LBass

If dissolving the capsule is a problem, remind the vet that they can prescribe KBr as a liquid that is easy to measure out in a syringe and put on food.

I'm so sorry for your loss...and so joyfully glad that Sally graced your lives as you graced hers. Lucy

I'm so glad your baby came through the surgery and is on the mend! Perhaps he'll leave the sewing to you from now on? You asked if anyone had any sotries...about 3 years ago Piper swallowed my little embroidered sewing caddy. It was about 3" by 5" and held a pair of scissors and a couple of needles. I found the scissors on the floor but no strawberry embroidered caddy anywhere to be found. To the vet we went. X-rays reveled the needles in his upper intestine. I suppose because we all figured they were attached to the fabric caddy, the vet recommended watching them with x-rays. Later that day we could see them further down in his intestines. That evening the vet handed be a baggy containing a really disgusting sewing caddy (which I did not try to salvage) and the needles. Amazingly, it had all passed right through Piper's cast iron tummy. I felt so lucky to have dodged both a serious health crisis and a surgery!

Sending more good thoughts and prayers for you and Jeanie.

With regard to the vomiting--Potassium Bromide is hard on some dog's tummies and can cause vomiting. Another way of getting the anti-seizure effects of the Bromide is to use Sodium Bromide (NaBr) instead of Potassium Bromide KBr). Sodium Bromide also has to be compounded, as does KBr, but is not generally more expensive. The dosing is a little different than that of KBr but your vet can sort that out. Consider talking to the vet about using Sodium Bromide. In the meantime, be sure to give KBr with food since that can make it easier on the tum. General clumsiness and particularly hind end weakness are notorious side effects of KBr (NaBr too, unfortunately). If it is the medication, it is quite possible that his body will get used to the meds and the side effects will become less troublesome, though they most likely won't go away entirely. When Piper started taking KBr he had lots of trouble with clumsiness and rear end weakness--falling, struggling to get up, etc. It took far longer than I thought possible, but the side effects did reach a manageable level eventually. If its medication side effects for your hound, give it several weeks (6-8) before you give up on getting some improvement. Piper also has an issue holding pee/poo since starting Bromide. When he has to go, he has to go now. There is just no ability to wait until lunchtime or until I get home from work. Your hound may be having some of the same issues. For Piper, that never really did improve and I finally opted to get a dog door--no more having to hold if I'm not home. Also, there is usually some needing to potty at night, unfortunately. Excellent web sites on seizures and their various causes and treatments and living with canine seizures: www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com www.canine-epilepsy.com www.canine-epilepsy.net www.acvim.org will help you find an internal medicine specialist and also a neurologist near you. Most of the time it is possible to get decent seizure control with manageable side effects for dogs with seizures. It can take a bit of time and trial and error to find the combination of meds, food, etc. that works for your dog. Find a good vet who will research, consult, and who will work with the useful info you will find. Lucy and Piper (10 weeks seizures free)

Great news! My prayers for Cullen's recovery will continue.

This may not help in terms of finding a closer vet. I live near Spartanburg, SC and have been using Reidville Road Animal Hospital (easy to reach from I26) for the last 9 years. This is a great group of people. The vets and the staff are wonderful and caring. I never have any trouble getting worked in if I'm worried about one of my animals. Staff and the vets are great about returning calls and following through with anything they promise to do. My greyhound, Piper, is epileptic and has pretty tough cluster seizures. This vet has been great about working with me, using information I bring in from web research w/o having his ego get in the way--treats the owner as part of the team taking care of the animal. Capable, caring, willing to go the extra mile--they often "baby sit" Piper if I have to be at work and he is in the midst of a seizure episode. Very little staff turn over and great techs and receptionists. Good luck in oyur search for a vet.

Hurray for Cullen! What a relief that he is safely through the surgery and is now without that unexpectedly big mass. Did they keep him overnight or is he already safe at home?

Thinking of you and Cullen this morning and keeping him in my prayers. He is such a sweetie.

Oh I am glad that the news is positive. I'll bet that the antibiotics will make a huge difference for your little one.

Aw, my kitten Miles is about that age and I know how worried I'd be if he was sick. Glad your little one has an appt with the vet. Let us know how things go, if you have the change. Sending prayers and good thoughts for your kitty.

Marcia, no info but prayers for Cullen.

Piper chews baby carrots and pieces of celery and broccoli nicely so try those for your hound. I also cook a variety of vegetables--what ever is on sale in frozen bags--to put in with his food. It gives him added volume. Also, he is a dedicated yard grazer so I think maybe he needs some greenery. As others have said, things may settle down a bit as she adjusts to the meds. Piper tends to take about 2 weeks to adjust whenever his PB dose is changed.

Aw, I hope Henry's upset is just related to travel changes and will settle down to normal soon. If he does need to switch to Sodium Bromide, you should find that the seizure control is as good as with Potassium Bromide. I think the dosing is a little different but that would be no big deal.

