Seizures in Dogs

[paisleys]

It's been 4 weeks since ours had his 2nd seizure and he started his meds (Keppra). Praying he goes a long time without one

Four weeks is great! We will see the neurologist next week and I will ask about Keppra. Good luck to you!

 

[elgerber]

Four weeks is great! We will see the neurologist next week and I will ask about Keppra. Good luck to you!

My dog is on Keppra, mega dosage, and bromide. Keppra didn’t help him at all. I am so glad it works for some dogs. Pheno worked great for him, till it darn near killed him. It’s rare and of course I have to have the dog with that adverse reaction.

 

[Snowflakey]

My dog is on Keppra, mega dosage, and bromide. Keppra didn’t help him at all. I am so glad it works for some dogs. Pheno worked great for him, till it darn near killed him. It’s rare and of course I have to have the dog with that adverse reaction.

Our vet warned us that Keppra may not last long. She said it usually works for 6 months or so....... ugh

 

[Snowflakey]

Four weeks is great! We will see the neurologist next week and I will ask about Keppra. Good luck to you!

Oh my you are in my thoughts! Please let me know how your appointment goes. Fingers crossed!!

 

[paisleys]

Thank you!!! I took her yesterday. Great news -- the doctor pretty much ruled out a brain tumor or anything life threatening. She said my dog seems in perfect health. She was a Puerto Rico hurricane refuge and had a lot of parasites when we adopted her, who knows. She did ask about distemper, but we weren't told about that and I doubt she had it. She really feels it's 'just' epilepsy. She said she would be experiencing a LOT of other issues right now if it was something worse. She believes the reason she is still having seizures while on the Zonisamide is because the dose is too low. She doubled it. If that doesn't work and she is still having seizures we will try Keppra. Thank you so much for your advice. Keep me posted on yours--you didn't mention any recent seizures, which is great! I hope your dog and Elgerber's are doing well. Appreciate hearing your experiences. ***Also, the doctor asked if she was on any flea and tick meds and said to not give it to her. When my dog had her first seizure last year, I immediately discontinued her flea and tick. She said giving her flea/tick meds to dogs who get seizures could exacerbate the situation. Just FYI. I have been shaving my dog as we live in South Florida, 'tick land'. She looks like a wild animal shaved as she's brindle but whatever. lol

 

[Snowflakey]

Thank you!!! I took her yesterday. Great news -- the doctor pretty much ruled out a brain tumor or anything life threatening. She said my dog seems in perfect health. She was a Puerto Rico hurricane refuge and had a lot of parasites when we adopted her, who knows. She did ask about distemper, but we weren't told about that and I doubt she had it. She really feels it's 'just' epilepsy. She said she would be experiencing a LOT of other issues right now if it was something worse. She believes the reason she is still having seizures while on the Zonisamide is because the dose is too low. She doubled it. If that doesn't work and she is still having seizures we will try Keppra. Thank you so much for your advice. Keep me posted on yours--you didn't mention any recent seizures, which is great! I hope your dog and Elgerber's are doing well. Appreciate hearing your experiences. ***Also, the doctor asked if she was on any flea and tick meds and said to not give it to her. When my dog had her first seizure last year, I immediately discontinued her flea and tick. She said giving her flea/tick meds to dogs who get seizures could exacerbate the situation. Just FYI. I have been shaving my dog as we live in South Florida, 'tick land'. She looks like a wild animal shaved as she's brindle but whatever. lol

Woo Hoo I'm sooooo happy for you!! Did the doctor tell you about the other issues you'd experience if it was something worse? What did she look for? I feel my dog is like yours as he doesn't show any other signs.

When ours had his first seizure last September he WAS on flea and tick and we stopped it immediately. In fact, we haven't even done the heartworm med yet as I've read that could even lead to seizures.

We have a ton of ticks way up here too!! I'm near the Canadian border in the North East.

Thanks for checking in. Keep in touch and I'm so happy for the news you got.

 

[paisleys]

Woo Hoo I'm sooooo happy for you!! Did the doctor tell you about the other issues you'd experience if it was something worse? What did she look for? I feel my dog is like yours as he doesn't show any other signs.

