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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Anyone with experience of Canine epilepsy?

5 replies

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 05/01/2014 20:23

My mums dog is about 6 now and currently at the vets for suspected epilepsy.

She is small, about Jack Russell size, and a staffie/collie/anything else mix.

Usually healthy but on friday night she had two seizures, one after the other, which involved eyes rolling, jerking limbs, frothing etc. Pretty scary by all accounts. She spent one night at the vet and was sent home with an epilepsy diagnosis and suppositories to give if she had another fit.

She seemed pretty unwell. They said she'd had an unsettled night and needed sedatives. She couldn't seem to walk straight and walked into the furniture a few times so we called the vet again and were told it was the meds wearing off. 12+ hours later?

Today she had three more fits and is back in for over night observation but her general confusion and obvious illness all morning makes me think it's something else Sad

Anyway, the point of the thread (sorry for rambling!) was to ask on my mums behalf for anyones experience of having a dog with epilepsy?

She wasn't offered daily meds but is this the norm? Is it treatable and do the dogs usually recover ok after fits?

It sounds silly but does certain things set of these fits like being over excited or flashing lights? (I knew a person who had these triggers so wonder if it is similar in dogs....) Do they get worse?

OP posts:
kansasmum · 05/01/2014 20:29

My Labrador had epilepsy. He was put on Epiphen daily for the rest of his life and he never had another fit. I was also given rectal diazepam for him in case of prolonged fit but that never happened.

My beloved dog passed away last month from cancer but he gad a good life post epilepsy diagnosis and the meds completely controlled his epilepsy.

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 05/01/2014 20:41

So sorry to hear that Kansas Flowers

Thanks for sharing though. The vet never mentioned any daily meds at all and I'm still a bit surprised they sent her home when she was so clearly unwell :(

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 05/01/2014 23:02

Epiphen has been used for many years it controls fits well, but does have side effects and needs close monitoring with regular blood tests.
There is a new drug Pexiom which also controls fits well and does not have the side effects or need the blood tests.
A dog like your Mum's should be worked up with bloods to rule out other causes, gold standard would include an MRI, but is out of the reach of most people.
I would prescribe daily meds on the basis of clear bloods, dogs are often slighted sedated for the first two weeks of daily meds.

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 06/01/2014 19:19

Thanks for your help.

She got worse over the course of today and they eventually said she was completely unresponsive and likely suffering from a brain tumor.

She was put to sleep an hour ago poor love. Very sad day as she was a great dog bless her.

RIP little one :(

OP posts:
fanoftheinvisibleman · 06/01/2014 19:53

So sorry to hear that. Sad

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