My poor old dog had a seizure tonight.

12 years ago

Star turned 14 in April. He has been healthy except for dense cataracts, creaky joints, and the occasional accident of urine. Tonight he had a massive seizure as we were eating dinner, and lost control of bowel and bladder. Then he wandered around the house like he was in a trance, bumping into things and falling on the wood floors. We finally got him to settle down on his bed, and he appears to be sleeping.

DD returns from Ukraine tomorrow. She really was hoping he would be alive when she returned. She's been gone since January and she really misses her doggie.

Please wish us luck that Star makes it til DD gets home. We will probably need to make some difficult decisions, especially if he has another seizure. Poor old guy, he's the best dog I've ever had and a special friend to me.

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Comments (24)

lisa_fla
12 years ago
Hope he is OK in the morning. Are you going to call or bring her to the vet? I have no experience with that type of incident so I have no insight. I really hope seeing DD brings better days for him.
Georgysmom
12 years ago
Sounds almost like he had a minnie stroke. I certainly hope he's better in the morning. It's quite possible that he will rally and be very happy to see DD as she will be to see him. Saying a little prayer that all goes well. I've been there.
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You guys are the greatest. Tears in my eyes as I read all your kind posts. We had a good night last night and I didn't even give him the cough pill. Dudley's just been outside, had his meds and I am off to work. Thank you all for caring! (Don't you love the little pink tongue in this pic?)
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Two in a month is not 'rarely' by a long shot. Most of the time medication is recommended if 1) seizures are more often than every 2 months OR 2) seizures are so severe that the pet had a hard time recovering, OR 3) seizures lasted more than a few minutes. Even under the best of circumstances, in a younger dog like yours, seizures that are 'mild' or infrequent are often not treated because even with treatment, most epileptic dogs (and cats to some degree) continue to have seizures (though far less often.. sometimes never again). Our goal is to keep pets from having seizures less than once every 2 months... so if they are already having them less than that, we hesitate treatment as treatment is NOT benign. However blood work is ALWAYS recommended (and actually so are radiographs and ultrasounds- looking for an errant tumor that could somehow be involved). Hypothyroidism can be associated with an increased seizure frequency, but actual death from hypothyroidism is pretty rare (not seen a single case in 28 years as a vet). Hypothyroidism is associated with other illness problems as well (heart disease, joint disease, dermatologic problems, weight problems etc.), so correcting the lack of thyroid hormone is indeed recommended. If two seizures in a month is still considered 'rare' by your vet, I would agree, seek a second opinion. The longer frequent seizures go untreated, sometimes the harder they are to get control of.
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Phenobarb does not seem to be any less safe or problematic in cats than it is in dogs, though some cats are notoriously harder to pill and may need their phenobarb compounded. It is a far superior drug for seizure control than is valium, but he may seem doped up at first with phenobarb, too... but it will only be temporary! Starting a pet on phenobarb does not mean they have to be on it their whole lives, but more often than not, seizures come back if you stop seizure meds in epileptic pets. But before you get to that point, blood work is pretty important, particularly an Felv test. Seizures are less common in cats than they are in dogs, and sometimes are NOT epileptic in nature... leukemia virus, FIP and some other brain infections can lead to seizures as well. Testing for Felv is usually straight forward (though rare cats will still be positive for Felv but test negative every time... makes diagnosis very difficult unless you get a bone marrow sample, though I am not suggesting you go that far at this time... pretty expensive!). FIP testing, on the other hand, is not straight forward... and so hard to interpret that most just hope that is not what is going on... not treatable anyway. Brain tumors can only be picked up on MRIs and cat scans, but are not common in 5 year old cats. Toxoplasmosis and a few other much rarer parasitic infections can lead to seizures, so that might be a test your vet will recommend (have yet in 27 years seen one, though). And rarely liver disease can lead to seizures, but most cats 5 years old would be ill and showing other symptoms... Good luck with treatment! Get off the valium though... not a good way to control seizures, as you have already discovered.
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Thanks for asking, Moonie. I think about it a lot, but I don't see myself doing anything about it until next spring at the earliest. I think I mentioned on the KT that I was going to wait until I got my cataract surgery over with, and that hasn't even been scheduled yet (and won't be, as long as I'm being treated for Lyme). Then last month my finances took a big hit from several sides, and the last thing I need is vet bills right now. But another factor is the challenges that winter brings. I'm going to have to figure out how to deal with this issue before I get another dog. My dirt road (and much of the property) is always icy in winter, and after injuring my knee a couple of years ago I am no longer willing to fall every winter. So I can't do any dog walking. Over the years I've had dogs we could let out by themselves, but some of my neighbors up the road ruined that idea when they started letting their large, aggressive dogs run free. My property is their favorite toilet, apparently, and they once attacked Wolfy in my back yard, giving him a serious wound in the throat. I have 31 acres here, but I feel as though I don't dare let a dog out by himself. When I had Angel and Wolfy I dealt with this by letting them out the back door in winter on a 25' horse lunge line, with me keeping watch. I suppose I would do this again. But this winter, with my Raynaud's Syndrome as bad as it is, I'll be somewhat relieved not to have to repeatedly open an outside door and unhook cold metal leash fasteners. Life is complicated. :-/ Glad to read the good advice and support you've received on this thread. PS: As long as I'm here, did you see my mention that I was surprised this week by a childhood friend popping in to visit me at work? Her maiden name was Clark.
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Jeane Gallo
12 years ago
I agree, it sounds like a stroke to me as well. My friend's dog had the same thing happen to her and she took her to the vet. He said it was a stroke. Her dog recovered pretty well, but unfortunately didn't live a long time after that. She was pretty old when it happened.
User
12 years ago
I have been there too. I had a dog that had them more often than I knew. She always got through them pretty much on her own. Now they have medication for pups.
My heart is with you all. It's so scary. Take care of each other.
sleeperblues
Original Author
12 years ago
He's not going to make it. We'll take him in and have him put to sleep today. It was a rough night.
folkvictorian
12 years ago
I'm sorry to read that Star isn't going to make it. My heart goes out to your family.
katlan
12 years ago
Oh no, how sad. But if he is suffering it's the last show of love you can do for him. My dog will be 15 in October and I dread what surely is coming.

