Hi,

I woke to find my 12 year old dog had some kind of seizure in the night and couldn't move or see. By the time we got to the vet she was walking but vet confirmed a seizure and she couldn't see but sight should come back.
An hour or two later, i knew that she could see me. However she had two other seizures about 4/5 hours from possible first one and then four hours later. We gave her the treatment vet gave us and OH called vet to say had two more. Vet said bloods were showing nothing and to collect different treatment this evening. OH going shortly. Since the third one she has had a further seven and not even trying to move now. Vet said to collect treatment and go with tomorrows appointment rather than go back with her tonight.
Anyone have any ideas what is wrong with her?
Anyones dog had anything similar?
Thanks

I'm afraid I have with two of mine, both turned out to have brain tumours and had to be pts, one at 14 and one at 10.

Blood tests etc cannot really show up many (if any) causes of seizures -they can sometimes be seen by MRI scan, but then only if it is something like a brain tumour. So chances are everything will come back clear I'm afraid.

At age 12, with so many seizures so suddenly, it isn't looking good. :( If there was one a WEEK it would usually be serious enough to warrant daily medication, but to have that many in one single day...... Valium is the treatment normally given to stop a cluster of seizures like this (was used on an elderly dog I had), and if that hasn't done it, I don't think there is anything they can give you to administer to stop them. I think sometimes they can try sedating the dog and keeping it in on a drip, it was mentioned to me at the time.

I'm no vet, and I really hope something will change, but to be honest, if she was my dog I would say goodbye now and not let her suffer. Something very similar happened to a dog I had bred -six seizures in one day, and she was put to sleep with the agreement of the vet, the owners and myself.

I have to agree with Marianne I'm afraid, so many in such a short period doesn't bode well.
This is pretty much what happened with my older dog, over the course of one weekend he had six grand mal seizures, being incredibly distressed for a good hour afterwards.
We took the decision to let the old boy go to save him any more suffering.
With our younger one, his seizures were very mild and he popped back out of them after a few seconds with no after effects. He went on for five months with no seizures ( medicated ) until he went into a constant state of fitting one evening, he was rushed to the vet,sedated over the evening but by the next morning it was obvious there was no saving him and he was pts.

Thanks Celli, this is what I'm dreading.

It's such a horrible feeling seeing your dog having a fit, worse still is the constant watching and waiting for the next, it's something I wouldn't wish on anybody.
My thoughts are with you.

Thanks goldmali. Until me waking this morning she was a very lively twelve year old, the other dog 13 well she is a 'proper old lady'

I can't quite remember what the vet said this morning, I was a bit upset but remember him saying something like do blood tests and this will show if kidneys etc, etc and if this shows fine it could be something neurological then they could do CT scan or something similar or we may have to accept......Sorry I can't remember the exact words.

She was given diazepam this morning and OH home now with pexion tablets. Not sure how I'm suppose to give it her because she now wont/cant move and wont/cant drink. 

OH informed the receptionist before going to collect the tablets that she had had a further two and then since 415ish a  further 7. why did the vet give us tablets and not ask us to go back in. Since 630 she has had a further three and is very unsettled.

When having a seizure can she hear me talking to her? Should I just keep talking and stroking her or does she not know I'm here?

When she's having a seizure it's best not to touch her and be as quiet as possible, also turn any bright lights down or off, put the tv off too, stimulus can make the seizure worse, although I'm sure talking quietly to her would be fine.
Also afterwards, keep everything quiet and dim.
The big danger is if she goes into a constant state of fitting, if that happens, it is a real emergency, so have the vets emergency number to hand.
I'd actually be inclined to phone the emergency vet and tell him how she is, it's just a phone call, and it would be good if they knew just how bad she was.
If she doesn't already, I'd also be inclined to sleep in the same room as her tonight.

Forgot to mention, if you can, time the seizures, and mention to the vet if they are getting longer in duration.
Your dog may also be very hot after a fit, so try and keep her cool.

Thanks again Celli, been timing how long between and trying to time how long each one is.

We were both just talking a few minutes ago we might call the emergency vet.

