1St Seizure, Please Help

[Hollis]

14 yo mini dachsund. Vet at 215. What until then?

[cristar]

What type of seizure, do you know?

Focal, full blown grand mal?

How long did it last?

[macoduck]

Keep any other dogs away from him/her, whether you are home or not.

[Hollis]

Unk. Dot home with, but I'm way to vey. All away from. Dot thinks he can't see.

[cristar]

If he had a grand mal, it's normal for them to be blind for a while during

the post ictal stage.

Running, bumping into things and generally just disoriented for a while

after.

[a_daerr]

For a 14-year-old, I get him stabilized, then do a CBC and consult with a veterinary neurologist. At that age, it's probably not run of the mill epilepsy. Sending good thoughts your way.

[Hollis]

For a 14-year-old, I get him stabilized, then do a CBC and consult with a veterinary neurologist. At that age, it's probably not run of the mill epilepsy. Sending good thoughts your way.

That's what I'm thinking.

[Hollis]

GM. About a min. Vet has him. Starting Valium.

[MaryJane]

Start thinking of anything unusual in the last few days. Also, any poisons that the dog could have gotten into? Was there any spraying for mosquitoes in the area? Any landscape companies do any treatments? Any renovation going on in the home that could release lead. Any change in detergents, cleaners, or dog food?

 

Also, see if you can get a neurological consult.

Edited August 29, 2013 by MaryJane

[a_daerr]

GM. About a min.

 

This is hopeful. It would be much worse if he was clustering, one after the other, or if the seizure lasted for a longer duration. The post ictus phase does last longer, as the others have mentioned. I will say this. Seizures are a huge mystery. After Henry's first one, I went to the vet with the assumption that they could pinpoint exactly what was wrong. Instead, I left with more questions than answers. Your vet will probably do some general tests and bloodwork. But unless a huge red flag comes up there, there's little else the vet can do except prescribe meds. You may never know exactly what's causing them (unless you opt to pursue more extensive/expensive testing like an MRI). I recommend seeing a neurologist because I've found that regular vets don't have a whole lot of information on anti-seizure meds, save for Phenobarbital, the most common one. Our neurologist was better versed in the pharmacology side of it and helped to get a medication that best fit our situation.

[Hollis]

My heart is just breaking right now.

[Guest Katherineaz]

{{{Hugs}}}

[carronstar]

Sending hugs.

[Wonder]

Hol- make sure to have an ice pack on hand in case he has another one.

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/icepack.htm

 

Also honey or vanilla ice cream- give a little after a seizure to help stabilize blood sugar.

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/ice_cream.htm

 

I put rescue remedy on Thunder's tongue during his focal seizures- get the pet version that doesn't have alcohol in it.

 

[Hollis]

No further seizures and his sight is coming back. An injectable Valium is being drawn up in case of another. They finally got a urine sample and running it for uti. He did pee 3 times this week in the house which as NEVER happened before. Could a raging uti have caused a seizure????

We'll pick him up at 530.

Kari those were the first two things I told Dot to do! Thank god, truly, for this site and all I have learned.

 

He wouldn't take the honey and Dot never got to the ice pack. Brought him straight to vet.

[greysmom]

It could also have been a stroke, which can sometimes present as very similar to a seizure. UTI's can have strange results in seniors, so I wouldn't doubt that could happen.

 

Start a Seizure Log: date, time, duration, what happened, how long the post inctal phaze continued and what he did during, note down anything you can think of that was out of the ordinary during the week prior.

 

As most people stated, you probably will never know what the cause is/was, and you will end up with more questions than answers. Canine seizures are mostly an exercise in managing symptoms than in curing the problem.

 

If he has another one, I would pursue a neurologist appointment. Usually, vets won't begin anti-seizure meds until the seizures come less than 6 weeks apart, or after clustering. The side effects from the drugs are simply way to harsh to give them prophylactically, though the newer off-label meds (Keppra, Topamax, clorazepate) seem to have less side effects. Hopefully this was a one-off from the UTI.

Edited August 29, 2013 by greysmom

[Hollis]

But would a stoke have caused the temp blindness?

And yes, will start a log.

[a_daerr]

Yay!!! Glad he's coming around.

[Guest grey_dreams]

Hope he continues to improve and it never happens again!

[Hollis]

 

Home safe and sound! Whew!

[a_daerr]

OMG, your grey totally photo bombed the pic!

P.S. Very handsome doxie.

[cristar]

Cute little bugger!

Hope all is well for Dash from now on.

[KF_in_Georgia]

A high fever can trigger a seizure, so if he had a fever with the UTI, that could do it. When I was a kid, I ran a fever following a small pox vaccination and wound up in the ER after a seizure.

 

(And it works the other way around: a seizure can raise a dog's temperature to a dangerous level.)

[GreyPoopon]

Glad he's home. Hope the seizure was a one-time thing.

 

[Hawthorn]

But would a stoke have caused the temp blindness?

 

It certainly could have. My boy had a brain stem Transient Ischaemic Attack (mini-stroke) which caused temporary blindness, but only in one eye.

 

Glad your little fella is doing a bit better.