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Original poster

Anyone got any experience of eplieptic dogs??

22 replies

GoodGollyMissMolly · 04/02/2008 14:24

One of mine was diagnosed with a mild case of epilepsy about 10 weeks ago (The week we brought DD home). My dog has just had a massive episode with a small amount of shaking and walking to the left. The epilepsy seems to be getting worse.
What are your coping stratergies, She's got an appointment at the vets on friday.

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ComeOVeneer · 04/02/2008 14:27

DH's parents had an epileptic dog when I first started going out with him. It was quite a scary thing to witness and not nice for the poor dog who was terrified afterwards. SHe was on anti-epeletic madication which really reduced the frequency of fits ((only about 2 or 3 a year). Just plenty of reassurance and love after an episode was all they could do really.

notalone · 04/02/2008 15:08

Maybe not quite the same but we had an epileptic cat for years. When he was having a fit (usually at night) we would try to wrap him in a duvet so he didn't hurt himself or if this was not possible we would ensure there was nothing on the floor for him to hurt himself on. He was always ravenous after having a fit so we used to get him some biscuits which seemed to relax him. He was given diazapam by the vets which would stop the frequency of the seizures but he would have one usually about once a month. Its scary to see but surprising how quick you get used to dealing with it. Oh and if you can try to learn the signs leading onto a fit. Our cat only had them when he was asleep but before he had a fit his head used to be a bit twitchy so I would know one was on its way.

beautifulgirls · 04/02/2008 15:27

Is she on medication - may need to start some, or may need to up the dose if still having this level of problems.

Best to call your vet today to get some phone advice if nothing more at this stage.

LittleMissNorty · 04/02/2008 15:32

Our elderly dog had epilepsy which was controlled by drugs for about a year.

When having a fit, we would make sure he was safe and put a blanket over his head and as he was coming round, talk to him and reassure him gently. He could behave quite oddly though sometimes - and very out of character (eg growling) and we were told only one person that he knows with him and to just let him get on with it - after a few minutes he was ok. That's it really, other than medicate and always be prepared esp if out for a walk!

Certainly speak to the vet for advice if you can't get there until Monday.

Hope all is ok

LittleMissNorty · 04/02/2008 15:34

Friday I meant....

Onlyaphase · 04/02/2008 15:39

One of our labs has the odd fit - maybe 5 times a year - and this hasn't got any better or worse over the last 6 years. We cope by always being on the lookout, one of us sitting with him chatting to him during the episode, and by making sure that he feels safe - ie removing our dog-hating cat from the room whilst he is vulnerable

My parents had a labrador puppy years ago that had fits, that got worse and worse until they were several times a day by the time he was 6 months old. Sadly they had him put down then, as his quality of life wasn't great and prospects weren't good.

Original poster

GoodGollyMissMolly · 04/02/2008 16:13

Thank you all for replying. She has been doing this for ages now but because she doesn't have the 'shakes' with it DH and I didn't realize what it was The only way I can describe them is it is like she is awake but not aware of anything around her, she walks in circles and climbs on anything and everything. Nothing we do can get her to snap out of it. (The lights are on but no one is home)

She used to do it at night and we though she was sleepwalking, it only happened about 5 times a year.

When we brought DD home she had 4 episodes in the space of a week, so we took her to the vet and he said that she has taken to 'mothering' DD and has overloaded herself which has caused it to happen so may times.

The vet gave us a D.A.P diffuser and it seemed to work, up until about 4 weeks ago when she started to have approx one a week.
The one she had today had 'shakes' with it. Not massive but noticeable. She slept like a log after and has eaten a full bowl of kibble when she woke up.

The earliest appointment the vet could give me is Friday.

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Original poster

GoodGollyMissMolly · 04/02/2008 16:15

onlyaphase, it's a horrible thing to see isn't it.

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LittleMissNorty · 04/02/2008 17:53

Ahhh poor thing

Keep her calm seems to be the thing.

Let us know what the vet says on Friday....

loler · 04/02/2008 18:02

we had a rescue dog that had exactly the same as you described. Our vet said that in his opinion it wasn't a good idea to have dogs with this problem around children as when they are coming out of it they can be unintentionally snappy. might be worth asking your vet about.

sorry about poor typing...doing one handed

loler · 04/02/2008 18:03

meant to say, hope your dog improves quickly. last post makes me sound horrible!

SugaryBits · 04/02/2008 18:06

Slightly off topic but if your dog is on long term medication, get a prescription from your Vets and get the medcication online. My friend's dog is on Epiphen and it is less than half price at Petdrugsonine compared to her Vets.

Original poster

GoodGollyMissMolly · 04/02/2008 19:04

Loler, thanks for the heads up, I will watch her more closely when she comes round. Did your dog ever get better or did it seem to get worse. Chyna is 8 this year and is a cross between a jack rus and a staffie.

