So Missy might have Epilepsy

First topic message reminder :

She had another episode (I can't call it a seizure as it isn't really a seizure) Saturday night.
The symptoms are strange as she looks like the world is spinning with her. She lies down flat and grips with her claws, she hides her head when I hold her.
We haven't started any treatment. When she has another 'episode' I'll take her in immediately so we can do blood tests to completely rule out blood sugar, kidney or liver issues first. The tests need to be done as close to the 'episode' as possible.
Because she's healthy the blood tests are really just formality. The vet said if there was any issues we would have had other symptoms and because of her age and breed he's fairly confident we're seeing the start of epilepsy and he 'episodes' are Petit Mal seizures.

If the blood tests come back clear and she has another 2 episodes in a month we have to start treatment with Phenobarbital and all I'm hearing is liver damage and disease! Great drug but ... great risk.

Never mind, I just saw your video on the other forum - nothing like Dempsey's 'fits'.

It's a very odd reaction, isn't it?

Mums dog has epilepsy.  1/2 pill twice a day have stopped the seizures.
Phenobarbital is exactly what Molly is on.

So ... she had a crap load of tests heart, liver, kidneys, glucose, everything is fine and in range. She's very fit and healthy. I can take her for a very costly and 4 hour drive away brain scan but we can assume it's epilepsy.
I'm sad but relieved to finally really know what's wrong with her and so that we can move forward.
Both vets studied the video I took and both agree that it looks like a seizure, albeit a mild one. We're not going to start medicating till she's having true full blown seizures.

Mums vet found her seratonin levels were way too low. Molly had about 4? Siezures in 6 mths. She has not had another since starting on medication.

I do hope missy is ok.

At least you have a better idea of what it is now. Have the vets discussed potential future treatments and management with you?

So sorry to hear Missy had another "episode" and that's it's probably epilepsy.

The good thing is that she is fine the majority of the time, and is fine after an episode. This is how the few epileptic humans that I know are. I only know of one epileptic dog, a large collie-type, and he is happy although a little aloof and quiet - maybe due to his medication or because that is his nature anyway.

Good luck, Theresa and Missy, do let us know how things progress

Eleanor wrote: At least you have a better idea of what it is now. Have the vets discussed potential future treatments and management with you?

Yes they did.
I'm currently trying to find a vet as close as possible that can MRI and/or CT scan and what it'll cost. If Missy has a brain tumour I'd like to know.

LyndaW wrote:So sorry to hear Missy had another "episode" and that's it's probably epilepsy.

The good thing is that she is fine the majority of the time, and is fine after an episode.  This is how the few epileptic humans that I know are.  I only know of one epileptic dog, a large collie-type, and he is happy although a little aloof and quiet - maybe due to his medication or because that is his nature anyway.

Good luck, Theresa and Missy, do let us know how things progress  

Thank you.
Yes the meds 'zonks' them out, as my vet described. This is probably the thing that upsets me most, she'll not be herself anymore if she has to be medicated

What they did with a friend's dog is they started her on a medium dose (& yes, it did make her a bit spaced out) but gradually reduced the dose to a point where it hardly affected her 'sharpness'.

I'm still dreading her having to go on meds. Phenobarbital affects the liver and they need frequent blood tests to make sure it stays healthy and there's no tumours.
Medicine can be scary.

Yes, they can. Sometimes you have to weigh up the pros & cons of giving/not giving the meds & try to make the right decision!

Shisa wrote:I'm still dreading her having to go on meds. Phenobarbital affects the liver and they need frequent blood tests to make sure it stays healthy and there's no tumours.
Medicine can be scary.

Molly is on 1/2 tab a day & she is 4xs missy's size. She is doing 6mthly blood tests which will go to an annual one is all continues to go well.

Molly was a drunk skunk for 2 days after starting meds but has been brilliant since taking meds. Not one episode / seizure since.

There's definitely great benefits to the meds. We just have a waiting game now.
TBH it does feel like a sword hanging above my head. Waiting for something to happen. Not knowing when it'll happen. Hoping nothing happens ...
I do think she has a tell though. I'm waiting to see if what I think was the tell is in fact not coincidence. For a few night before the seizure she would suddenly act scared, as if she was hearing something strange, and would try and crawl under me in bed or want to be held and follow me till I picked her up. Very weird as she's pretty fearless.

Something to remember for the future.

Theresa, you'll cope. You have to, and so you will.

My friend was telling me that her brother's two Labradors have been having fits, but rather than go down the medication route, they have put magnetic collars on them, and neither has had a fit since. I don't know if its just coincidence, or whether there's any thing in it, but I thought I'd pass it on.

Worth a try - it at least can't do any harm, can it?

Thanks Lorraine. I'll look into that immediately.