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

Original poster

3 month old puppy having seizures

53 replies

doodlemom · 20/03/2019 19:39

My puppy has had two seizures today, they occur while he is sleeping. He’s a mini golden doodle. Anyone have experience with such young pups having seizures? Outcomes? Advice?

OP posts:
Fireinthegrate · 20/03/2019 20:29

I’m hoping you’ll be going to the vets first thing tomorrow?

I had a GSD who had seizures when he was 18 mths old. He kind of went blank, stared into space, came too and was a bit disorientated.

Vet gave him epiphen which he took twice a day for the rest of his life and another seizure was never seen.

I hope your pup will be ok. Come back on here to let us know what the vet says.

ABC1234DEF · 20/03/2019 20:30

Seizures at that age definitely need investigations. How is he growing? Any vomiting or anything?

BiteyShark · 20/03/2019 20:33

I guess it depends on whether the seizures are idiopathic or due to an underlying condition. Have you consulted your vet?

Travellinghappy · 20/03/2019 20:38

What do they look like exactly? Have you filmed them?

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 20/03/2019 21:10

Your pup needs to see a vet tomorrow.

Epilepsy does exist in dogs, as it does in children, though there can be other reasons for seizures.

I'd also contact the breeder, and owners of littermates if you can, so that the breeder is aware this issue has arisen (which may affect future breeding decisions) and you can find out if the other puppies have this issue.

Booboostwo · 20/03/2019 21:20

Please tell me you’ve been to the vets, you are waiting exam results and are just looking for general info!

Elmo311 · 20/03/2019 21:28

Hiya,
Can you tell me what makes you think they are seizures? Especially as the dog is sleeping i would say that sometimes their bodies can twitch, eyelids twitch etc when in a deep sleep?

If the puppy stretches out, legs are stiff and full on body tremors etc then probably a seizure ....but call your vet, and take a video so you can show them what your pup does x

Nearlyhadenough · 20/03/2019 21:44

I also really hope you are writing after seeing a vet!

I have a 2 year old beagle who was diagnosed with idiopathic (no known cause) epilepsy at 16 weeks. She had about 10-15 seizures in one day, worsening each time. We now know she had been having milder seizures for a few weeks prior to this. She had to have an MRI scan and spinal tap at a specialist veterinarian hospital prior to diagnosis.

We were advised to put her to sleep more than once.

She was started on epiphen, this was changed to phenobarbital (as she had cluster seizures) and then potassium bromide was added.

I found her litter brother through Facebook with exactly the same issues. Their breeder was not interested (KC Assured Breeder).

Both these puppies went a year seizure free and are both off of medication now!! They are 2 pretty amazing beagles. Unfortunately, it's not always the way it goes. You will need insurance or deep pockets, as your pup is so little, tests will need to be done to rule out other possible reasons for seizures.

Fingers crossed for your pup, please let us know how he is x

Original poster
doodlemom · 20/03/2019 22:49

Hi all. I’m so sorry, I was frazzled when typing out my initial post.

Yes, we had been to the vet hospital and he is currently being monitored overnight with them.

In the morning, he laid down for a snooze while I was getting ready for work. He made a screeching yelp, tried to get up and walk and was very, very stiff, eyes glazed over and twitching pretty bad. He continued to try to walk finally I was able to get him in a seated position(not knowing what was going on) then he started foaming at the mouth. After about 45 seconds he came out of it very confused and disoriented. I immediately called the vet and took him in. They did bloodwork (came back fine) and are sending off a fecal sample. They monitored him for about two hours and sent us home because he didn’t have an incident.

Within an hour of being home, he laid down for another nap and the same exact thing happened. I rushed him back to the hospital. More tests are being conducted(liver testing) while they have him overnight.

I’m waiting on them to give me a call to tell me how he is coming along.

This is extremely hard to handle with him being SO young. Also, my pocketbook has taken quite a beating today. I just hope he’s okay.

OP posts:
Original poster
doodlemom · 20/03/2019 22:49

I took video of the second seizure and showed the doctor. She believes it to be a focal seizure.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 21/03/2019 00:22

Hope you get to the bottom of it soon . I know a golden / poodle x and she has epilepsy , apparently it’s one of the more common ailments that they are predisposed to .

reallyanotherone · 21/03/2019 00:33

Mini goldendoodle? How does that work? A goldenretriever x a miniature poodle? If it’s a small breed dog my worry would be syringomelia.