When ours had his first seizure last September he WAS on flea and tick and we stopped it immediately. In fact, we haven't even done the heartworm med yet as I've read that could even lead to seizures.

We have a ton of ticks way up here too!! I'm near the Canadian border in the North East.

Thanks for checking in. Keep in touch and I'm so happy for the news you got.

That's interesting about the heart worm med. I asked about that and the neurologist said Heart Guard is very safe. Hope it's not a cause! We adopted a dog many years ago who had heart worm so I'm afraid to stop using it!! I will research though, thank you.
That's great you also stopped the flea and tick meds. The only reason I even thought to stop it (regular vet never mentioned) was we had an experience with it causing seizures. Years ago, our dogs (previous elderly ones) got ticks. UGH The house was infested! Awful! They were in our beds and jumping on our toddlers. Our dogs were already on a prevention chew. Vet told us to try a specific different brand of flea tick--forget name but it was a liquid you applied to their back and nape. Killed the ticks immediately, so we kept using it. One dog had a massive seizure one night. Vet couldn't find a reason. On a whim I asked if I should stop using the med--oh yes! Don't give that to her anymore. Stopped and no more seizures. This vet again didn't ask about flea and tick meds with this dog but I knew to stop from the last experience. I wonder how many other dogs suffer seizures like this when it's the flea and tick meds and easily preventable. I would advise anyone whose dog is seizing to look at this.

 

[Snowflakey]

That's interesting about the heart worm med. I asked about that and the neurologist said Heart Guard is very safe. Hope it's not a cause! We adopted a dog many years ago who had heart worm so I'm afraid to stop using it!! I will research though, thank you.
That's great you also stopped the flea and tick meds. The only reason I even thought to stop it (regular vet never mentioned) was we had an experience with it causing seizures. Years ago, our dogs (previous elderly ones) got ticks. UGH The house was infested! Awful! They were in our beds and jumping on our toddlers. Our dogs were already on a prevention chew. Vet told us to try a specific different brand of flea tick--forget name but it was a liquid you applied to their back and nape. Killed the ticks immediately, so we kept using it. One dog had a massive seizure one night. Vet couldn't find a reason. On a whim I asked if I should stop using the med--oh yes! Don't give that to her anymore. Stopped and no more seizures. This vet again didn't ask about flea and tick meds with this dog but I knew to stop from the last experience. I wonder how many other dogs suffer seizures like this when it's the flea and tick meds and easily preventable. I would advise anyone whose dog is seizing to look at this.

Vets don't bring up the risk of flea meds with seizures. I think they take the wait and see approach. If someone's dog has a seizure that's when they bring it up.

When you saw the neurologist what were the signs they were looking for to rule out if it was something neurological?

 

[paisleys]

Vets don't bring up the risk of flea meds with seizures. I think they take the wait and see approach. If someone's dog has a seizure that's when they bring it up.

When you saw the neurologist what were the signs they were looking for to rule out if it was something neurological?

That's what I am saying--when my dogs had seizures, the vet never asked about flea and tick meds. I called the vet a week later after the first dog's seizure and asked if that should be a concern 'oh yes stop giving that to your dog!!!' This time I didn't even ask, just stopped giving it after the first seizure but it was never brought up by the vet (I didn't mention it as we board there and didn't want to get banned for not giving flea and tick!). The neurologist is the only one who asked about it. She was amazing! I learned so much. The vet had said she doesn't see seizures but maybe once a month while the neurologist has been working with the things for 30 years. I regret not going sooner. This week will be week 2 since last seizure, but she did say the new dose could take 2-3 weeks to settle in her system. It seems like she was getting them every other Wednesday like clockwork.
Signs of neurological: head tilt, loss of coordination, major behavior changes, blindness, appetite issues etc. There are a lot. She checked her reflexes and pupils too. Interesting for me is when my old dog had a seizure she had a major head tilt and loss of coordination for a couple of months after. One day, she was just herself and lived another three years (no seizures). I had been having to carry her up and down the stairs she was so bad. Then boom! Running up and down the stairs again. The neurologist did also add that seeing that my dog was in perfect health now 9 months after her first seizure, that also helped her pretty much rule out everything but epilepsy.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Vets don't bring up the risk of flea meds with seizures. I think they take the wait and see approach. If someone's dog has a seizure that's when they bring it up.