Spaying seems so routine that I think it is easy to forget that in dogs, as in humans, any and every surgery has risks--carries the risk of death. I do think that the greatest risk seems to be posed by the necessary use of anesthesia--for both dogs and humans. With surgeries, even when everything is done correctly, sometimes the outcome is a tragic one--not often, but sometimes...and those times are the ones we remember so very vividly. Edited because that would be anesthesia, not anesthetic.

Ah, poor thing. I hope he is feeling better very soon. I hate not knowing what has caused an upset tummy for one of them.

I'm sorry that you and Hannah are dealing with this news. There is something really heartbreaking about getting a chronic diagnosis for our beloved hounds. Be glad that its will be easier on miss Hannah than it is for you.

Sending prayers and healing thoughts to you and Chase. That sounds very frightening and I join other in praying for healing for Chase.

www.canine-epilepsy.com www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com Both web sites have good descriptions of the available medications and other approaches to managing seizures. If Pb and KBr and not giving you good seizure control for Scooter or are creating difficult side effects, I'd encourage you to get an appointment with a neurologist (apologies if you've done this already). They are the experts in balancing meds and in dealing with seizures. www.acvim.org will help you find a neurologist. There are several other meds that can be used, though they are generally added on to Pb and KBr. Certainly they might be used alone if there are reasons that a dog can't take the good old standbys. A veterinary neurologist is going to be your most knowledgeable resource for using those meds. Gabapentin (Neurontin), Keppra, and Zonisimide seem to be the meds that are most often mentioned. ETA: One other thought after re-reading your earlier thread about Scooter's troubles with the meds...KBr is notorious for upsetting tummies for some dogs. Often a switch to Sodium Bromide, NaBr, helps tremendously. The dog gets the seizure control of bromide with fewer upset tummy issues. It also has to be obtained from a compounding pharmacy but if they can make KBr, then they can make NaBr. I think the dosing is a little different too. That might be worth a try. Lucy

Sending prayers and healing thoughts to you and your sweet Halle.

Many, many dogs with epilepsy live long, happy lives! Many dogs take meds, get good seizure control and that's about the end of the story. The first tier anti-epileptic drugs are cheap (~$20/month if you shop around)and the most significant ongoing cost is getting good labs every 4-6 months to make sure that all is well and that liver function has not been damaged by the anti-epileptic drugs (the labs aren't cheap). Those are not the dogs you read about on web boards or email lists. Unfortunately, for some dogs and their people, epilepsy can be a hard disease/illness to manage. Without meds Piper was having cluster seizures once or twice a week. Horrible for both of us. With meds he has seizure episodes about every 6-8 weeks. Usually he has one seizure, sometimes he clusters badly and requires an e-vet visit. They bring out the big guns, Pentobarbitol and Propofol, and, so far, they have always been able to end the episodes. He has had some significant problems with side effects from the seizure meds and I have had to work with my vet and with a neurologist to try to get the best balance of seizure control and side effects. Piper is a great dog and I feel lucky to have him, but in all honesty, his epilepsy makes for a tough road at times. I do spend more every year at the vet with him because of it and that isn't going to change. I watch and worry and think and log and research--draining and time-consuming. My schedule revolves around his rigid pill times 24/7/365. It is not always easy at all. At this point, no one knows where on the severity, trouble and expense spectra this dog will fall--whether his epilepsy will be easy or hard to manage. No one even has an idea of what may be causing the seizures--there are many possible causes. Living with canine epilepsy, I know that it can be done, but I also know that it can be tough financially and emotionally. I don't find myself too ready to fault those who choose to opt out. Here are some good web sites with canine eiplepsy info: www.canine-epilepsy.com www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com www.canine-epilepsy.net

Healing thoughts and prayers for Cody Angelo.

RE: Sodium Bromide (NaBr) and Potassium Bromide (KBr)...the bromide is the active ingredient that treats seizures. You can get it in chemical solution with either sodium or potassium. For some reason, most vets turn to Potassium Bromide first. Sodium Bromide is usually brought into play for dogs who have lots of tummy upset from taking Potassium Bromide. Sodium Bromide tends to be easier on the tum. I think that the dosing is a little different for the 2 meds but it is all about getting the same therapeutic level of Bromide on board to treat the seizures. Lucy

There are many different things that can cause seizures--allergies, tick diseases, cancer, reactions to vaccinations, Cushings, encephalitis, etc. A thorough physical including detailed labs will help you and your vet decide whether there is any underlying health issue causing the seizures that needs to be treated. Many times, as in the case of my Piper, everything on the exams and labs looks fine but the seizures persist. That leaves the dx of idiopathic epilepsy--seizures of unknown cause. Keep a log of your dog's seizures--date, time, description, anything unusual in the last 48 hours? This can help you keep track over time and notice any patterns that may help in understanding your dog's seizures. Here are some great web sites with a wealth of good information about seizures and about helping your dog when a seizure occurs: www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com www.canine-epilepsy.com Has a great email list for support. www.canine-epilepsy.net Link to good overview info Lucy

I'm so very sorry that you are facing this shocking and heartbreaking loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences and know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers.