Wooftales » Blog Archiv » Preventing Seizures – Natural Dog Remedies Can Out-Do Drugs

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.

canine epilepsy | The 2-Minute Dog Trainer Blog

I’m bereft. My sweet boy Tempest lost his battle with epilepsy yesterday.

I know more about canine epilepsy than I ever wanted to. Seems there are several levels of severity with epilepsy. These include but are not limited to:

-  irregularly spaced (weeks to months) single seizures.

- regularly spaced (weeks to months) single seizures.

- irregularly spaced cluster seizures (clusters are multiple events w/in 24 hrs).

- regularly spaced cluster seizures

- status epilepticus (seizures occurring back-to-back over a period of 30+ minutes, with no recovery between) which are life-threatening and can result in brain damage due to prolonged oxygen deprivation.

I’ve learned that no one really knows why epilepsy occurs, there are no cures, there are some paths to management which occasionally work all the time with some dogs, some of the time with some dogs, and not at all with some dogs.

My poor, sweet, buddy-boy Tempest had two single seizures at age 15 months and 16 months. Then, at age 21 months, he had his first status epilepticus.

Ten seizures in a 55-minute period left him unconscious as we arrived at the emergency vet’s office. I was certain he had died as he went silent for the last 10 minutes of the drive.

The emergency vet sent him into an unconscious state. Every time he started coming out of unconsciousness he’d begin thrashing and she’d give him more drugs.

The next day was a hellish experience. I rushed my moaning boy to my vets office first thing in the morning and Tempest struggled to regain consciousness. One young lady in my vet’s office spent several hours holding him on her lap. We were hoping to catch him before he began to seize again, and allow him to come out of anesthesia.

My gut told me he was finished. My vet begged me to give medicine a chance.

Tempest recovered from that hellish experience but was never the same. I believe he had some brain damage, he had some loss of vision that never returned, and he just wasn’t “himself.” A mom knows.

Over the next 2 months we tried to establish a “new normal,” but every 2 weeks we had a seizure event. We’d just recover from one and have another.

Stressors, including being crated in the car, house, or training building, tended to trigger seizures. We got valium tablets and Rescue Remedy. Tempest’s seizures cause me to be hyper-vigilant and have flashbacks. I watched him constantly. It was like living with a ticking bomb.

I tried to comfort myself with the idea that 95% of his seizures occur between 5pm and 8pm. I was especially watchful and on-edge during those hours.

Every event found me struggling with my gut, which told me we were losing the battle, and my vet / my epil-k9 list / my friends who encouraged me to keep trying.

Yesterday morning Tempest and I awoke to my cell-phone alarm telling me it was “pill time!”  Two phenobarbitol pills, and a little food, and I went to work answering e-mails and doing Saturday morning routines.

At 8am I heard him scrambling a little under my desk.  He crashed to the floor in a seizure, but I calmly held him and protected him, confident we’d have just one seizure.

He started to recover and I tried to fix him a snack when crash, he went into a second, smaller, seizure. Oh my God, I thought, he’s going into another status situation.

It wasn’t lost on me that morning seizures were not common for us. All this is running through my mind as crash, he went into seizure three while I tried to get some rectal valium into him. Bud held him and comforted him while I worked with the syringe.

We gave an extra phenobarbitol and a valium tablet, and he eventually calmed down.

I got him some bananas with maple syrup on them, but he couldn’t eat. I tried 15 minutes later and he ate his treat. Half an hour later he took some water. Half an hour later he had some dog food.

My gut told me we’d reached the end of our journey with epilepsy. The morning seizures, the second status event, his phenobarbitol blood level numbers, all told me we were fighting a losing battle.

So I held my sweet boy, the dog of my dreams, my dog of a life-time, on the floor in the vet’s exam room. Sweet-T slipped gently into the deep sleep while I held him in my arms. Tempest’s last vision was my face, and his last puffy exhalations were felt on my lips.