I know you can't say "never" to anything, but I'm pretty positive I'll never get another pet.

Good luck, this is going to be a hard day for your family.
alisande
12 years ago
I've been there, too..... such a hard time for the dog and those who love him. Sending hugs, Sleeperblues.
vetaal
12 years ago
I'm so sorry to read bad news, gentle hugs to all of you: ((doggie and people))
lydia1959
12 years ago
So sorry (((Sleeperblues))).
bigack
12 years ago
I'm so sorry, how we love our pets! We have 2 older dogs, both sort of sickly, so I know what's coming. Hugs to all of you.
jannie
12 years ago
I'm so sorry. We had a sick old cat (17 years old,with kidney failure). My teen age daughter went off to sleep away camp, made me promise not to put the cat to sleep, but it was clear the cat was suffering. DD didn't get to say goodbye, but she wasn't mad at us, either. Sending you lots of hugs.
Georgysmom
12 years ago
I'm writing this through tears. My first Irish Setter had a similar episode. She was out running around in the late afternoon. That night all of a sudden her back end went and she couldn't get up. She was 14 also. She was around for two more weeks but kept walking into walls because she couldn't walk straight. I finally realized what the kind thing to do was. It's so very hard but 14 is a long, long time. ((((Sleeperblues, family and Star)))))))
Georgysmom
12 years ago
I meant to put a p. s. to katlan and all others who feel the same way.
While the heartbreak over losing a pet is so great, it cannot compare with the years of joy experienced with that pet. After the grieving process, I highly recommend getting another fur baby. They are all different and each and every one of them has something different and wonderful to offer.
wildchild
12 years ago
I am so sorry. We are fortunate to live in an area that has animal ERs. They are a bit pricey for treatment but they generally waive the "walk in the door charge" if a pet needs to be helped across the bridge. The vet on duty can charge a fee I believe but with my last they did not. Very compassionate people work in those units.

I hope Star is resting in peace by now if in fact that is what is necessary. Peace to you and your family.
Jasdip
12 years ago
Oh Sleeperblues, I'm so very sorry what you had to go through.
As others have mentioned, more of us have been through what you're going through, than not. It's never easy, but it really is the most humane and best thing for your furkid.

I remember when I had to put my first cat down, she too was 14. What is it with that age? I didn't go a month without getting another cat. Our home was empty without a four-legged member in it.

(((((((Sleeperblues and Hubby)))))))))))
((((Star))))
chisue
12 years ago
So sorry you've lost your true companion, Star. I don't know why dogs can't live longer. Maybe they leave after they've taught us all they know. Maybe WE live too long.

I'm thinking it will be easier on your DD that this is over. She can remember the dog he was without having to witness his passing.

What a day for you, though! Big roller coaster of sorrow over losing Star and joy at having your DD home.
Lily316
12 years ago
Having been thru it numerous time, I know exactly what you're going thru. It's tough. My thoughts are with you. You gave him a good life.
User
12 years ago
I too, feel so awful for you. Pet people are the kindest persons in the world. You can count on their compassion in many other areas as well.Your goodness shows through now as you look at sacrificing your feelings of needing Star to stay.

Hope your daughter makes it home and is part of the decision of what is best for Star. Again, hug each other tight. I am glad you are keeping in touch on this wonderful site.
moonie_57 (8 NC)
12 years ago
(((sleeperblues))) I'm so very sorry and know that you had a rough night. We have also been through it.
nodakgal
12 years ago
((((SleeperBlues and family)))
I know the pain as so many here do, I wish I could do more than say I am sorry. It's been almost a year since I lost my heart dog. I wish for you lots of happy memories in time.
petaloid
12 years ago
I'm so very sorry. Heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you.
Marilyn Sue McClintock
12 years ago
((((Hugs))))

Sue
suzieque
12 years ago
I'm so sorry. I truly understand this difficult time.

My poor old dog had a seizure tonight.

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My poor old dog had a seizure tonight.

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