When you saw the neurologist what were the signs they were looking for to rule out if it was something neurological?

That's right...mine only brought it up after my girl had her seizures. Speaking of my girl, we've had quite the week with her. She's a very active 9 year old and last Saturday we came downstairs to her panting....obviously something going on. After a loooong and expensive week of ruling out abdominal issues, congestive heart failure and (everything else under the sun) during two visits to the emergency vet, she began to exhibit some hind end weakness. Took her back and they were able to elicit a response when palpating her back. After discussing if she'd even be a surgical candidate if it was a disc issue (she was), we went ahead with MRI (ka-ching)....and turns out she had a FCE (Fibrocartilaginous Embolus), or essentially a "small stroke" in her spinal column. A tiny piece of cartilage broke off and blocked blood supply to a part of her spine causing this to happen. She's home....on lots of meds, but thankfully it was a small one and she should, over the coming days and weeks return to her previous activity level. We got lucky, it could have been a lot worse and caused more permanent damage/paralysis.

 

[LuvOrlando]

My MIL always does the flea and tick and heart stuff, lost 3 dogs to cancer and 1 to seizures (she survived years with them) I suspect it's the stuff she gave her dog. Oddly, she was very vigilant about not treating the yard, not sure if she understood the stuff she was using was a pesticide.

For the heartworm thing, I don't do it because humans can get it too from mosquitoes, I've never heard of a single soul with heartworm so I'm going to guess it's not a common issue in the US North East, if it's anywhere it's probably in hot swampy places where you'd get other mosquito diseases. For Fleas and Ticks I spray my yard once now and once in August, day before rain, and if my pet is around others I do a shampoo and am VERY careful with timing it.

 

[Snowflakey]

That's what I am saying--when my dogs had seizures, the vet never asked about flea and tick meds. I called the vet a week later after the first dog's seizure and asked if that should be a concern 'oh yes stop giving that to your dog!!!' This time I didn't even ask, just stopped giving it after the first seizure but it was never brought up by the vet (I didn't mention it as we board there and didn't want to get banned for not giving flea and tick!). The neurologist is the only one who asked about it. She was amazing! I learned so much. The vet had said she doesn't see seizures but maybe once a month while the neurologist has been working with the things for 30 years. I regret not going sooner. This week will be week 2 since last seizure, but she did say the new dose could take 2-3 weeks to settle in her system. It seems like she was getting them every other Wednesday like clockwork.
Signs of neurological: head tilt, loss of coordination, major behavior changes, blindness, appetite issues etc. There are a lot. She checked her reflexes and pupils too. Interesting for me is when my old dog had a seizure she had a major head tilt and loss of coordination for a couple of months after. One day, she was just herself and lived another three years (no seizures). I had been having to carry her up and down the stairs she was so bad. Then boom! Running up and down the stairs again. The neurologist did also add that seeing that my dog was in perfect health now 9 months after her first seizure, that also helped her pretty much rule out everything but epilepsy.

This makes me happy to read as our dog doesn't display any of those symptoms either.! This is week 6 or 7 without a seizure so I pray things continue as they are.

 

[Snowflakey]

That's right...mine only brought it up after my girl had her seizures. Speaking of my girl, we've had quite the week with her. She's a very active 9 year old and last Saturday we came downstairs to her panting....obviously something going on. After a loooong and expensive week of ruling out abdominal issues, congestive heart failure and (everything else under the sun) during two visits to the emergency vet, she began to exhibit some hind end weakness. Took her back and they were able to elicit a response when palpating her back. After discussing if she'd even be a surgical candidate if it was a disc issue (she was), we went ahead with MRI (ka-ching)....and turns out she had a FCE (Fibrocartilaginous Embolus), or essentially a "small stroke" in her spinal column. A tiny piece of cartilage broke off and blocked blood supply to a part of her spine causing this to happen. She's home....on lots of meds, but thankfully it was a small one and she should, over the coming days and weeks return to her previous activity level. We got lucky, it could have been a lot worse and caused more permanent damage/paralysis.

