Dinah has a seizure

[Nasoosie]

Ok, now----had a bad evening as I was leaving the house to go up to my neighbor's for a drink before supper. Dinah went down the steps, began pawing at her face like she would if she had gotten a sting or a bite from something, and then began to seize. She became very stiff, staggered, vibrated, acted totally out of it, and went down on the ground. I stayed by her side, petting her head and leaning against her body as she was vibrating so. She eventually got up, staggered around, went under the trailer, and when I called her out to get into the truck, she was totally dizzy and out of it. So I lifted her into the truck whereupon she fell down in her travel cage and looked as if she was going to turn upside down. I ran in, called the vet, and drove like a maniac there. By then, she seemed fine, thank heavens, but he wanted her to stay there tonight to make sure she didn't have another seizure. He also gave her a shot of phenobarbitol, which is the drug of choice for epilepsy in hounds.

I remember that a dog named Jed --can't remember the owner's name-- has had seizures and is now on meds to control them. Whoever you are, please comment on here so I can grill your brain.

Seizures scare the pooty out of me as the behavior is so bizarre and random and frightening.

I am due at the dentist's office at 7:00 am tomorrow morning, and will then go pick up Dinah after that, and then celebrate Orion's birthday back here.

[monik7]

I am so sorry to hear about Dinah. You must have been scared for her. My dogs are my best friends and I know how I would feel in the same circumstance. Thankfully she was better when you got to the vet. I wish I knew something about seizures that would help, but I don't. Just wanted you to know Dinah and you will be in my prayers for a fast recovery and that the vet will be able to guide you in how to care for her going forward. Krissi and Abby send their best wishes too.
Sandi

[Acadianmom]

Sorry to hear Dinah had a seizure. They are so scary to watch and not know what to do. I haven't had a dog with seizures but I had a kitten that had seizures. I think hers were caused by a high fever. She was on phenobarbital for 6 months and i gradually weaned her off and she has been fine ever since. Hope the vet can help her.

Martha

[mitch5252]

Soos, Jed's mom is forestgal. She's no longer a member of this forum, but she is on facebook.

[BirdbyBird]

Let the vet check her out. Some dogs develop seizure for the same unknow reasons the human do. Other do as a result of medical reasons, chemical imbalances, brain diseases processes. Don't borrow worry. It will find you quick enough if it has to..... She may need to get kept on medications....but seizure can often be controlled....

She is fortunate to have you....what ever happens she will be fine and she will need you to be fine with her....let us know what you find out.

[cpatinjones]

Sorry to hear about Dinan.

[retiredhappy]

My Buddy has had two or three seizures a year since I got him 13 years ago. They don't last but a minute or so but it seems like forever. When they are over he needs to pee and drink water but other than that, seems okay. Vet said unless they get more frequent he didn't want to put him on any meds. Dinah's sounds more severe, tho. Buddy just stiffens and sort of scrabbles on the ground. I hold him and tell him its okay. Scares the devil out of me but doesn't seem to bother him much. Please let us know what the vet says.

[Bethers]

Tips had seizures as a pup - outgrew them. Then had seizures again in old age. They are terrifying to witness and it's common that they are disoriented afterwards. The best thing then is to give them open space to walk it out. It's believed they can't even see well during that period, therefore the open space. They'll walk into things otherwise. Hopefully the vet is checking to see if anything is in Dinah's system that might have caused it - like her eating something that set this off. And if that's the case, and she can get past this, she may never have another one. But it seems, once a dog has one, they will again - maybe not for years, maybe somewhat regularly. Tips didn't need meds during his puppy ones. But after he started having them as a senior citizen, he had to be on them. Towards the end his meds were upped a few times - that when I knew his time was limited. But he had lived an extraordinarily long life for his breed - much as I hated to lose him.

I hope Dinah had one seizure and never does again. It's terrifying to watch. Big hugs to you Soos - and hoping for good news from your vet.

[carolb]

Scary Soos...as all have been saying, tho, they can be managed, even if that means having to give them space while yo- stand by somewhat helpless. Will be waiting to hear what yo-r vet says. My little Tigg started having them a few years ago--now has them maybe every month or so. He was only five years old when they started, & that seems to be a factor in determining a ca-se & how/if they are treated. No meds for Tigg yet, however an increase in freq-ency may change that. Please keep -s posted. It is the worst feeling to watch them have one, tho. LIFE! Always another s-rprise waiting aro-nd the corner...Will keep Dinah in my prayers that it's nothing more than a chemical imbalance....

