LBass

I think that if you have confidence on you regular vet, it is fine to start seizure management w/o a neurology consult. Finding the right combination of meds and the right dosing for a particular dog is as much an art as it is a science. It can take time and some trial and error. A vet who is willing to research, to work with you, and to let you bring info and suggestions into the mix is priceless. You may find that you need become a bit of a researcher and advocate/expert for your dog. Keep a good detailed log of seizure dates, times, and circumstances. You will be amazed at how helpful that will be. I would suggest spending some time reading on the following sites: Caninie Epilepsy Guardian Angels Canine Epilepsy.com Canine Epilepsy.net Perhaps even join the email list available through the second web site. You can always get a neuro consult later in the porcess if it seems necessary. At this point, my wonderful vet contacts a neurologist who is willing to talk Piper's situation over with him and offer advice if he feels the need. Best wishes to you and to Phaelin. Lucy and Piper (13 days seizure free)

Oh bless you, what a difficult situation. Piper is taking both Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide. The Potassium Bromide is essentially the same med as Sodium Bromide--the Bromide is the anti-epileptic drug in both. Piper has been on both drugs for over 5 years now. Bromide tends to build up to a therapeutic level very slowly. Generally it will not reach it's stable level in the blood for 3-4 months, though you may well see improvement before that. At the moment, Piper's seizures are coming more frequently than usual. The vet and I both suspect that his level of bromide is low and that he needs a dose adjustment. I've sent blood to Hemopet to get levels on both his meds and the vet and I will talk again when the results are in. Hang in there and I hope that the Sodium Bromide will do the trick for Phaelin. --Lucy

Kristen, I'm so sorry very that Abbey is gone. She is indeed a striking, elegant beauty. --Lucy

Oh no...no, no, no. Not Chrissy's darling Speck. I'm so, so sorry. --Lucy

Drat! Poor Jake and poor you. Sending good wihes and healing prayers. --Lucy

Sending prayers for the adorable Miss Bug.

There are no specific tests for epilepsy. It is generally diagnosed by ruling out everything else. When Piper's seizures started the vet did full blood work, 6 panel thyroid, tested for liver shunt, liver function, Cushing's and Addison's. All Piper's labs looked great, perfectly normal. The next possibility was to look for a brain tumor via MRI. My vet at that time had an epileptic Dane of her own and I knew that she had a special perspective about caring for a dog with seizures. She had chosen not to get an MRI for her dog. After much thought and discussion, I felt comfortable that if there was serious brain disease at work, I would soon be seeing even more dramatic neurological symptoms and we would be able to recognize brain cancer w/o the MRI. I did eventually take Piper to a neurologist but he concurred with what we had done in terms of testing and diagnosis and his contribution was mostly to refine Piper's medications. Best of luck to you in dealing with your hound's seizures. Here are my 2 favorite resources for canine seizures of all kinds: Guardian Angels and Canine Epilepsy A third site is also very helpful: Link #3 --Lucy and Piper (currently 3 weeks and 3 days seizure free)

I'm so very sorry. --Lucy

www.allivet.com I just ordered 6 bags from these folks @ $17.99 a bag for the 30 count extra-large chews. I tend to order 6 bags at a time in an effort to save some on shipping charges. This place has free shipping on orders over $99 and 6 bags of these things gets me right up there in $$ for the free shipping. Piper expects one every night when I sit down to my own supper. The pitiful glances and disappointed paw stamping is more than I can bear, so I try not to run out. --Lucy

Canine epilepsy drugs other then Pb and Kbr Another site The above sites give a good overview of the other meds that are being used to treat canine epilepsy. Most of these are given as add-ons to Pb and KBr. In terms of expense, get pricing from many pharmacies. Drug price varies significantly. I was able to get the generic form of Gabapentin for ~$40 per month at Costco (via mail w/o a membership) vs. ~$120 at a local pharmacy. It did not have an impact on Piper's seizures, but does work for some dogs. --Lucy

She looks like a real sweetheart. Sending healing thoughts her way. --Lucy

I know the frantic feeling of watching your first seizure and am so sorry you had to face that. I think that dealing with it at night is especially hard. I always feel more alone if Piper is seizing at night. Best wishes to both of you. --Lucy

Sorry to be so slow getting back to this thread. I'm applying neosporin and watching the foot. Piper is not even limping. There is no swelling. He licks that toe occassionally but not often. I'm just watching at this point. Amazingly enough, he appears fine. I'm still not sure what happened. I know it happened when I was home and I suspect that it must have been in the yard because there have been no bloody messes located in the house. Nor in the yard, for that matter, but it is a big yard and I could easily have missed the evidence. Thanks for the info and reassurance. --Lucy

Thanks. I poured hydrogen peroxide over it as a way of cleaning and disinfecting. The bleeding has stopped. I've got a minimal wrap on it--a small gauze pad and baby sock to hold that in place. He is not limping yet. I suppose that might start tomorrow. I'll keep a close eye on the foot. Poor baby.

Piper and Winston came hurrying into the kitchen to get their CET chews and I turned around to find lots of bloody footprints on the kitchen floor. Piper's left rear leg's inner toe nail is completely gone! He seems perfectly oblivious. I'm going to clean it up, apply some disinfectant, and try to put a sock on it. secured with some vet wrap. What else should I be doing? Watching for? Should I rush to the e-vet or can this wait until Monday and my own vet? --Lucy

Amber, I'm so glad that you have a good working relationship with your vet. That helps so much when something this frightening is going on. Glad as wall that Soul is doing a bit better today. --Lucy

Awwwww. Soul is such a darling. Hoping that he is also a darling on the mend. --Lucy

Checking on Soul and you, Amber, and hoping that the current improvement holds and that you both have a peaceful, quiet, healing weekend. --Lucy and Piper

I know it will be great to have him home tonight and I'm sure he will be thrilled! Worry is for another day. --Lucy

Well, good blood work is good news. Fingers crossed that the ultrasound looks good too and that the Soulman will be on the mend. --Lucy and Piper

Good news indeed that Soul will be home tonight.

Congratulations! That is wonderful news. :confetti --Lucy

Checking in for news of Soul and sending you both much love and many prayers. --Lucy and Piper

Sending warm thoughts and healing prayers for poor Soul and worried Amber. --Lucy

I had the same fear with Piper but I've not found that to be the case. On meds, his seizures are farther apart and either less severe or about "normal"--the same severity. His are generally pretty violent but last only a couple of minutes. They always seem more spectacular when they start when he is standing up. The ones that start when he is lying down last as long and are probably as "strong" but somehow they don't seem as frightening. --Lucy