Hunter's having seizures

[EliNHunter]

Wouldn't you know it... I just get a new baby (15 mos. ago -- adult stray), and he's had some seizures. He just had one again tonight. They are very mild, but yet he's been having them. Few and far between. But he just had another tonight while by my side. He just stiffens up and gets foggy eyed and kind of shudders while I love on him. He is "with it" the whole time, though. Poor baby trying to wag his tail and be normal while he's going through it. He totally snaps out of it pretty quickly. Never loses control of his bowels/bladder. Guess I need to get him tested for epilepsy :(

[Adrienne]

That's so sad, I am so sorry to hear that. I hope it turns out to be nothing serious. Jedi my APBT that recently had to be PTS used to seize whenever he would vomit. He'd throw up and then fall over and look so confused. It's so hard to watch them have to go through that. I wish you the best of luck and will add him to my prayer list.

[luvmydogs]

awww poor thing, i really hope he is going to be okay. how old is he now? could it be age related? is that him in the pic? i know it says hunter's mugshot. but sometimes people call their next dog what they called their deceased dog...gosh i feel so bad for him. please let me know how the vet visit went

[EliNHunter]

Thanks, you guys. Yes, that's my Hunter in the mugshot. I got him as a stray 15 mos. ago and the vet said "he could be 2, he could be 5". I know purebreds these days are prone to seizures. My Eli (golden) was diagnosed with epilepsy and was on phenobarbitol most of his life. My Yogi (lab) had maybe two seizures I witnessed (mild) but was fine. I hope it's an anomally as he doesn't have them often and they are mild. But I need to get him checked out.

[luvmydogs]

if they all had seizures...maybe they're allergic to YOU :p i really hope everything will be fine. i'll keep him and u in my prayers

[juliefurry]

I hope he's ok, please keep us posted. Now you got me wondering how old he is.

[luvmydogs]

I hope he's ok, please keep us posted. Now you got me wondering how old he is.
uhm she said the vet said either 2 or 5, plus she ha had him for 15 mths...did u read thru the thread? NO!!! . LMAO :D

[Zoom]

EliNHunter, I hope Hunter gets better or doesn't get worse, which ever is more likely. I also hope he doesn't have to go on the amount of pheno like this one dog at work. Apparently it's so seizure prone that they keep this dog doped to the gills; it can barely walk on it's own.

[Debi]

Poor Hunter!!! I hope he is ok. Geez, I had no idea this was such a common problem. Eli, how do they test for epilepsy? Poor, poor Hunter...sending our boy big hugs.

[chilover]

The siezures you describe sounds like my dog's Beasley's. He wa a stray too. Please read "My Chihuahua has seizures! What is it??? Help!" thread.
There is also a great website that I found that has a lot of information on seizures, why they happen and how to deal.
www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com
And if you email them with your concersn they will be so totally helpful.
I was thrilled to have found them with my little one's problem.
:)
One thing I learned from that website that kind of surprised me was that if they start having seizures their brain "learns" how to have them and they end up having more and more. It's called "kindling". So I would definitely have him checked out and do the tests (blood chemistry, thyroid panel, bile acids, ultrasoiund-- whatever your vet thinks is appropriate for your dog) to see if there is something wrong internally and it's not just idiopathic epilepsy.
best of luck!

[Renee750il]

Someone on another thread mentioned that their dog is being treated with an herbal alternative to phenobarbital . . . well worth looking into if your dog needs medication for seizures.

[Renee750il]

Okay, it was Chilover :) http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?p=102181#post102181

[yuckaduck]

I know how much you love Hunter, I am sorry for you and him. I wish you the best of luck and hope it is nothing serious. God Bless him and keep him well.

[bubbatd]

You didn't tell Grammy he had another !!!! Besides doing everything you've done before, you might check with Fletcher and ask about the natural stuff she put I.B. on. Poor baby !!! ( you AND Hunter !)

[EliNHunter]

Thanks for your input and well wishes, everybody. I will keep you posted...

[Doberluv]

I'm so sorry you're having to go through this and your baby is going through this. I know just how upsetting these things are. My Lab had them during the last year or so of her life, only she did lose it....unconscious...terribly upsetting to see. See what the vet thinks and let us know. I do hope things will get under control and that it's nothing that can't be controlled. A convulsion here and there is not particularily harmful, but repeated ones put the brain into the "habit" of doing this. So, it is not good if they become frequent. Then damage can occur in the brain. My children both had febrile seizures. And then my dog had them due to her liver failing in her old age. Hope things will be Ok.

[Leeb]

Oh A,

I am so sorry about what you're going through. You were and have been such a help to me during my Clooney loss. Please know I am here for you. The pain, fear, anxiety...so awful. And to watch your baby go through it. Please let us know as soon as you can what is up. My thoughts are with you, right there next to you. You are not alone.

love,
Lee

[wildwings811]

Sorry to hear you are having a rough time with Hunter hope he is feeling better soon

[gapeach]

So sorry to hear this news, I hope it's nothing serious. I will be thinking of you and Hunter

[Barb04]

Doggie hugs & kisses to both of you!

[EliNHunter]

Thanks again, everybody. At least I'm thankful when he has one, they are VERY mild. My poor Mom (bubbatd) had to live through HORRIBLE ones with Eli's mother, I.B. -- she had a brain tumor and had TERRIBLE convulsions that would last forever and she'd lose control of bowels and bladder. The poor girl was going slowly crazy. Would bite the coffee table and just latch on and not let go. Would stand there staring at a wall not knowing what she was doing. Finally had to put her down to put her out of her misery. She was such a sweety. I'll find a pic of her (memories)...

[DogtorJ]

Hi EliNHunter,

I'm sorry to hear about Hunter's seizures. I hope I can be of some help.

I just posted a thread on this forum that is part of what has become my life's work (and mission). First of all, let me assure you that this is totally on the up and up and there is nothing hidden here...nothing to buy, no consultation fees, nothing unsafe, and nothing that you should not be able to completely understand. I am simply in the process of sharing the results of an elimination diet that I have developed that has brought remarkable results in dogs (and people) with epilepsy.

Here is a thread of testimonials that is an ongoing project:
http://lab-retriever.net/board/showthread.php?t=47643

Please try to wade through the thread called Epilepsy and Diet. I know that there is a lot of medical terminology in that paper but I think you will understand it, at least gleaning enough info to get the gist of things.

The diets that I recommend immediate transition to are the potato-based diets from IVD (Innovative Veterinary Diets, now marketed through Royal Canin and sold through vets) or the Dick Van Patten Duck and potato diets sold through select pet shops. These are phenomenal diets that have been very successful in helping control seizures, allergies, chronic intestinal probelms, and more. You will understand why before long.

Please feel free to Email me at dogtorj@bellsouth.net if you have any questions. Once again, my services are FREE and there is NEVER anything to buy. I do NO advertising on my Website (below) and it is there for the sole purpose of helping people understand how and why we are seeing so many medical problems in this day and age.

I hope this helps,
John

[Ash47]

Amy,
Love and prayers are coming to you and Hunter. He looks like one of those dogs that I would just run up to and hug til he wouldn't let me anymore. I have seen dogs seize and it isn't pretty. I know this is hard for you, but you are a strong woman and I have faith that you can get through this. Hunter will be ok. He has you and Grammy after all! :)