Update on Sammy's Seizures - Not Good

S

skinsey

Inactive Member
Well - since his seizure last week, Sammy had been fine. We headed to UC Davis this am for his post op TPLO checkup. He had a seizure about 15 minutes away from UC. When I got there - he was ambulatory but confused. They took his temp and found it to be 106 - they decided to check him in and keep an eye on him. He had two or three more seizures and his temp went to 108. They hosed him down - gave him IV fluids and valium and have him in the ICU where they are closely monitoring him for signs of heat stroke. Once he stablizes they are going to do a full neuro workup including spinal tap and MRI to try to determine the source of the seizures. A full blood panel will be done as well. I took Delilah with me so she could see where he was and know he was okay - she is doing fine. I feel so bad for him. He just can't catch a break. Some people are always sickly and I suspect Sammy will be that way. If he were a car he'd be a lemon - but he's my special boy and I love him anyway - When they told me the estimate for this visit ($4k) I asked them if they would just take the deed to my house! (only kidding) - but if this keeps up I might as well give it to them as collateral.

I am going to have another conversation with the breeder. If he has epilepsy - the question is did he inherit it and what about his littermates (Laurel PM me about Meeka).

Well - another day - tomorrow might be better. They also commented about the "newfy shakes" - they don't like it at all and are going to try to pin down the source for that as well - maybe not this visit but they, like me, want to know where it comes from.
 
Sound Bay Newfs

Sound Bay Newfs

Active member
Oh boy, poor Sammy!! I sure hope they find out what is going on with him so you both can feel better. Sending good thoughts your way! Thanks for the update!
 
nowhavethreebears

nowhavethreebears

New member
Someone more versed in dog maladies than me....do dogs get viral meningitis? Cause preliminarily at least, thats what it sounds like it could be.....
Anita
 
Erika

Erika

New member
sending best wishes your way for a better day tomorrow,hugs from all the gang here for Sammy
 
Pam G

Pam G

New member
Poor Sammy and Poor you. Is Sammy on any pain meds?? Was thinking it may be a reaction from that. I sure hope you can get to the bottom of this.
 
ardeagold

ardeagold

New member
Oh Sharon...I feel so bad for Sammy and for you. You've got to be terrified for him.

At least he's in the right place...and they'll do everything possible to help him. I know you WOULD put your house up as collateral if you had to.

Good thoughts and prayers being sent for Sammy, and hugs to you. Please keep us posted.
 
sarnewfie

sarnewfie

New member
Glad you are getting answers, hope it all works out.
i am just going to post this as a flip side so that everyone with a dog who has trembles in the back legs doesnt freak out.
in all my years of grooming the majority of dogs standing on my table would vibrate their back legs, out of emotional excitability or nervousness.
i also see it in the ring in the terriers and other high strung excitable breeds.
Emmett used to do this in the van when we arrived at our destination to work him, he would get his vest on, and we would hold him back and sheer happiness and excitability would cause this leg to vibrate.
i am not willing to accept that all dogs that have leg trembles have some type of nuerological problem and i am not saying this is what was said, but, many people may read into it that that is what it is.
so many dogs are sensitive to environment and surroundings they may do this, tasha for instance, when standing outside waiting for jason to come hom in the morning, he pulls up in truck her ears perk up her rear leg vibrates, why? becouse she is happy to see him, excited, emotions in dogs haveto be released somehow and i believe some dogs do it this way.
not one of mine is epileptic, thank goodness and i am sorry to hear sammy may be.
not one of my newfs in all my life so far has blown a cruciate thank goodness for that...
so my take on the leg shake could be weakness from loss of muscle, could be related to seizures, and most times that i have experienced it from the many thousands of dogs i have groomed in my career it is an emotional response, wether it be excitability or nervous.
i only wrote this becouse i got a pm from someone freaking out that their newf does this, but never seized or had a cruciate problem and wonder what it is.....
 
S

skinsey

Inactive Member
Heard from hospital last night - he is stable and out of danger from heat stroke. Today is MRI, etc. Vet I spoke with pushed back when I said I wanted full thyroid panel. Will be talking to neuro vet this am and will insist. Vet yesterday said low thyroid does not cause seizures - I told her she was wrong based on the what I've been reading.

As to "newfie shakes" - it's not the hind legs that bother me - but its the trembling in the front legs that seems abnormal and that they are concerned with. The rear legs are understandable since that is where all the stress and pressure is when getting up, standing, etc. Sammy's front legs tremble. I guess I should have made that clear.

Anyway - hopefully will have more news later this am. Am concerned about the phenobarbitol side effects - they list weakness in hind legs, lethargy, excitability, etc. Also liver problems. But it appears that this is the most effective treatment.
 
Sailorgirl

Sailorgirl

New member
Sharon, I'm so sorry you guys are going through this. Just wanted to tell you that my boy Simon (newfy mix, we think) had epilepsy from the time he was 2. NN wasn't around then and I never thought to do anything but take the vet's advice without any questions, so we did the phenobarbital. We'd get the dose as low as we could and still prevent the seizures. While I wish I would have looked for alternatives to that, I wanted to tell you that Simon lived a wonderfully happy life until he was three months short of 11 years old. We knew the pheno had bad side effects but anything was better than the seizures. (He was also highly allergic and was on prednisone from the time he was 2 as well ... also had ACL surgery). My point is this .. yes, keep searching for answers and other treatments but if pred is the only solution, it is a heck of a lot better than the seizures.

Also ... as far as the leg shakes go .. there was a post about this not too long ago (I'll look for it) in which most folks said their dogs did this with no ill side effects. Will be interesting to hear the doctor's theories on that.
 
Sailorgirl

Sailorgirl

New member
Oh .. it was your post ... so you probably knew about it already.

http://www.newf.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=001215

anyway, I just find it hard to believe that it is related to Sammy's seizures if so many people on here have had this happen but very few have seizure issues. Just my opinion.

incidently, I don't remember Simon ever having the shakes.

Anyway .. good luck to you and do share what you find out!

[ 01-24-2006, 10:34 AM: Message edited by: Sailorgirl ]
 
Annie Milliron

Annie Milliron

Alpha Goddess
Sharon,

I'm so sorry to hear the latest news about poor Sammy. Sammy is lucky to have someone who will go the distance for him. Having gone down a similar road with Sadie, I can guess how you're feeling. and am sending prayers and good thoughts for all of you, and lots of
 
nowhavethreebears

nowhavethreebears

New member
Glad to hear that Sammy is stable. I thought about him a lot last night. There are phenobarb alternatives, but it is a good immediate treatment to get him under control.
Please keep us updated on his diagnosis.
Will continue to send prayers for strength for you and Sammy.
Anita
 
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