[Nasoosie]

Thanks for the comments everybody, and for the name of Forestgal, Mitch.

I am thinking that Dinah may have had a previous seizure at my son's in FL last year, although that time she was alone in her hut in the trailer until I came back and found her, all stretched out in a weird position. When I hauled her out of the cage, as she couldn't get up on her own, she was unable to walk and acted very strange. I ran into my son's house to call a vet, and when he and I got back to the trailer, she was recovering. We were never sure exactly what had happened....I had thought that possibly her legs had become stretched out behind her because she had a slippery mat on the floor of her hut, and that she may have fallen asleep in a position that cramped and numbed her legs. OR, and we considered it at the time, she may have had a seizure. As it never happened again, I was now thinking it was not a seizure, until yesterday. This time I witnessed the event from start to finish.

This morning I am off to the dentist, and then back to Saranac Lake to get my Dinah. I hated leaving her in that strange place last night, but thought it best as the vet wanted to watch her. Molly misses her, too.

Thanks to you all for the input.

[Barbzeee]

Soos, praying that this day will be an easy one for you... and that Dinah will be ok..
I've had my share of dogs that have had seizures..certain breeds are more prone and in research undetermined facts on seizures in why they occur at different intervals of our Critters lives...some attributed to hormonal others have been even traced to "diet" lack of, imbalances and in breeding ..... I've had other dogs I've shown for people that out of the blue had seizures and then never again..Some of my very old critters have had one or two.. it is scarey regardless...and the only thing you can do is keep calm and make sure they don't get hurt..and Yes, they often go blind during that time and sometimes depending on how severe the seizure is...can let their urine and bowels go...and it's best to leave them be as letting them move around they can fall down and hurt themselves....just let them come out of it ..and rest. It takes a lot out of them and YOU too !

All the years I've been breeding and showing I still get thrown by it...and feel awful watching it happen..cause nothing really to do but keep yourself calm ..and you did right by calling your Vet and have Dinah checked out..

Meds the Pheno is the #1 most often given.. keep us all posted as to how she's doing...She's lucky to be with YOU as you will do your best as always to make sure Ms Dinah is happy and safe.

Keeping you and Dinah in my prayers...

God Bless
Zeee and Critters 3


.

[Redwahine]

Sorry to hear about Dinah's seizure. It is really scary. Big hugs to both you and Dinah.

[Liz]

I know how scary that had to be, Soos. I hope the vet can help prevent it from happening again. Keep us posted.

[Dawn309]

Soos, how scary for you and Dinah both. Do you have Hollyhocks? I had a Schnauzer years ago that ate a little of a Hollyhock plant I had in the back yard. He had a seizure and I found out from Vet that Hollyhocks can cause seizures in dogs. I pulled all the plants and he never had another one again. I am keeping both of you in my prayers.

[RitaMc]

Soos, Sorry to hear about Dinah's seizure. I hope all is ok now. I had a Border Collie, Molly, that had seizures. The first time it happened I was going upstairs and she was right behind me. suddenly I heard a thunk, clunk, clunk clunk. As i went to see what was going on she was lying at the bottom of the stairs. By the time I got to her she got up and wobbled into the kitchen where she sat with a dazed look on her face. A trip to the vet revealed nothing out of order and the dr felt she must have just it her head hard. About two weeks later she and Bo Peep (the poocle) were outside and I heard Bo Peep barking and I liiked outside to see Molly having a grand mal seizure. I rushed her to the vet where she was thoroughly checked out. She was diagnosed as having seizures and placed on no medication. My vet educated me on dogs who have seizures (which is not uncommon) and how to care for her. She had seizures after that and I would just sit with her and talk calmly and soothingly to her while it took place and after as she seemed to be confused for a short period after the seizure. I did watch her closely when she was outdoors as I did not want her tow ander off and have a seizure where she would not be able to find her way home. When we left the dogs at home alone I made sure the house was seizure proof before we left so if one occurred while we were gone she wouldn't harm herself. She lived many years with seizures and suffered to other ill effects. You and Dinah will learn how to handle this disease too.