Oh what a week is right!! Hoping for continued recovery and she's back to her 'ol self soon!!!

 

[Snowflakey]

My MIL always does the flea and tick and heart stuff, lost 3 dogs to cancer and 1 to seizures (she survived years with them) I suspect it's the stuff she gave her dog. Oddly, she was very vigilant about not treating the yard, not sure if she understood the stuff she was using was a pesticide.

For the heartworm thing, I don't do it because humans can get it too from mosquitoes, I've never heard of a single soul with heartworm so I'm going to guess it's not a common issue in the US North East, if it's anywhere it's probably in hot swampy places where you'd get other mosquito diseases. For Fleas and Ticks I spray my yard once now and once in August, day before rain, and if my pet is around others I do a shampoo and am VERY careful with timing it.

What do you use to spray your yard?

 

[paisleys]

That's right...mine only brought it up after my girl had her seizures. Speaking of my girl, we've had quite the week with her. She's a very active 9 year old and last Saturday we came downstairs to her panting....obviously something going on. After a loooong and expensive week of ruling out abdominal issues, congestive heart failure and (everything else under the sun) during two visits to the emergency vet, she began to exhibit some hind end weakness. Took her back and they were able to elicit a response when palpating her back. After discussing if she'd even be a surgical candidate if it was a disc issue (she was), we went ahead with MRI (ka-ching)....and turns out she had a FCE (Fibrocartilaginous Embolus), or essentially a "small stroke" in her spinal column. A tiny piece of cartilage broke off and blocked blood supply to a part of her spine causing this to happen. She's home....on lots of meds, but thankfully it was a small one and she should, over the coming days and weeks return to her previous activity level. We got lucky, it could have been a lot worse and caused more permanent damage/paralysis.

I'm so glad everything is turning out ok for your dog! What a week!!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

What do you use to spray your yard?

Hi, so I've been using the BioAdvanced Insect spray for years, this one or the Spectracide Triazicide depending on which store I'm in when I remember to pick it up or do curbside these days. The bottle hooks onto the end of a hose and I spray everything down, usually the morning of or day before a rain so it dries properly and then everything gets rinsed. My dog isn't allowed back to the space until after the rain is over so I do front yard one day and back yard another. I like it this way because not only does it deal with the fleas and ticks (we have lots of Lyme) but it prevents wasps in the mulch and fall lawn spiders. Honestly, I spray it under my deck and above shutters on the brick of my house to keep the yellow jackets from nesting behind the shutters. I don't really find a need to do much else all season and it's cheaper than a service.

 

[paisleys]

So it's been three weeks on the double Zonisamide...she has had two seizures . Last night was the worst one and it was just 9 days after her last one. Waiting for the neurologist to open. Last night was so bad. She seemed to really struggle afterwards, howling and crying but then finally went to sleep. We are all exhausted and worried.

 

[elgerber]

So it's been three weeks on the double Zonisamide...she has had two seizures . Last night was the worst one and it was just 9 days after her last one. Waiting for the neurologist to open. Last night was so bad. She seemed to really struggle afterwards, howling and crying but then finally went to sleep. We are all exhausted and worried.

I'm so sorry, this makes me so sad. We are at five weeks now, he needs to make it one more, or they are going to add more meds. I can't believe any animal could handle anymore meds.

 

[trvlgirlmq]

I haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if someone has mentioned this. My sister's dog had horrible seizures and it turns out it was the liquid flea/tick medicine that he was given every month! I believe it's the kind you put down the middle or their spine.

 

[elgerber]

I haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if someone has mentioned this. My sister's dog had horrible seizures and it turns out it was the liquid flea/tick medicine that he was given every month! I believe it's the kind you put down the middle or their spine.

My neuro has ok'd the Frontline Liquid.