Seizures

[Goofy Newfy]

Hmm, this post may go in the disease thread but since my vet said they are normally genetic, I wanted to post here. Jack will be 3 in July. Last week, he had what seemed to be a seizure twice, and this morning on the way to the vet to get his shots that we need to board him. My vet, said that seizures usually started between 2-3 years of age and are mostly caused by genetics. Anyone else have this occur? What were they symptoms as it was happening? How often do they occur? Did you put them on medication? If yes, what type?

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

Not a newf, but I have a friend with a 2 year old mix that started to have seizures maybe a year ago or less. They were few and far between. They did no treatment, though they did refrain using Frontline to see if that helped. They started having contractors working in the house while they were at work. The dog had like 4 in 2 days. So again, back to the vet. They prescribed valium and phenobarbital. At this point they are only using the valium 2 times a day. It was 3, but I guess it was having a negative effect on the dog's energy. Also, he has been coming to stay with us on the days contractors are there. He and Snuffles have always gotten along GREAT. I do not think there has been any seizures since.

 

[Denise A]

First, let me say I'm very sorry to hear this.
Second, know you are not going through this alone. My 7 yo Golden, Jessie, started having long seizures last December, so we can relate. I'd be happy to share all that I know on seizures.
Third, here's a great source of info: http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/default.htm Make sure you read Emergency Care for Canine Seizures.


We started using Phenobarbitol and the seizures have continued so we've added Potassium Bromide. So far so good with the mixture of drugs.
Be sure to keep a seizure log of what time, how long it lasted and anything/everything about leading up and including the seizure.

Sending healing thoughts.

 

[victoria1140]

seizures in our Jack Russell meant she would collapse , shake and normally mess herself and then once she came out of it she would be grogy, confused but ok.
Varied in times depending on weather, exercise levels ,etc

We put up stair gates throughout the house as she fell down the stairs during one fit, monitored exercise, she has a heart murmur that brought on these seizures and is on Vetmedin.

So far she has had this condition now for four years and it has only recently progressed to heart failure mode

 

[georgie1]

One of my shihtzue's had seizure's. He would collapse, cry out, his back would arch, and his legs would try to get him back up and he would urinate. He would then be grogy and clueless. He had these VERY often. Couple times a week. I found an awesome vet in North Claredon VT who helped us a ton. We stopped all fea and tick stuff and changed his diet and then his seizure's were far and few.Maybe 1 every 4 months.When we brought him to the vet at age 6 Riggs was really on deaths door, but after seeing the vet he lived a great life till age 14! Question did your vet still vaccinate after you told him what was going on?

 

[Goofy Newfy]

One of my shihtzue's had seizure's. He would collapse, cry out, his back would arch, and his legs would try to get him back up and he would urinate. He would then be grogy and clueless. He had these VERY often. Couple times a week. I found an awesome vet in North Claredon VT who helped us a ton. We stopped all fea and tick stuff and changed his diet and then his seizure's were far and few.Maybe 1 every 4 months.When we brought him to the vet at age 6 Riggs was really on deaths door, but after seeing the vet he lived a great life till age 14! Question did your vet still vaccinate after you told him what was going on?

I'm starting to wonder if it is seizures. Jacks head went to the ground, his front paws buckled and his back went rigid. He also made an atempt at what looked like gagging but I know vomiting wasn't what made him do it. In the car, there was a huge amount of wet slobber all over the car. In the house, he was able to put his head in my lap, until it was over, he actually was trying to get his head into my lap as if he knew the comfort would be there, if that makes sense. After, he just seemed upset but he did not have an accident during any of the symptoms. She did vaccinate him after this but I trust her judgement 100%. She has been a vet for 35+ years and my vet for 15 years.

 

[teahcrew]

my very first newf puppy developed seizures right around the 1.5 to 2 year mark. It got so bad we had to put her down in about 8 months after her first seizure appeared. Hers went from one to one or more every day. And they increased in the severity too. Her last one literally flung her across the rug, how bad she was convulsing. I suspected it was the flea and tick stuff we used on her right before that first seizure!

We tried phenobarb and valium. We also used Rescue Remedy which actually helped decrease the severity of the seizure if we got it in her during the pre-ictal stage (pre-ictal is before the seizure) there are three stages to a seizure..pre-ictal, seizure, and post ictal. There are different types of canine seizures...just like there are different types for humans. You dog seems to be exhibiting sensory motor seizures..still congnitive enough to be able to communicate on some very primal levels and reacts awkwardly to communications directed at him. Trust me..they are really all the same in the end.

I strongly suggest you join some canine epi lists. They were incredibly supportive and educational. No one knows what it is like living with an epi dog until they do so on their own.

I would suggest not crating an epi dog. When they thrash, their legs can become caught in and broken in the wires.

dog drooling and frothing is common during a seizure

in the post ictal stage, they usually are drowsy, "off", confused...ours was very thirsty and hungry...we fed her vanilla ice cream because it was cooling to her tongue that she had bitten up...ours paced and paced and paced until she would collapse

we provided comfort but allowed her to go thru her stages without interference, save for the rescue remedy and anything we needed to do to keep her safe.

we put her down finally as an act of mercy. She was dragging her back legs even out of a seizure and was confused and cloudy even when she was not in seizure. It was the hardest euthenasia I ever had to do. THe monster that lived inside her took my beloved Bella from me. I laid her to rest so she could be rid of it...

