Posted on 10/12/2014 7:29:40 PM PDT by CovenBuster
My dog Jazz recently had 3 seizures. They were about 1 to 2 weeks apart, and each time they occurred at the same time each morning (4:50 a.m.). They were brief in duration, lasting only about a minute or two (although it seemed like an eternity). Each time she lost control of her bladder. Afterward, she seemed dazed and bewildered for a few minutes, then she bounced back as if nothing had happened.
She's diabetic, but any connection with the diabetes has been ruled out by the vet.
I know there are dogs who live with seizures, and this may end up being the case with my dog. However, I want to try to keep them at bay as much as is humanly possible.
The other day I was at the vet inquiring about a particular flea control product. The vet tech named a product but said that it couldn't be given to dogs who were prone to seizures. That got me to thinking that maybe their HeartGard (ivermectin) could be the culprit. (We don't usually have to fight fleas, but there have been a jillion #$@& feral cats hanging around my property recently. One by one, they're being trapped and taken away.) After the vet tech mentioned the seizure side effect of the flea treatment, I got to thinking that it might be possible that the heartworm meds could be suspect. Sure enough, I'm seeing warnings to that effect online.
My dogs are 10-year-old poodles. They're half sisters, so they do share some genes. However, the other one doesn't seem to have a problem with the ivermectin products. Still, I can't help wondering if it's just a matter of time after reading some of the online accounts. Now I'm scared to give Jazz her heartworm meds this month, and because we've had the worst summer for mosquitoes in recent memory, I'm scared not to.
I can't say that I totally trust the vet to be square with me seeing as how they never mentioned anything about the possibility of HeartGard as the culprit.
I was hoping to tap into the experiences and thoughts of some of my FRiends on the doggie ping list. Has anyone gone through this or known anyone who has? Can you add any information, recommendations, etc? Thanks to the Obama economy, I'm on a very, very tight budget, so I can't be testing her for every possibility. I'm very scared and don't know what to do as it will be time for her HeartGard in a week or so.
I am totally with Toespi on this... find out what the 4:50 AM trigger is and modify the environment.
Made In China?....the gift that never stops giving.
:-\
I agree with the suggestions to see about the triggers for the seizures and also study up on the meds she may be taking for side effects or rare side effects. Hope all works out for you.
Thanks for that info.
I have no tips or ideas on the question.
But I do know now not to apply tea tree oil directly on a dog and never use a product with it on a cat. Very toxic to cats and toxic to dogs at higher levels. I didn’t do it but I am the one that realized what was wrong with the dog and did a search on it and found out about the only way to treat it is by giving the dog food grade activated charcoal and making sure it drinks water. Lucky we found the charcoal at W-M and it worked to save the mutt. She couldn’t move her back legs at all but she was better a few hours after the first dose. It could be something that in low levels doesn’t cause problems but could if there is a larger dose or a build up.
Avoid anything made in China - lost 3 dogs in a little over a week in 2011 because of this. We lost 4 dogs in less than 2 weeks, the 1st died at the vets after getting fixed. She ripped her stitches out. Next was my Golden, the mutt and then the rat terrorist.
Food grade activated charcoal for both your pets and yourself is great to have available for numerous situations.
Food grade Diatomaceous earth can be used for flea control, both internal and external. Make sure it is food grade as they have other versions that might harm.
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Odd how things happen around the same time. Could be a brain cycle thing. I wake up at 4 am every night with my right thigh feeling like it is on fire. My Golden girl used to have twitches around the same time every night for a few weeks and then it would go away for a while and then come back.
Did anyone tell him to *not* eat the duck?
If the answer is no,
“Good boy, Winston! Who’s a ~good~ boy?”
Mine are simply demonically possessed, as always.
:)
Take this as intended, just my experience over the years I have loved dogs, learned as much as I could to keep them healthy and fit.
Back in the mid-to late 90’s, I learned that even the best “kibbles” proscribed by well-meaning vets contained ingredients that caused slow damage over time. Those that purported to preserve shelf life, but that caused dental problems, skin problems, neuro problems, parasites like fleas and ticks, ear and yeast issues, etc.
A breeder back then suggested that I give my dogs “bones” to prevent dental plaque, and with the advent of the internet, I started doing some research into doggie dental health and disease.
I decided, based on my research, to switch to a “species appropriate” diet for my dogs, meaning “raw meaty animal carcasses, bones, and organs” in proper proportions, and avoiding all grains. I also decided to forgo any but the initial basic puppy shots, and then only the “required by law” rabies shots every three years after.
I also decided to keep my dogs away from chance encounters with other dogs, and avoid dog parks, day-care, mass groomer establishments, and pet stores.
I avoid all flea care products, heart worm products, and anything commercially produced to “enhance” pet health. I have had no flea/tick/worm problems with my dogs in those years, even though living in a rural area with abundant local wild life vectors.
By giving my dogs a meat/bone/organ diet only, with minimal inoculations, I have saved a fortune in vet bills, and have had very healthy dogs, with no skins/ear/dental problems, with no flea/tick/worm problems.
I do not live in the southern states, so that may make a difference.
But, in the past 25 years, my vet bills have been ridiculously minimal, and my dogs have been completely healthy. The most important benefit on a daily basis that means the most to me?
Their poop does not have a disgusting smell, breaks down into a white powder after a day in the sun, is very firm & easy to pick up if I am in an urban area, which I always do, with just a paper towel.
If anyone wants to consider my way, I learned it all from Tom Lonsdale, an Australian vet. His website is “rawmeatybones.com”.
I used to feed my Belgian Malinois high quality chicken drumsticks/thighs/livers from the local rural supermarket, but now live in an urban area that has a “pet-food-deli” where I can get ground whole free-range chicken, turkey, quail, rabbit, cornish game hen, etc -which suits my little 10 lb. guy just fine. (Since I am now in “senior living”, I can only have the little ones as companions.)
If I now had larger dogs, I could buy ground beef, deer, bison, etc.
Do some homework, read up on the benefits of feeding raw meat, bones, and organs at the website mentioned above.
Manufactured kibble is not good for dogs. I wish it were, for it is so convenient and easy to store, but I just can’t financially afford the long-term health complications. I actually spend less on this raw food than ‘I would on high quality kibble, and the savings in vet bills is just an added incentive. Twice annual dental cleaning is very expensive, and my dogs never have plaque on a raw diet!
There are many dog lists/forums for those seeking info on treating the complications of feeding kibble, and the benefits of switching to raw. I am sure there are some devoted to epilepsy.
I would suggest doing some ‘net searching for these, as I am no expert at dealing with the consequent illnesses that result from feeding too many grains and “meal by-products” to a species that once ate a healthy diet years ago, and now doesn’t tolerate heat-processed grains/meals processed from left-overs from processing plants, no matter how engagingly advertised - over time.
I believe that is for heartworm, not fleas..
It's common and spread by mosquitos.
Not familiar with any seizure issues, so it might be epilepsy, often caused by genetics.
BOOKMARK FOR REFERENCE
Dunno .... do you honestly think I sit in a stinky boat? .... in the fog and wet and damp? ..... drinking cold coffee from a thermos? Honestly, I doubt it. LOL
Arg.
Just ignore me.
I have *no* idea where I got Winston from.
/speaking of fog...there is always my brain
:-P
My Yorkie had these. Brain tumor.
My German Shepherd developed seizures and Phenobarbital did the trick. Have the prescription called into your local pharmacy. It was 10 times more expensive at the vets. Good luck with your doggie. I know it can seem scary but the vet told me it was harder on me than the dog.
My little Maggie has the same problem. Took her to the vet and he prescribed phenobarbital 16.2 mg twice a day and the seizures are rare now and usually because I sometimes forget the evening dosage.
Could be a tick-born encephalitis. You might try a round of antibiotics and see if it changes anything. I’ve been through this once with one of my male Labs. Now, my elder female is going through it. She started off having Parkinson’s like “ticks” where she would freeze for a moment. That has now progressed into an occasional seizure. I’ve had her on a rotating antibiotic schedule for about a month. It seems to help significantly with the ticks, but I know it’s only temporary. She’s given me 15 great years. If I can give her a few months of a better quality of life it’s worth every penny.
A friend euthanized her mini-dachshund because of the seizures. :(
Vetvetdoug is wonderful. He helped me immensely with my late Golden. Follow his advice.
Keep the Skin So Soft away from a Formica countertop. It will ruin it. I don't know what it will do to Corian, but I have a countertop in my bathroom that was destroyed by the above product.
I don’t think Poodles count as sighthounds.
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