Limp and seizures! Help please!

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I wonder if anyone has exerienced similar with their older dog?

I have a Deerhound who is 8 on boxing day.

For the past 4 months he has had a limp in his rear left leg. It started off only happening after long walks. So we went to the vet and she said it was most likely arthritis starting and gave us some pain killers. He's been on glucosamine supplements since birth. About 2 months ago he had his 1st seizure and the limp became permanent, it's always there regardless of length of walk. We went to the vet again. She didn't really say any more about the limp but gave us some Diazpam to give to him after a seizure. She couldn't give an explaination for the seizure and ruled out epilesy due to his age.

We then went nearly 2 months without another seizure so we thought it was a one off, but then about 2 weeks ago we came home to torn carpet in 2 places about the same length of him so reckon he had one whilst we were out. He was also unusually erratic and clingy when we walked through the door. We didn't go to the vet that time.

This brings us to yesterday. He had another seizure at around 4pm, and I saw it start. It started with him having no control over his bad leg, it kept jerking about and he was trying to get to it with his nose. It then turned in to a full seizure. He then had another at 3am this morning, which was his longest yet (about a minute), he also lost control of his bowls and seemd to lose use of his back legs afterwards as he struggled to stand.

In the past, whenever he has had a sore paw or itch on his leg he gets a spasm in it for a few seconds or so. I reckon this is what is happening with his sore leg and it is triggering a seizure.

Does anyone have any advice? I have made an appointment for the vets for tomorrow, I think he should have an mri scan to see what is going on with that leg.

Thanks for reading.

I am a vet. This sounds to me like a clear case where it would be irresponsible for someone to give you advice over the internet without having seen the dog. Keep your appointment tomorrow and discuss the route for workup with your vet. If you would like an MRI scan, which would be the best way of checking for abnormalities in the spine and brain, then you are looking at a four-figure cost and this can only be done in a referral centre. Your vet should be happy to refer you to a specialist with this equipment if you ask.

Also a vet and also feel it is impossible to give an opinion without seeing your dog. The leg and the seizures maybe connected or two separate problems. If there is another seizure before you see your vet it can be worth videoing it for your vet to watch.

Thank you both of you.

He is insured so hopefully that will cover some of the cost of the mri. I definately want to get to the bottom of what is happening I feel so sorry for him!

Do you think it is a tell tale sign of him getting old or can this happen at any age?
He's nearly 8, which is elderly for a Deerhound, although he's very sprightly!