[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Epileptic Dog and Treatment
- From: "David Fritsche" <d_fritsche@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <cimarrongsd@xxxxxxxx>, <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 20:33:51 -0700
Hi Steve...
The pattern you describe is quite usual in epileptic dogs.
We wrestled with this many years ago now and did quite a bit
of research and talked to neuro-specialists at UC Davis Vet
school about it. Here's what we found out...
There are a number of causes for epileptic seizures in a
dog. It can be a brain injury, a poisoning, a tumor on the
brain or there are several other suppositions that vets
believe, but are not proven. I have not heard of a spinal
injury affecting the brain and causing seizures, but since
this disease is rare in our breed (less than 2%) who knows?
Although there are many assumed causes, the largest one by
far is idiopathic epilepsy - meaning, literally, "I dont
know." What they do know, or generally assume is that it is
a neurological short circuit in the brain that last for a
minute to three minutes followed by a resolution period
where the brain is trying to get back on line so to speak.
Your pattern sounds similar.
Most experts we talked to believe that 90% or better of the
cases is not from any of the other causes, but is
classically idiopathic. It starts about 2 years of age and
is usually a life-long condition. Phenobarbital used to be
the drug of choice, which basically zones the brain out to
some degree. The dog will appear drunk and out of it. It
usually works to some degree, but reduces the quality of
life to a drug induced state that is less than normal.
There are some newer drugs being used as I understand it,
and the use of Sodium Bromide with the phenobarbital has
been used for some time now. It enhances the effects of the
phenobarbital and allows for a lower does so the dog can be
more alert.
I would advise consulting with a neurological specialist at
a Vet school near you. This is a specialized area of
practice and not all vets are up on the latest treatments.
The presence of the cluster seizures is not a good sign.
Those who have the more sever forms of the disease
experience the clusters. Consult a specialist....
The specialist we consulted was very good, practical and
straightforward. I asked if it could be a tumor on the
brain. He said it could be, but if we did all the tests to
find it, assuming it was there, then what would we do?
Experimental brain surgery on animals can be tricky and if
they found a tumor or cancer on the brain, then what?
Removal of the mass might cause more damage and the
practical side is the expense of such a course of action. So
we agreed with him and just treated the symptoms.
I am sorry that you are experiencing this Steve and hope
that you will be able to find a treatment that works for him
and that you can enjoy a long life together.
Hope this make some sense.....
Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: showgsd-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:showgsd-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve D
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 2:52 PM
To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Epileptic Dog and Treatment
Hi all,
This post is a little bit long winded
.sorry.
Thought I would ask a question to the list about a young
epileptic dog that I have:
The dog was a little more than 20 months old when he fell
through the ice on a pond this past winter.
Up to this point, he had not had any known seizures.
He and his brother had been outside to potty for 20 to 30
minutes and I was calling them to bring them back inside.
His brother returned and he did not.
I went outside ( in gym shorts in 20 degree weather btw) to
go around the side of the house to call him.
I heard whimpering and moaning in the distance and I went to
the source of the sound.
I found him half in and half out of the ice with his rear in
the cold icy water.
His head and shoulders appeared to dry and well above the
ice, so I do not think he was banging his head on the ice.
I do not know how long the dog was actually stuck.
When I saw him, I panicked to get him out of the icy water.
I proceeded to walk out into the pond, breaking the 1 to 2
inch ice ahead of me.
All this while I was still in gym shorts - and yes I did cut
my leg on the ice
I reached the dog while I was in waist deep water and got
him unstuck.
Rapidly got him inside the house and into the booster bath
to run warm water over the wet part of his body.
Three days later, he had his first seizure.
All of his seizures have been similar.
He has been laying down at the time (he has not fallen
down).
He appears to be running in place with a zoned out look in
his eyes, and drooling.
He does NOT fling his head about, so he is not bumping it.
I talk to him and rub him to try to regain his senses while
he is seizing.
This lasts from 1 to 3 minutes, then he starts to recover.
He will lay there for several minutes before he finally gets
up and staggers around.
This staggering takes place for the next 20 to 30 minutes as
he slowly gets back to normal.
The next time he seized was about 10 days later. He had a
cluster of 3 in a 24 hour period.
He was taken to the vet where he was treated for about every
worm
(vet was of the assumption, that some seizures maybe
triggered by parasites),
and he was put on phenobarbital ½ tablet 1-2 times per day
(54.8mg / 100#).
That was a little over two months ago.
Well, I am not sure this has helped.
He still has the same type of symptoms.
He still has the seizures, on average every 10-14 days.
The seizures maybe singles or clusters of 3 over 24 hours.
I have heard that acupuncture may help with the seizures.
When I asked a local vet that practices acupuncture, she
said that the distress of flailing
about in the icy water may have caused a spine injury or
some spinal pressure that causes the seizures.
And that phenobarbital will not help this.
He has not yet had any acupuncture.
I was just wanting to know if any of you on the list has had
an epileptic dog and how you handled it.
I also understand that is unusual for a dog this young to
have seizures.
Thanx in advance.
/steve d.
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POST is Copyrighted 2014. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
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Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its
administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in
any post.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx
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