 

[georgie1]

Yes Genetics does play a role in seizure's exp the threshold each dog has. Seizure's can be caused by chemicals as well. We live in a world full of chemicals, flea tick stuff, chemicals we put on grass, chemicals in the foods we eat, bug spray, vaccinations, chemicals in the dog food, the list can go on and on. I so agree with teahcrew "No one knows what it is like living with an epi dog until they do so on their own." This is so true, every seizure just tore me up inside. I remember them like just yesterday and the heart wrenching that went along with them. Please don't take this as I am smarter than your vet because I am not. I did learn this all from my vet though. I wish you the best and I hope he is not having seizure's.

 

[Goofy Newfy]

Yes Genetics does play a role in seizure's exp the threshold each dog has. Seizure's can be caused by chemicals as well. We live in a world full of chemicals, flea tick stuff, chemicals we put on grass, chemicals in the foods we eat, bug spray, vaccinations, chemicals in the dog food, the list can go on and on. I so agree with teahcrew "No one knows what it is like living with an epi dog until they do so on their own." This is so true, every seizure just tore me up inside. I remember them like just yesterday and the heart wrenching that went along with them. Please don't take this as I am smarter than your vet because I am not. I did learn this all from my vet though. I wish you the best and I hope he is not having seizure's.

I did not take any of what you wrote as negatively. I appreciate any insight given. : )

I did ask her if Frontline could have been the cause as we just used it on him on the 10th of June. She didn't seem to think so. Frontline, we have used on him since he was of age to have it used, not sure if he could suddenly develope an adverse affect to it? Hopefully, the seizures, if they indeed are seizures, will not occur again.

 

[Erika]

I have heard of several adverse reaction to frontline, we switch after our GARRETT REACTED TO IT.

 

[Liisa]

Erika is right, Frontline - particularly Frontline PLUS is being reported as causing seizure reactions in dogs. My dogwalkers newf had a seizure-like reaction once and once only after the application of Frontline Plus. My vet, who I think is a pretty good vet, also does not acknowledge the correlation between Frontline and seizures. Of course, with the canine medical history I have between all of mine, I have become very cynical regarding vets... all vets (even the ones I trust enough to use on a regular basis. I just don't believe they stay current on the most recent information and vets who have been in practice a long time often rely on their historical knowledge rather than the latest research. JMHO)

 

[Liisa]

I should also add that I lived with an Epileptic Tibetan Mastiff for 5 years before he passed away. The epilepsy angel website mentioned above was my go to spot for information as well....

 

[Tula]

Out golden suffers from periodic seizures. We keep a log. We have not medicated him, as they are occasional. He goes rigid, does not soil himself, drools quite a bit...and is out of it. He is comforted by our loving presence. We continue to vaccinate and do monthly Frontline. He is now 9 yrs old. Kim

 

[NewfDad]

Little bit of background on seizures. I personally am an epileptic. They are really worse to watch than have. For a vast majority of seizures the epileptic isn't there, you just don't remember. You wake up real groggy, and pretty sore but generally with no memory of the seizure. They are really hard to watch though as they look very painful, the reality is that you just aren't there and don't remember.

Art

 

[Prdmary]

I am sorry about your newf possibly having seizures......it is so hard to watch. There are so MANY things that can cause seizures......most of the time they cannot be explained and are labeled as epilepsy.

We got very LITTLE help from our vetS........probably just the area we live in, but they are too ready to medicate...... The website everyone else has mentioned is the best source of information that I have found.

I too believe that FRONTLINE PLUS can trigger seizures.......but can't prove it. Vaccinations can also trigger them....suprised your vet vaccinated after your newf had the seizures (or possible seizures).

Sure hope they don't continue.......

 

[Lori]

I hope your baby doesn't have any more seizures. My Chelsea (first newf) had epilepsy. It started when she was around 2. We went through Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide (KBr). Rescue Remedy helps as does vanilla ice cream after a seizure. They are so very hard to watch and I pray as NewfDad said that the person/dog having the seizure really isn't there and doesn't remember it. I always hated leaving the house for fear she would have one when I wasn't there. You become attuned to every little noise in the house, and sleep very lightly.

The epilepsy forums are fantastic. You can get a lot of information there and support.

Prayers coming for no more seizures for your pup.

 

[Snowden]

teahcrew - your girl sounds like my boy Van Gogh. I had to put him down at 22 months old. When we put him down he was almost completely blind and had hind leg weakness so badly he could not go to the bathroom with out falling over. The night I put him down was the worst... I can still see it so clearly in my head.

Anyone with a Newf or has had a Newf that suffers/suffered from seizures PLEASE contact and fill out a survey for this group.
They are currently doing research to find a genetic marker for this disease. NCL is genetic and if they can find a link (pedigree) they maybe able to locate the genetic marker, so that this does not happen to other dogs.

http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net...te/basicCL.htm


I also recommend looking into the epi groups they are very helpful!

 

[bria]

I do know that dogs with epilipesy start to get seizures at about 2 years old. I think I can best describe them as looking like a fish out of water. I have a client who has a black Lab who got hisfirst seizure that we saw anyway in my house when boarding. Coincidentally their previous Lab (from the same breeder) also had epilepsy. They put the dog on meds but the meds made him very aggressive and they have since taken him off them. He was on them for about a year. The weird thing is that when he had the seizure here I knew something was about to happen, I saw what looked like fear in his eyes and he was on the couch with me at the time. He went off the couch and had the seizure on the floor. Although I had seen this in their previous dog it was really hard to watch. My nephew also had epilepsy and takes meds for it. They say that the seizures cause neurological damage through time. I hope your girl outgrows them.

Susan

 

[Lori]

How is your pup doing?