My agility dreams were to step to the start line with a fearless partner. I didn’t care about Qs and placements. I just wanted a partner who was enjoying himself. Tempest was all that and more.

Canine epilepsy changed and destroyed my sweet-T. It weakened him and ruined his quality of life.

Canine epilepsy changed me and destroyed my future. I could no longer consider a future beyond getting Tempest through another day.

Today I suffer through the additional guilt from “relief from stress.” This same emotion must be felt by everyone who loses an ill loved-one. Suddenly you have time on your hands, time that you would be struggling with illness and concern.

You allow yourself an instant of relief, your guilt comes crashing in on you.

Today I also struggle to remember the lovely, sweet Tempest. When I close my eyes and think of him his last seizure is all I see, seared into my brain.

So I’m watching videos, looking and printing puppy pictures, and trying to replace the horrible mental pictures with joyous pictures.

My 2-minute dog training blog is the story of Tempest’s life. He came to me at 8 weeks and was training for 13 months using only 2-minute training protocols.

He was a puppy full of love for everyone. He loved dogs and cats alike. He would play with anyone, anytime. He was the most amazing boy. I looked forward to a future of playing with Tempest, but it was not to be.

Now, life must go on. The best I can do to prove my love for Tempest is to transfer that love, those hopes and dreams, to another agility partner.

There are millions of dogs looking for homes and my next agility dog may be from border collie rescue.

I’m not looking for another Tempest, some sort of replacement dog. That’s not possible.

But Tempest’s love for me, and his love of the game, exists in another canine form, and I’m going to seek it out.

Puppy Mill Seizure | Liberation BC blog

Dogs being unloaded and taken to the temporary shelter right after the raid

Last week I was deployed to Washington state on a puppy mill seizure assignment with United Animal Nations (UAN).  The seizure was lead by Humane Society of United States (HSUS).

It was the first time I’d ever done anything like this.

I arrived the Fairgrounds in Kennewick Washington on Wednesday afternoon where a temporary shelter was being set up to receive the dogs as soon as they were seized.  Within a couple of hours, the HSUS semi-trailer (packed with dogs) pulled into the parking lot .  The puppy mill raid had been successful and the owner had signed over all 372 dogs.

Inside the trailer, every single dog looked exactly the same: white, small and furry. Apparently, the breeder, Ella Stewart, had been trying to breed miniature American Eskimo dogs in her back yard for 40 miserable years!

None of the dogs had ever been walked, bathed, touched or taken to the vet.  They acted like wild animals and cowered at the sight of humans.  They desperately needed baths and vet care.

Mom with pups

Every one of the dogs was covered with fleas & feces.  Some had severe flea allergies. Others had diarrhea, infections, hypothermia and overgrown toe nails.  Many of the females were at various stages of pregnancy.  Some actually gave birth at the temporary shelter.  It was easy to see the suffering these animals had endured.

During the 5 days of the rescue mission, the volunteers spent 10-12 hours every day just tending to the basic needs of the animals.  It was clear that Ella Stewart could not have taken adequate care of all the dogs by herself.

It was heart breaking to learn how this woman had kept her dogs.  Some had been confined to shopping carts or rusty cages for their entire lives.  One of the dogs had wounds all over his snout from being forced to eat out of a rusty can with a jagged rim.  Many of the dogs circled their cages manically and endlessly – a stereotypical behavior resulting from prolonged confinement.

As hard as it was to see the condition of the animals, it is a relief to know that they are now on the road to a better life.  Word of the raid traveled like wildfire.  Within 24 hours of the seizure, Humane Societies from nearby states came to take in the animals.  Because most of the animals were not socialized, arrangements will be made to put them into foster care and house trained before they are put up for adoption.

My favorite doggy! He really loved attention even though he was terrified of humans

If puppy mills anger you, please adopt your companion animals instead of buying them.  Buying animals from pet shops and breeders contributes to the pet overpopulation problem and keeps puppy mills in business.  Even by going to a “responsible” breeder, you are still not helping any of the millions of animals waiting to be adopted or euthanized at shelters.  Be a part of the solution: adopt an animal and spay & neuter.

