My Labrador is fitting....

[AnonymousBird]

My 5yo female lab has had several fits over the past 18 months or so. Never for very long, luckily, and no vomiting etc. She is quiet for a little time afterwards but then reverts to normal pretty quickly with no obvious knock on effects.

To start with it just seemed to be every now and then. But we then suspected that we weren't seeing all of the fits, as we once heard it during the night and I suspect it has happened other times we have not been with her.

It has just happened again ten minutes ago. I heard a crashing type sound and found her outside her room in a very peculiar crouched position, almost as if going to poo, and I realised what was happening so gently got her onto her side.

It must have lasted 2-3 minutes I think. This seems to be getting more regular now. I did mention to the vet the last time we were there for her annual jabs, but he said when it's mild unless it becomes very regular there is not a lot they can do....

Anyone got any experience of this? There must come a point when we bite the bullet and get it investigated, but I'm not sure when and she hates the vet so much that I don't take there unless there is real need. No "easy reassuring" vet visits for us I'm afraid! I am insured, so if we need treatment, cost is not an issue.

TIA for any feedback. xxx

[bobbybearmummy]

Do not have your dog vaccinated again...there is a link between the two.

[AnonymousBird]

Ok, I'll think about that, but in the meantime, anyone got any advice or experience of the fits themselves?

Thanks.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

It sounds like canine epilepsy, it can be treat very successfully with relatively inexpensive drugs.

There is no evidence at all that vaccinations are harmful to dogs, they provide immunisation against some seriously nasty bugs, please do not consider not vaccinating. Losing your dog to parvo is horrific and a very real possibility if you do not vaccinate.

When my dog was diagnosed it was by elimination, they screened her for other bugs/toxins/nasties and when nothing showed up, epilepsy was diagnosed.

What are you feeding her? Diet can make the condition better or worse. Steer clear of highly processed foods and avoid Bakers like the plague. The more natural you can afford the better, BARF, Nature Diet, Fish 4 Dogs etc. are all good foods.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

In agreement with Dooin. Most of the things we screen for can be done with blood tests.
If you are feeding Bakers stop now it always increases the numbers of fits dogs have.

[AnonymousBird]

I will continue with vaccination (was being polite to the response more than anything - no offence bobbybearmummy!) She is not fed on Bakers.

Thanks for that, going to monitor, see how often it happens going forward, and when we next go for our annual check up (May I think) we will mention it again, unless it gets more frequent in which case we will go sooner. Interesting to know that treatment is fairly straightforward (assuming it is canine epilepsy).

[bobbybearmummy]

Yes there is a link,and yes we do over vaccinate our dogs.But please make your own informed decisions.Check out Catherine O'Driscoll.

[1MitchellMum]

Sorry to hear that. My first dog fitted at a year old. She then had another couple of fits, but when she was two had a major fit and ended up on a drip. Vet saved her life, thankfully. She was put on to Phenobarbitone and over the next few months we experimented with the dose until she was on the lowest dose possible without causing fits. She lived until she was six days off her 13th birthday. Not everyone is as lucky, but there are positive outcomes! On the separate issue we've had discussions about vaccinations over the years but have decided to keep having them.

[daisydotandgertie]

Have a read of this thread on Labrador Forums and then start searching the forum for more information. There is absolutely masses there and a great deal of expertise.

Your dog is likely to continue to lead a long and happy life - it is usually perfectly manageable.

[AnonymousBird]

Thank you posters for your very helpful info and the link to the forum. Going to talk it over with DH tonight. Don't want to distress her with a visit to the vet (it really is that bad!) but clearly if she needs help/diagnosis then all well and good, we need to do it.

I'm sure I've heard of a mobile vet in our area... must explore it, anything to deal with the stress of going to the surgery itself for "routine" consultations.

[cuebilljustvisiting]

I may have misunderstood BUT are you saying that your dog has been fitting on and off for 18 months and you have not taken her to the vet at all?

