My dog Bingo

[dot.hawkes]

is epileptic, he was diagnosed when he was about 4, he is 11 this November 16th, he has not had many fits,, well,, not that we know and he isn't often left alone. he had one yesterday morning and i had just got up, he had been asleep all night and there was nothing to cause him stress, I was told by the vet that it may be when he is stressed it starts. he was fitting a flailing around the floor with his legs spread out at a weird angle and his back legs flat out backwards to his body. He seemed to be staring and he thrashed from side to side. i stroked him and just tried to calm him and eventually he started to still and lay there, he was obviously dry in his mouth as he was trying to clear his tongue somehow . he seemed thirsty . I have some phenobarbital tablets that the vet prescribed and i gave him 2 in a piece of cheese and he eventually seemed to come around and ate the cheese and then after about 10 minutes he seemed to settle to sleep ok. The vet said to keep him on the tablets for a few days and keep him quiet. he is a dog that barks when the door goes. What i wondered was would any of these fits be too much for him and will they actually be fatal at some point?

[RATTER15]

Hi Dot, the answer to your question is unfortunately yes a seizure could be fatal, however if you dog is strong and fit it is unlikely to happen unless your dog goes into status( a continual seizure or straight from one seizure into another) you will need to phone the vet immediately that happens. A seizure is so distressing, I have a daughter who has severe epilepsy who has been rushed into Hospital in status and also lost a Brother that went into status.

All the best for your dog dot, I'm sure he will be OK, just try and keep the stress down and let him have a happy life.

[lankeela]

Hi dot, here is a site that I have found useful for recommending to people whose dog has epilepsy, hope it helps. You can contact them and ask questions, but if you search the site, your questions may already have been asked (bit like answerbank!).

http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/

[wolf63]

George, my recently deceased moggie, developed epileptic fits in the few days before he went to pussy cat heave. We were both pretty traumatised by the whole event.

Normally I have to say our vets are good, but they seemed to underestimate the effect that the fits were having on both of us. I phoned one at the time, and he made me feel like an over anxious mother. I took him in the next night, and he said that he would adapt. He was about 18, blind and senile - that was enough for him to cope with.

After three days of fits, a terrified moggie and me hitting the emergency supply of valium I went back and the vet (senior partner) was so nice and supportive and agreed that we could not go on as it was. He would be at peace.

I suppose that the vet can go down the line of anti epileptics, but I used to take one of them for my bipolar disorder and it made my hair go curly, very curly.

I wish you all the best whatever happens, it is not only his quality of life you have to consider, but yours too.

Susan

and boof boof your dog.