For more information about this and other puppy mill seizures, please visit www.hsus.org

 

Blog the Change: Dogs Can Live Full and Happy Lives with Canine Epilepsy

Today is Blog the Change. I’d like to take this opportunity to once again talk about Canine Epilepsy Awareness. As the parent of a seven-year-old Epi-Husky, Gibson, who was diagnosed shortly after his third birthday, I believe it is so important to spread the word that Canine Epilepsy and seizures do not have to mean a death sentence for dogs. There are many dogs who have, are, and will continue to live life to the fullest even with Canine Epilepsy. We don’t know how long our canine companions – both Epis and non-Epis – will bless us with their presence, but we can make their lives as full and happy and love-filled as we can. And, whereas once upon a time euthanasia was the suggested protocol for dogs with seizures or Canine Epilepsy, that is not the recommendation today. Today, there are so many resources and healthcare routes to explore, both medically and/or holistically and there are many treatment options available for the Epi-dog parent that just didn’t exist years ago. There are also very important support groups available with other Epi-dog parents who share their stories, recommendations, treatments, and support.

GIBSON: SpokesHusky for K9 Epilepsy Awareness

“Epi-dog can – and do – live full, 

happy lives!”

So you’ve just learned that your dog has seizures and/or Canine Epilepsy. What should you do? 

First, as any Epi-parent can tell you, bearing witness to a seizing dog is a very scary thing. Remembering Gibson’s sends chills of fear down my spine. I will never ever forget how scared I was. The first thing to do when your dog has experienced a seizure is get him to the vet. With your vet, or vet team (that may include a neurogologist) you will discuss different course of treatments for your dog. Or, you may be advised to just watch and wait to see if he/she has another, or if it was a one time thing. I would also suggestion doing all the research you can on Canine Epilepsy, seizures, medications, alternative therapies, treatments, etc. Become your own personal expert on the disease. Then, connect with other Epi-dog parents for support and information exchange.

Tune in to our “The Sibe Vibe” episode on Canine Epilepsy with Marion Mitchell of the Canine Epilepsy Resources:
 

So many things can cause seizures: toxins, foods, stress, medications, illnesses, and genetics. But, just as many causes there are, there are also treatment options. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes it takes several attempts at various doses and medications to get them under control or “managed.” The thing about the sleeping Epilepsy beast is that even if the seizures are managed, one never knows if the seizure monster will make an appearance. That is the fear all Epi-parents silently have, but pray will never happen. My Gibson is on a combination of both medications and natural supplements. I’ve changed his diet and try to keep our home and his environment as stress-free as possible. Even if I had a crystal ball and knew when I first saw him as a pup that he was to become an Epi-dog, I would not change one single thing. I would still scoop up that fuzzy fluffball and love him with all my might. 

To help spread the word, this past fall I launched a “Live Gib Strong” Canine Epilepsy Awareness campaign with a kick-off at the Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue’s annual Tails on the Trails event in Pennsylvania. Then again during November’s National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Through my book, What’s Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy, a Live Gib Strong Resource Booklet I’ve produced, and sale of artisan designed bead charm awareness bracelets, rubber awareness bracelets, and T-shirts, I wanted to get the word out that our hope is for Gibson and all Epi-dogs to live life to the fullest – to live Gib strong – as we continue to let the world know that these wonderful, loving, amazing dogs are worth saving, helping, and loving. And, at the same time, raise some funds for the 

Canine Epilepsy Resources site at www.Canine-Epilepsy.com, which is home to the Epil-K9 list and supports “Emma’s Fund,” and it is provided by the Epil-K9 Foundation. This site is so chock full of information, I highly recommend all Epi-parents to check it out and sign up for the very supportive and informative EPIL-K9 emailing list.