What has the breeder said? At this age there’s a strong chance siblings or parents will have similar.

Frannibananni · 21/03/2019 01:05

Our rescue dog started having seizures 11 years ago as a puppy, I know none of his siblings from the same litter have ever had them. We give him phenomav every day and he is fine. Vet Is very happy with him. He is a Happy old dog now. His seizures were more of a head bobbing and gentle mouth snapping/clicking. Sometime I have to give him a double dose if he seems to be having breakthrough seizures but not often.

Booboostwo · 21/03/2019 06:04

How scary! Poor little puppy. I hope your vet gets to the bottom of what is happening.

Beaverhausen · 21/03/2019 06:18

Do not worry OP it can be managed with medication my cat has hyperesthesia seizure and is on diazepam and pheno which manages it. I also have her on cbd oil just for good measure. There are support groups on Facebook would be a good idea to join, as they are very informative, the only way is to do your research and speak to other people in the same situation. Your puppy can have a happy healthy life with this condition.

Cantdoright1 · 21/03/2019 06:26

I would recommend going to a consultant and getting an MRI to rule out anything other than epilepsy. My collie had his first fit at 9months and was then on drugs and died at 15 months. Im so sorry to be so brutal but your pup is having alot of long seizures so I would prepare for the worst. My poor boy having epilepsy was one of the worst dog experiences of my life so I totally understand the worry you are suffering. Everyone kept telling me my boy would be fine and I wish someone had been honest with me. Some dogs do live a long life with epilepsy and medication but generally their seizures are much less severe and less often than your pup's. I also found my vets dismissive because it's a wait and see disease. Good luck xx

BiteyShark · 21/03/2019 07:44

Sounds like he is in the best place. The key thing is whether they are idiopathic or due to an underlying structural or metabolic condition. Poor thing and very scary for you.

Hope you get some news soon.

Original poster
doodlemom · 22/03/2019 18:40

UPDATE:

Hi. Thank you for asking

My puppy ended up having three seizures all within a 30 hour timeframe. He spent the night in the hospital two nights in a row to be monitored and never had an incident. The next step would be neurological testing because all bloodwork and liver testing came back normal. I couldn’t make that investment and with him being so small that is a huge long term life commitment to him and I lead a pretty active life. I chose to give him back to the breeder for him to rehome him.

Thanks for all your advice.

OP posts:
Dommina · 22/03/2019 18:53

I don't think it stands much chance of rehoming, what with the unexplained, quite serious medical history. Or perhaps the breeder will just palm him off to the next person without telling them. Poor wee thing. Sad

Booboostwo · 22/03/2019 20:23

Are you not ashamed to post such an update OP?

LaurieFairyCake · 22/03/2019 20:29

But don't you have insurance???

Even if you didn't keep him long term he still needs the investigations and treatment!

Who else is going to do that?

Nearlyhadenough · 22/03/2019 20:55

Doodlemom - my first reaction, as of others, has to be shock that someone can do this. Unfortunately, the breeder will probably do what has been suggested above, and sell the pup on again or the pup will be put to sleep because he is of no use to a breeder and will be too expensive to keep.

But, as someone who has been in the same situation, a (very) small part of me can understand. Luckily our breeder made no offer of us returning our puppy to her - we would never have agreed. But there were times when it was sooo distressing to watch a seizure time after time, that we thought we'd done the wrong thing by trying to keep her alive - that yes, I do understand, especially if you have not yet bonded with him.

BayandBlonde · 22/03/2019 21:11

Please don't get anymore dogs....hopefully the breeder will find a more responsible home

anniehm · 22/03/2019 21:18

If anyone reading this is planning on getting a dog, make sure that you have insurance in place - it doesn't matter if it's a proper breeder, a rescue or a private sale, it's essential. My ddog's insurer didn't flinch when the vet suggested an mri though we chose not to as it meant a ga.

FiveShelties · 22/03/2019 21:25

Poor puppy. I had a Sheltie with epilepsy and although it is really scary when they have a fit, it was controlled by drugs for many years. I hope he finds a lovely caring home.