Sugarybits, she isn't on medication, but it looks like that is the way it's gonna go for her thanks for letting me know, at least I can save a bit of money.

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loler · 04/02/2008 20:14

We took the dog on without being told of his problem so after he had a few fits we took him to our own vet. After he told us about the snapping we thought that we couldn't risk it with the dc around him (we had a 1 year old and was pg at the time) so we sent him back to the rescue centre.

I felt really bad doing it at the time but as we hadn't had him for very long and had dc thought it was the sensible thing to do. If something like this happened with a dog I'd had for a long time I would have discussed things more in depth with the vet.

The dog was about 4-5 years old and a real mixture of allsorts but looked a bit like a lurcher (on top of all his other problems he probably was the most ugly dog in the world!).

TurkeyLurkey · 04/02/2008 20:20

Don't know if she's already been done but we had our dog spayed (sp??) on the vets advice when she started with fits. After the op she never had another fit.

I'm sure you know already but there's nothing you can do to stop the fit coming on and happenning. All you can do is make her comfortable and reassure her.

Feel sorry for you and your dog, its very frightening when its happening.

LittleB · 04/02/2008 20:38

My dh had a collie cross spaniel who was epileptic, he didn't have medication for it, they just kept him comfortable and he seemed fine when he came around. He says it didn't affect his general health, he lived to be 16.

lucyellensmum · 04/02/2008 20:42

GGMM, how long has she been having these episodes? Has epilepsy been diagnosed?

One thing you have to be careful of when the dog is coming out of a "fit" is not to over stimulate. When i worked in a vets we tended to advise them to make sure the dog couldnt hurt itself and then walk out of the room and leave it to its own devices to come out of the fit. Also, turn the light off. If you try and comfort the dog immediately after the fit then it can trigger another seizure.

I had a chihuahua with severe epilepsy, from the age of about 7, he lived to be 15

Original poster

GoodGollyMissMolly · 04/02/2008 22:49

TurkeyLurkey, she has already been speyed nearly 5 years ago now.

Lucyellensmum, She has been having these episodes since she was approx 18 months, but as I said I thought that she was sleepwalking as they always seemed to happen at night when she had been asleep. The vet hasn't done any tests as he said they are too invasive and what we are describing sound like epilepsy. Do you think I should ask him to do some tests?? But surely he will do them if he is gonna put her oon medication?? Thanks for your advice I will follow that when she has another one.

Loler, thats the thing we have had Chyna from being a puppy and she will be 8 this year, she is like my baby. I feel awful for her

LittleB, nice to know that they can live with this condition and also live to be old.

I couldn't bear the thought of loosing her, she was the first thing I got when I left home. My parents would never let me have a dog, so as soon as I left home I got her and then a tattoo lol, that was me rebelling!!

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Hobnobfanatic · 04/02/2008 23:15

You need the Canine Epilepsy Support Group (I think that's what they are called) and also the Phyllis Croft foundation for canine epilepsy (PCFCE)

Lots of advice from specialists.

Good luck!

vInTaGeVioLeT · 04/02/2008 23:40

hi goodgolly
my dog has epilepsy and has been on medication for the last 9months - we've had her since she was 18m - we didn't know she was epileptic but she had her first fit not long after coming to us - we managed her fits without meds for about 6yrs because they were not too bad not too frquent and the vet warned of side-effects of the drugs used to treat it - in may she had a terrible fit which went on and on she bit her tongue foamed at the mouth etc it was terrifying for us and her - we had to take her to the vets and she had to be sedated and had to stay at the vets for several days - since being on epithen she is so much better - she was always a nervy dog but she is so chilled now also she seems happier , a side effect is that she's now a bit of a scav and you can't leave any food were she can reach it - so i'm fairly strict with her food as i think it's cruel to let a dog get fat.

hope things go well at the vets on friday

p.s. i've never found my dog to be snappy after a fit but i know that human friends with epilepsy are tired and headachey afterwards so i give her peace and quite away from the kids afterwards

Original poster

GoodGollyMissMolly · 05/02/2008 21:48

HibNob, thanks for that info I will look them up.

Vintageviolet, how awful for your dog, Chynas fits or 'episodes' (Cos they are not like shaking fits IYSWIM) are no where near as bad as you describe your dogs fit's to be.
The one she had yesterday had a little bit of shaking but not like violent convulsions or anything, after she came out of it she slept for a while then she was ravenous. My bro came to take the dogs for a walk a few hours after and he said she was perfectly fine on the walk.
They do seem to be getting more and more frequent and slightly more longer and severe. It is a big worry, but I think it looks like she will eventually have to go on medication.

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vInTaGeVioLeT · 05/02/2008 21:55

we are very happy now she's on the meds as we don't have to worry so much - she is also happier

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