There are so many resources that are available to Epi-parents as well. To name a few: 

*Canine Epilepsy Resources
*Canine Epilepsy Network
*The Epi Guardian Angels
*Nichols Online Dog Training
*Canine Epilepsy UK Online Resources
*American Kennel Club-Canine Health Foundation
*Siberian Husky HealthFoundation
*Pharaoh Hound Epilepsy Foundation
*Canine Epilepsy Awareness Community Facebook Page
*Canine Epilepsy Group on Facebook (request to join)
*Dog Seizures Guide 
*FiveSibes Blog (enter Canine Epilepsy in search box)  

Through blogging, Canine Epilepsy Resources, and our other social networking, I have met so many other wonderful Epi-dog parents. They alone are such a valuable resource and support. The main thing for an Epi-parent to know is that  

you are never alone!

In an excerpt from my Live Gib Strong Resource Booklet, Sue from the White Dog Army blog shares a bit of her Mighty Quinn’s story: 

“Mighty Quinn, our 10 years plus rescued American Eskimo, suffers from complex psychomotor seizures, where he paces and walks in circles for long periods. During these times he is very fearful and nervous. His attacks are infrequent and Gabapentin is effective in managing the seizures. Knowing what to watch for helps us be prepared. Quinn leads a  normal life with the White Dog Army…second in command, Mighty Quinn is an active important member of our Army, first to be served at dinner, and always there to add his deep bass “WOOF” during the mailman song. Seizures are not a death sentence or an end to quality of life. With knowledge and observation of your pet, life can continue to be a wonderful sharing adventure.”

Epi-parent Jenifer, hu-mom to “Nukka,” shares this:  

“Canine Epilepsy doesn’t make (Nukka) less of a dog, it makes us realize even more how lucky we are to have her in our lives.” 

I am currently working on a book of collective stories and if you are/have been an Epi-dog parent or know of one, I would love to include their story in a book I’m writing scheduled to be published later in 2013 through ArcticHouse Publishing. We do hope you’ll join us and share your Epi-dog’s story and photos (your Epi-dog may be past or present) with us to show the world our beautiful, wonderful, amazing Epi-dogs! March 1st is the deadline for submissions. See below for details. Stories and photos can be Emailed to ArcticHousePublishing(at)gmail(dot)com.  (Word docs and high resolution jpegs for photos). Please be sure to state your permission for publishing your story and photos in the book. In Email’s subject line state EPI-STORY. A percentage of proceeds post-production costs will benefit the Canine Epilepsy Resources “Emma’s Fund,” which is a memorial fund set up through the Neurology Department of the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University, and the funds help the neurology and genetics departments.

 

Through this work, Gibson and I hope to join others and “Be the Change For Animals” by spreading the word that Epi-dogs can – and do – live full, happy lives and bring so much joy and love into ours!

Official MSM Blog » seizures

Acne
Presents itself as bumps on a dog’s chin that resemble those seen with acne in people. In some cases this can be the result of allergic reactions. Plastic food bowels may be a source of these reactions in some dogs. MSM is good for acne in dogs so give them the recommended serving and remove all plastic food bowels.

Cataracts
In the early stages MSM will help tremendously with blood circulation. MSM is not a cure for cataracts. Please check with your vet for the safety of your pet.

Diabetes
Genetic factors play a role in the cause of diabetes in dogs and cats as well as obesity. Weight loss is the first sign that something might be wrong. Dogs and cats lose their ability to process sugar. Dogs and cats begin to burn fat and thus lose weight. In this case, fat will accumulate in the liver, eventually leading to problems. Try MSM.

Diabetes Insipidus
Disorder in which the kidney is insensitive anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) or, in which there is insufficient hormone available. The result is excessive drinking and urination. This is one cause of changes in urinary habits leading to problems with urination.. If your dog suddenly begins urinating non-stop around the house, you know that problem may be Diabetes. MSM assists pancreas recovery.

