Not logged inChampdogs Information Exchange
Forum Breeders Help Search Board Index Active Topics Login

Find your perfect puppy at Champdogs
The UK's leading pedigree dog breeder website for over 25 years

Topic Dog Boards / Behaviour / my dog just had a fit
- By f.cycle [gb] Date 04.04.12 14:27 UTC
my labrodor cross is perfectly healthy family pet. I was just in my gym in my garden training and my wife rang me from in the house screaming in shock cos of something happening to our dog.. My dog seemed to be frozen still on her back, froffing at the mouth, weeing herself and crying in pain, she was immobile, I ran to her aid and she bit me (she has never done this) she was trying to get up but kept falling over.. My wife was in tears and a minute and a half had now gone by, I opened the door and our dog made it out the back but she was falling everywhere. she looked evil, after about 3 minutes she straightened herself out and is now fine. We are now worried sick it will happen again, she is only 3 years old.. The vet said to keep a watchful eye over her for the next 48 hours. If any of you have had any similar experiences please share. Thankyou
- By mastifflover Date 04.04.12 15:07 UTC
My sisters boxer bith had a spate of fits,no cause could be found so it was put down to the evry bad vaginal infection she had (she was incredibly ill, they thought it was pyo to start with), once the infection has cleared (icluding a spey when she was stable enough), the fits stopped.

I don't have any personal experience of fitting dogs, and have not kept bitches myself, but I'm sure others will be able to offer some advice, it would help if you could give more info.
Is your girl speyed?
Has the vet actually examined her or given you advice over the phone?
Is this the bitch that you posted about in Feb. that had been mated?

I would personally make sure the vet has actually examined her, if they haven't allready done so. Also have a think about things she may have possibly been exposed to/ingested that could cause an allergic reaction/poisening (including chocolate).
- By Nova Date 04.04.12 16:29 UTC
Or she could have epilepsy, that can start at any time but is hereditary so if you trust the breeder ask if there is any such incidence in her background. If there is tell the vet because she can then be started on medication which in most cases is effective.
- By Celli [gb] Date 04.04.12 16:29 UTC
If your dog does have another fit try to keep calm, lower the volume on any tv's or radios and try and put off any harsh or bright lights, clear away any thing she may hurt herself on and give her calm reassurance when she comes round.
- By Brainless [gb] Date 04.04.12 17:10 UTC
Is there any chance she became over heated, had not eatedn and become hypoglyceamic. 

Could she have underactive Thyroid, symptoms are often patchy coat (espe3cially on flanks) on short coated dogs, brittle guard coat on double coated breeeds, a tendency to feel thr cold, and lack of energy adn weight gain (or eating very little in order to keep it down).

Thyroid problems are a common cause of fits.
- By Nova Date 04.04.12 18:03 UTC
There are any number of reasons for a dog to have a fit and the vet really needs to undertake a full examination and a set of tests to see if anything is amiss, if not then it may well be down to something effecting the brain like epilepsy. If this is the case then it is often a matter giving medication on a trial and error basis.
- By JeanSW Date 04.04.12 19:04 UTC

> We are now worried sick it will happen again


Understandable, but you don't really tell us much.  When you say that the vet said watch her, it doesn't sound as if she has been examined.  Have you had bloods taken?  You need to pinpoint a diagnosis. 

When you said that your dog "looked evil" this is not normal for a fit, as most have no idea what is going on.  She certainly won't be aware that she has bitten. 

A lot of us have had dogs that have had seizures, I have one on permanent medication, but it didn't start as young as your girls.  This young I would be worrying about hereditary problems.  If you have seen a vet, you don't seem to have had much advice, and, if you haven't, get her to the vet tomorrow and have bloods taken.
- By Trialist Date 04.04.12 19:09 UTC
So sorry, this must be a very worrying time for you. Can't offer any help whether a fit or not. They take different forms for many very different reasons, including poisoning. It doesn't sound good, but if you it does happen again (I really hope that it doesn't), it is very useful to your vet if you can video the event. I know it sounds really gruesome, but if it helps in a diagnosis, it is worth doing. Good luck.
- By Nova Date 04.04.12 20:04 UTC
Is this the dog that you thought was pregnant, if so I think I would want the vet to check her over sooner rather than wait for a further episode. Come to think of it I would want a vet to check her anyway just to make sure there was no obvious reason like a long term infection or perhaps a brewing pyo that has sent her temperature sky high.
- By marisa [gb] Date 04.04.12 20:15 UTC
Between 3-6 years is classic age for dog to start fitting so she is within the realms of this.
- By f.cycle [gb] Date 04.04.12 20:22 UTC
thankyou everyone, no she is not the dog that I thought was pregnant, that was my British bulldog that was pregnant but disolved them. My labrodor has just had another fit, my vet wants to see her in morning. She was sat normal one minute and the next minute she was knocking into furniture and shaking and frothing at the mouth..She snapped out of it after about 3 minutes. Thankyou all for your helpful advice
- By Esme [gb] Date 04.04.12 20:42 UTC
So sorry to hear about your Lab. Fits can be very hard to deal with. Best let your vet take a look in the morning.

Looking to the future, medication can often be very helpful. It can be the case that when a dog is very young, (under six months), or much older, that seizures can be difficult to get under control. But otherwise, phenobarbitone with perhaps potassium bromide, can do a good job of keeping things under control.

I wish you the best of luck in the morning at your vet's. In the meantime I wish you all a peaceful night,

If you need it, here's a website with lots of info that might be helpful.

All the best.
- By Nova Date 04.04.12 20:52 UTC
Sorry to hear that she has had another fit but pleased you are taking her to the vet in the morning, do give her breeder a ring they may have information that could help your vet in deciding on the problem. Many of the causes of fits are hereditary so if there is no obvious infection any information about her ancestors could be very helpful.
- By f.cycle [gb] Date 09.04.12 09:29 UTC
thankyou everybody who contributed to this subject, my bitch had 3 fits in 24 hours, my children and my other dogs were petrified. I did take her to the vet and they told us she was epileptic and light medication will be only £9 per month, 2 tabs per day. Its now been 5 days and we havent saw her fit again. thankyou all so much
- By Celli [gb] Date 09.04.12 09:32 UTC
That's brilliant :-)
- By Nova Date 09.04.12 10:15 UTC
Very pleased she has the medication she needs but please remember to tell the breeder if you have not yet done so we don't want them to continue to breed from those dogs as if they do the chance that other people will suffer as you have with dogs that are fitting.
- By mastifflover Date 09.04.12 11:26 UTC
Your poor kids must have been so worried, bless 'em. I would have been petrified myself to see my beloved pet fitting.

I'm so glad shes sorted now, that's great news. Thanks for the update.
Topic Dog Boards / Behaviour / my dog just had a fit

Powered by mwForum 2.29.6 © 1999-2015 Markus Wichitill

About Us - Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy