St Bernard & Seizures

[oxo]

My 5 year old St Bernard has started having seizures, the first 3 were mild but he had a more severe one last Wednesday and collapsed. He had another one today where he collapsed again. My vet has asked me to monitor him and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of what to do when he has the fit. Thanks in advance.

[Gavmacp]

Just record time it happens and how long. Maybe what is happening how it starts and how it progresses and post seizure activity.

[oxo]

Thank you Gavmacp

[Gavmacp]

I have dealt with adults with epilepsy and we would keep records of the type of seizures which helped chose the correct medication. There was a suggestion that talking to the person reduced the seizure length don't know if this works with dogs (or adults).

[woofgang]

yes, record frequency and time but also make the area safe if necessary. After the episode, be careful, some dogs lash out as they come to. Speak to him gently and quietly

[Gavmacp]

Very good advice my mother had a dog who would snarl and try to bite post seizure. It had to be put down.

[Gavmacp]

Getting rather technical now. Observe dogs normal behaviour. I had a client who bumped into things, never really noticed anything, but we eventually found he had a tumour on his left hemisphere and he always bumped into things on the right. The GP noticed this not me, clever blokes these GP's!

[Buenchico]

As others have said, keep a record of the times and durations of the fits and, of course, ensure that the area around your dog is safe for him. He won't be able to hear you during a seizure but you might still want to talk to him anyway, so that your reassurance is there for him as soon as he starts to come out of it.

I also suggest keeping an accurate record of exactly what he eats (and when). One of my cats started having epileptic fits around last Christmas but then didn't have another until January 11th, followed by a further one on January 17th. Looking back, I realised that all of his seizures occurred within a few hours of him having eaten sardines. Obviously I've not given him any sardines since then and, fingers crossed, he's been fine since then.

My friend used to have an epileptic German Shepherd. Once the vet had got his medication sorted out properly, he was absolutely fine and he lived a long and happy life.