Epilepsy and Seizures
Dogs and cats can get epilepsy. When a seizure occurs without explanation, the seizure becomes known as Epilepsy. Essentially, if a seizure can’t be diagnosed, it’s termed as epilepsy. If the Epilepsy occurs in the first two to three years of your pet’s life, it may be congenital. Causes include brain tumours, viral disease, fungal infections, trauma and vascular diseases. Symptoms include, difficulty walking, gait problems, falling down and blindness. Many vets use MSM for treatment.

Feline Leukaemia
Some cats develop immunity to this virus. In this case, the cat may never become ill from the virus. While some cats can suppress this disease, others have the virus running through their bloodstreams constantly, these are considered carriers of the disease. In some cases, cats die from the initial infection. The symptoms can present as bladder infections. Try giving your cat MSM.

Giardia
Parasite that lives in the intestine of affected animals. It is unclear whether there are several species of this parasite or whether there is one species that affects several different animals, These small parasites are very easy to miss on a faecal examination and may not be present in the stool of animals infected with the organism. Try MSM.

Hip Dysplasia
Hard to diagnose, as it can be present with or without clinical signs. This condition presents itself when the dog or cats limbs become lame one or both sides. Arthritis can develop making the condition even worse Arthritis develops due to the malformation of the hip joint. Young dogs and cats may exhibit symptoms and pain during their younger years. A dog or cat will appear well until Arthritis begins to affect the them. Give them MSM on a daily basis.

Hot Spots
Rapidly appearing skin infections which show a oozing discharge. We’ve all witnessed our dogs scratching, chewing or biting at their hind legs. The most common causes of this condition are fleas, allergies, tick bites, matting, mosquitoes and hot summer days can cause the initial irritation. Put MSM in their daily water, you might be surprised!

Lupus
In this disease the body is actually attacking its own immune system. Numerous health related systems can be affected at one time such as; kidneys, blood and skin. Vets have been giving MSM to pets with lupus for years.

MSM can improve and extend the quality of life for most ageing, pain inflicted pets by eliminating the pain.

Users Of Pure MSM Used With Horses Report….

“Two of the race horses were near their lifetime records in their second starts after being on 20grams PURE MSM for less than a month”.. .Dr Reigel (Vet & Author)

“I saw a big difference in the horses receiving pure MSM. They are doing better overall and have fewer medical problems . The most impressive thing is how much better they are training!”…..
M Fisher (Experienced trainer)

You Owe It To Your Animal Friends To Add MSM To Their Diet
*All examples are US and Canadian models*

Not All MSM Is Pure And Uncontaminated. Purchase Only That Which Is 99.9% Pure
 

My Life with Dogs » Blog Archive » Bandit Seizure Log – Seizure 2/23/10

While I was on vacation, I boarded Bandit and Shelby at the Yorkville Animal Hospital.  They are really great with them, and I feel better that Bandit is at a vet in case anything happens.  Well, sure enough, when I returned, they told me that he had a grand mal seizure on 2/23, and they gave him valium and he was fine.  It was actually the day before I had requested that he be upped on his meds.  I know that he can have seizures when he gets excited, and I try to plan for it, but I missed it…

Thankfully, he is o.k. and did not have any further seizures now that I have him home.

This entry was posted
on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 9:08 pm and is filed under Bandit, Seizure.
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May | 2012 | Epilepsy Blog

S is for seizures, syringes, stigma, side effects, status epilepticus, sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP), sleep deprivation, surgery and suffering. T is for tremors, toxic drugs, tongue biting and torment. U is for …

A survey conducted by the Epilepsy Foundation about the beliefs and attitudes with the Latino community toward epilepsy located that one-fourth of Hispanics relate seizures to demise and far more than 50 percent wouldn’t …

A survey performed by the Epilepsy Groundwork in regards to the beliefs and attitudes with the Latino community toward epilepsy located that one-fourth of Hispanics relate seizures to death and a lot more than 50 percent …

