am thankful for a very long reprieve so Chancellor could heal a bit.
May 21, 2010
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: animal communicators, canine seizures, healers, keppra |
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There have been about 7 seizures since last posting. In between that and this one, 10 weeks and 2 days apart (alleluia) did two things added Keppra to medications first week in March, and two weeks after that had Chancellor go through an animal communicator and healer. Otherwise we changed very little. This seizure came on with no prior warning or symptoms and was a Grand Mal, May 21, at 241 a.m. lasting 3 minutes. So we start over but I am thankful for a very long reprieve so Chancellor could heal a bit.
December 15, 2009
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: canine seizures, cold and seizures, thyroid medication and seizures |
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A five day reprieve from the 14-day ritualistic seizures. It is 12/15/2009 – 1:16 AM seizure began, ended two minutes later. This one was different than all the others, Chance didn’t come to get me, it was like watching slow motion, a deep head turn to the left, and it took 3 hours (usually 2) to come out of it and settle into rest. He is now resting at my feet after this exhausting episode. Why 3 weeks instead of 2, I have no idea, but we are thankful for this brief time span between.
One noticeable fact which I will pursue is I accidentally gave him 9 thyroid pills one day, a day before day 14. Is this what it means, his thyroid medicine is still too low. Findings later.
Another thing to note is last year he went longer between seizures at this time/month. We had a cold snap, ice, some snow etc. Does that have anything to do with it?
Bottom line, no one knows. Sigh.
November 26, 2009
Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: canine seizures, emotions of canine seizures, holidays and seizures, seizures and science, Thanksgiving |
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Two weeks to the day and the hour since the last seizure. I’m calling this the red zone. Very emotional when this happens on a holiday and am writing this two hours and after Chancellor has come back to us fully. During this two hour period after the seizure he is disoriented, clearly has limited sight, gets very hungry, paces frantically as if running a race and can’t stop – he must pace 20, 30 miles during this period. He pants, and his eyes look worried, sad, but his countenance is with purpose to shake this demon off afterwards. He sees me cry and is more concerned about me, coming to hug me with a low tail wag, and pushing me with his nose as if to say “aw, I’ll be fine†and then he bravely sets off to pace it out. Of course, today was especially emotional as it is Thanksgiving – still I am thankful for many things. I’m thankful Chance survived, that it was a milder seizure, I’m thankful for family and friends and my home. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Chance is now playing with his ball, the sound of his barking is wonderful to hear as he joins in with Kody for a passing owner and dog, and he has calmed down, lieing down now after the long race back to normalcy. To all who read this I’m not writing so you can feel sorry for Chance or for me, I am writing to talk about our journey, to post the patterns, the research, the volumes of study in hopes science can find a way to at least extend seizures, or do away with them.
Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you’ll give your healthy furballs a big hug, and be thankful for your families!
