canine seizures | Canine Seizures

January 3, 2013

Seizure 1-03-2013 – Many things to be thankful for

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 “salt”. 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

Rough night – diverted a seizure (so worth it)

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. 

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

Three months, no seizures, happy dog, happy owner

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

Changes in atmosphere, weather, full moon and detail to behavior needed with epi-dogs

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

New Epilepsy gene located

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: “”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

Fourth Seizure 2011 – August 25, 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

Update on Chancellor, May 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

Update

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

Nineteen Days since last seizure

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

Seizure Thanksgiving morning 630 a.m. approximately

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!