… EXTRACT & SEIZURES, by Nel Liquorman, TheDogPress Health Editor Epilepsy, Convulsions, & Seizures – Holistic Approaches… the potential source of the seizures (if any) I think it… that it could be epliepsy or similar. And while it is… would put your pups health or wellbeing at risk- I just… does turn out to be epilepsy. I would also note, as… have to be relatively high or the dog be particularly sensitive…

All About Seizures

Rozalyn Werner-Arcé shares thoughts on Epilepsy Ontario’s past year at AGM Deron Hamel Asked to summarize Epilepsy Ontario’s past year, executive director Rozalyn Werner-Arcé doesn’t hesitate in her response: “It … … All About Seizures

We closed off with an interview with Wendy Nefdt – Director at Epilepsy SA Western Cape Branch. Epilepsy South Africa Western Cape Branch is launching an innovative employment framework called eDESS or Disability …

… SEIZURES ATIVAN 2MG, SOMA 350MG HYDROCODONE 10 … Take control of your epilepsy and seizures. Seizure management has never been easier. TAKE CONTROL TODAY Epilepsy… the nerves … epilepsy or other seizure disorder; liver disease; or. kidney disease. If… than just Good or Bad! in Detail | epilepsy Recommended for: epilepsy, multiple sclerosis… turns … Epilepsy Epilepsy . History and Definitions. Basic Mechanisms of Epileptogenesis. Epileptic Seizures … the…

No dog owner ever wants to witness their dog flopping around on the floor having a seizure. Not only does it make you feel bad but it isnt healthy can lead to problems down the road. Most people see seizures as …

… have a coworker who has epilepsy. He is on medication and… I haven’t seen or heard of him having any seizures. Anyway, he… together in terms of time or can they be years apart… started having seizures a couple days ago (4 or 5 seizures in all… solved will he still have epilepsy or a seizure disorder?

Seizures In Dogs | Hearty Pet Talkin" Tails Blog

Seizures In Dogs

March 14, 2013   patty  

This is one of the scariest things to ever deal with in your beloved pet.  Your not sure what is going on ………

It is very important to keep a record of the events (or even better to video tape an event for your vet) in order to help find the reason for the seizures.  If you can’t video, try to write everything down as you remember it; the onset, what might have triggered it, how long it lasted, the dogs reaction (did it start with back end weakness, somewhere else, etc.)

This is all very important for diagnosis.

It can be a number of reasons; epilepsy, allergies, cilliac disease and others.

Here is a link for more info:

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/seizures-general-for-dogs/903

I recently read about using an icepack during an episode to cut down on the stress and duration of the seizure.  I know people on line that have used this method with success and it sounds great.

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/icepack.htm

I so hope this blog will help someone dealing with seizures in their beloved dog.

If you see some type of episode with your dog and you are not sure of what it is, or if it may be a seizure, please contact your vet immediately.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

Great Swiss Mountain Dog Blog » Blog Archive » Are seizures common in Great Swiss Mountain Dogs?

Ann | October 26th, 2009

The Great Swiss Mountain Dog is one of four Swiss Mountain dog breeds. Also known as “Swissy“, they are a strikingly handsome and a powerful breed.  They were original bred for work such as herding cattle or pulling carts and served as rescue dogs. Coats are dense and have the basic black color with rust and white marking on the face and body.  There are health concerns that a prospective owner should inquire about before accepting the responsibility of getting this breed.

This breed is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia but, one huge concern is the seizures that the breed suffers from epilepsy.  A study has discovered that the gene that develops epilepsy is carried by 98% of these dogs.  One fact to know is that they can’t be tested for epilepsy.  The only time of knowing that they have it is when suddenly shows signs of it. Any information regarding this disease is being collected to use with tight breeding ethics to reduce this disease and alleviate the suffering from seizures.

Avoid unnecessary vet bills! Do your dog’s basic health check!

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