She HAS to go to the vet asap- discomfort or not. TBH the fits are not exactly relaxing

[1MitchellMum]

The OP HAS talked to the vet ...

[bassetfeet]

My collie had fits and meds controlled it fine until the latter days of her much loved life . Dont worry .

I am one of the owners who believe that innoculations triggered it . I know it did in my heart . But had the next collie vaccinated . Weighed the risk up .
Hope all goes ok with you and your loved dog .

[daisydotandgertie]

I have read it that the OP has been to the vet, but not about the fitting specifically. And that the vet has done a fob off.

I'm afraid that distress or not, it is definitely time to visit the vet to get this investigated; there is more than one reason for fitting and it is important to know which it is. Internet diagnosis of epilepsy MAY be right - but it may not be.

[TheDreadedLurker]

Yup, go to the vet- you could certainly find one who will do home visits - most of the diagnostics involve blood tests so it's not necessarily that the dog needs to be on site at a clinic.
As far as vaccines causing fitting.... Yeah- just like MMR vaccs were DEFINITELY linked to autism.... Until proven they DEFINITELY weren't !
Primary Epilepsy is thankfully still relatively rare in dogs and far more likely to be linked to genetics than anything your vet has done in the name of preventing death by nasty infections! Pedigrees are hugely over-represented.... But I digress... clambers off vetty soapbox If the fitting is steadily becoming more frequent, then get it sorted! Good luck x

[StillWatersRunDeep]

Definitely worth getting her examined by your vet. At least for a blood test to rule out some of the underlying causes (liver and kidney disease, thyroid disease etc).
Unless seizures are happening more frequently than every 4-6wks or are excessively long or your dog is not coming round fully, most vets will advise to wait until they do become more frequent before treating.
Try and keep a seizure diary as well - dates and times of seizures, what the dog was doing before and after, how long the episode lasted, what happened during it etc. This will be helpful to assess progression as well as the type of seizure.
And please please please do not stop vaccinating your dog!! If you are worried about overvaccinating, discuss this with your vet! Many vets these days only vaccinate for certain diseases every 3yrs (some vaccinations have to be yearly such as leptospirosis and kennel cough), not annually as used to be the standard practice.
Good luck!

[Jayne266]

Just to add to stillwater if you can record a seizure that would be helpful we can determine a lot by the type of seizure your dog is having if there is a recording.

[AnonymousBird]

Thank you for your advice. I am now going to keep a diary of when it happens (that we are aware of anyway). I can pinpoint a couple of dates I definitely know it happened - eg. was on holiday, she was at MIL's, one night we had been out, things sticking in my memory. I think it may be 6-8 times in 18 months, and only ever lasts a couple of minutes.

The fits are distressing to watch, but the vet did advise that almost certainly she will be completely unaware that it has happened, and certainly she shows absolutely no ill effects once she has fully come round, so she is not in anyway distressed or scared once out of the fit.

To be fair to the vet, he didn't "fob off"- at that point I think we were only aware of it having happened 2 or 3 times and he simply said to keep an eye and he didn't want to put her through the stress of tests and investigations unnecessarily unless they became more pronounced or more regular... however, I do agree that with the more recent history of the fits (I haven't been to the vet since last May) he may change his view on that.

She just hates going to the surgery so much and does get very distressed befor during and after, and does remember how much she hates it - causes her much more ongoing "difficulties" than the fit does in the short term, in her little world anyway.

I've looked into home visits/mobile vets and we only have two surgeries within striking distance - one I refuse to use and the one we go to where they are very nice but definitely don't offer home visits for small animals.

Thanks all. We will keep a careful eye and may brave it at some point....

[iseenodust]

Our lab has mini-fits that last about 10-15mins. Shakes, trembles and cannot hold own weight but remains conscious throughout. You're stroking him to comfort him and he's trying to wag his tail to show appreciation. They are infrequent but he has had them for over seven years. Vet decided not often enough for the downside of meds. We decided a trigger could be overtired (eg too many full on days on holiday). Between times he is absolutely fine and he is now 13.