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

Dog suddenly having seizures- 9 year old Westie :-(

8 replies

2023istheplacetobe · 10/08/2023 08:18

Not sure why I’m really writing on here. I guess to see if anyone has any success stories.

Yesterday completely out of the blue, my lovely 9 year old Westie started having a seizure. I’d never seen anything like it. It lasted what felt like ages but I think probably 3-4 mins. When she came round she was a bit disorientated but greeted me and the children (we were on the floor with her) like we’d been out for the day and we were re-United.

I took her straight to the vet and they gave me some pessaries in case it happened again. 5 hours later, it did. I couldn’t get to the pessary in time and when she came round she was confused and disorientated- and incredibly hungry.

I called the vet. She isn’t insured anymore and we simply don’t have the funds for her to stay overnight. I was advised to give the pessary anyway.

6 hours later she had another seizure. My husband gave her the pessary which stopped the fitting but the recovery hasn’t happened this time. She was blind and very unsteady on her feet with her legs collapsing.

We took her to the emergency Vet, who gave her an anti-seizure injection. She was still pacing but I put her in her crate in our bedroom (she sleeps in it normally) and she eventually fell asleep.

We’ve had what feels like 2 hours sleep but woken to a dog that can see but is still very disorientated and unsteady on her feet. We’ve been told if she has another seizure in 24-48 hours the medication hasn’t worked, at which point we will have to make a very painful decision.

As I said, I don’t really know why I’m posting but it feels a bit cathartic to let it out.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 10/08/2023 08:26

Sorry to hear that. Our dog has epilepsy so I have experience. Will you be able to try long term medication? Our.dog is on lifelong medication and still had occasional seizures but still has a wonderful life. He's 3.

IngGenius · 10/08/2023 08:44

I am so sorry you hare having to go through this.It is heartbreaking. I am no medic but would imagine sudden unset seizures in an older dog could easily be due to another medical condition apart from epilepsy.

Have the vets done blood tests?

I hope things settle down for you both. She sounds a very loved dog

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 10/08/2023 08:55

Blood tests especially for an unknown condition can be very expensive. With scans etc it cost us thousands to get out puppy diagnosed (through elimination of everything else) but we were given the option at the beginning just to go straight to medication.

AthenaPopodopolous · 10/08/2023 09:31

This happened to my 15 year old Westie and I’m afraid I should have put him to sleep rather than wait for two weeks while the wee soul was in pain and misery.
he lost control of his hind legs too and was in a lot of pain.

2023istheplacetobe · 10/08/2023 13:50

She had blood tests after the first seizure but they will take a few days to come through. She also has Addisons (another blood test ruled out any connection) so is on long term medication already.
She was my first baby and the kids adore her. I’m really struggling with knowing what is kindest for her.

OP posts:
LolaJ87 · 22/11/2023 12:54

2023istheplacetobe · 10/08/2023 13:50

She had blood tests after the first seizure but they will take a few days to come through. She also has Addisons (another blood test ruled out any connection) so is on long term medication already.
She was my first baby and the kids adore her. I’m really struggling with knowing what is kindest for her.

I'm so sorry to raise your thread after so long, do you mind telling me if your lovely girl recovered? I really hope so.

My dog had a seizure on Monday night, she was in the vet hospital overnight and her bloods were all clear so we aren't sure what caused it. We have the pessary in case it happens again. Like your girl, she is a senior dog and already on long term meds for unrelated issues.

I hope you don't mind giving an update on how things went for you ❤

2023istheplacetobe · 22/11/2023 13:00

I’m so sorry to hear about your poorly pup. She was put on Epiphen which kept the seizures at bay. She “recovered” but after about 6 weeks she went down hill rapidly. Her back legs went completely and she’d been through so much. It was an incredibly painful decision but we decided the kindest thing was to last goodbye. I’m just grateful we were given 6 weeks with her.
i recommend joining the epileptic dog fb page- it was very helpful. x

OP posts:
LolaJ87 · 22/11/2023 13:07

I'm so very sorry to hear of your loss, it sounds like she was very, very loved. It's wonderful you got a little bit more time together.

Sincere apologies if my question has raised painful memories. I'm trying to prepare myself for the worst, though we can never really be ready.

Thanks so much for sharing your outcome.

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