Total seizures since 415 are around 20 now so to us two it's not looking like she is getting better. She is foaming every so often and some are like a mini seizure followed straight away by another mini seizure only both around 30/40 seconds.
Kitchen lights are dimmed and she is trying to sleep.
She manged to get up before again and have a short walk before collapsing and even tried some food which we stuck the tablet in.
Goldmali I notice you mentioned a dog you had bread had six seizures in one day and with everyones agreement was PTS, did this dog try to get up or eat or anything. Just wandering how similar to Cara it is. I don't want to say bye if there is something that can be done  but also don't want her to suffer.
Celli thanks again, she isn't trying to move at the moment and don't think she would get upstairs. If we don't end up at the emergency vet I will probably sleep in the lounge with the door open so I can see/hear her.
When she is having the seizure her mouth is jerking.

Ok, if she has had that many seizures, I would strongly suggest you phone the emergency vet right now.
The more fits she has, the more likely it is she will have increasingly severe ones, and an increased chance of her going into a constant state of fitting, and that is a serious life or death situation.

We are on our way now.

So sorry I hope when you come back to post it is good news but feel it may not so what ever the outcome is my best wishes and a big hug x

Keeping everything crossed for you x

I'm glad you're off to the emergency vet, please let us know the outcome. The dog I bred basically wasn't doing anything so very similar, but nowhere near as many seizures. I feel for you, very hard time for you all. :(

Thanks all.

We were at the vets over an hour and half. The vet gave her a drip and during the period we were there she was sedated and has such didn't really attempt to move or acknowledge us. She came round a couple of times and then was back away.

We had a good long chat with the vet and went over what the outcome may be if we got her through the seizures. The vet informed us that it may be for example tumor or something and there might have been a lot of damage done. Sorry I cant go on, all I know is we probably did what was best after going over and over what to do. However I feel really really bad.

Good night Cara, sleep tight.

I will come back to visit you ladies when I've cried myself to sleep and hopefully can think straight.

You have found yourself in one of the nightmares that can unfold when you own dogs. Seizures are one of the worst things to experience as a dog owner because there is nothing you can do.  Everyone of us feels for you and Cara at this time. But please, do not blame yourself or feel guilty. Easier said than done I know, but you are not to blame. Your love and concern for her are very clear to all of us and will have been to Cara too.

Ditto what Admin said. Try to remember that seizures are worse for the onlooker than the sufferer, who is unconscious at the time. Your distress for poor Cara is because you love her so much. Hugs and sympathy to you.

I'm so incredibly sorry, I felt just the same as you, but I promise, there was nothing else you could have done, but let her go.
The worst thing about seizures is there's damn all you can do to help, and I think that makes the feelings of guilt worse.
Sleep well Cara x

I am so sorry. :( I lost my most special dog ever a few months ago and I know just how hard it is. You did absolutely everything you could for Cara.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> all I know is we probably did what was best after going over and over what to do. However I feel really really bad.<br />

No "probably" about it. You did the only thing you could do for Cara, you gave her release from the seizures that were undoubtably getting worse and doing more and more damage to her. We have all at some time had to make the decision to end our dogs suffering. Take some comfort in knowing you did the right thing for Cara, even though it has broken your heart.

R I P Cara xx

So sorry for your loss. You did the right thing now she is at peace x

I am so sorry to read this very sad news.  It is always heartbreaking making the decision to let our beloved dogs go.  You have experienced the added trauma and distress of witnessing your girl's many seizures which you and your vet were powerless to do anything about.

You really did do absolutely the right thing and the kindest thing in preventing any more suffering for Cara.  There's no doubt about that at all and I hope in time that knowledge will provide some comfort for you.

Well done for making the right decision for your precious friend.  May she rest in peace.

Thinking of you and wishing you strength at this awful time.

Take care
Blay  X

So sorry, it's such a shock when they go suddenly. You really did your best for her ((hugs))

Thank you all.

Struggling and cried quiet a bit of the night.

Will our other girl realise she is gone?

Does anyone have any experience of explaining it in the best way to a little one. At the minute she thinks she is just at the vets and when I was crying before said it willl be ok mummy. I have said Cara may have to float up to heaven if the vet cant make her better and will play with other doggies in the sky.

So sorry you have had to go through this.

I lost my best girl in a similar way just a year ago at 13.   Until the last month she was her usual lunatic self, someone had asked if she was the pup of the gang!  

I witnessed the first fit one day, closely followed by 4 more in 2 hours.  Phoned the vet, but they just said keep an eye and bring in the next day.   that night she had a few more and also the next day, lasting longer and taking longer and longer to come out of them.  We made the decision at home, but on arriving at the vets she rallied and waltzed in as if nothing wrong!

Luckily the vet had all the time in the world for her and us.  we discussed, he examined, we discussed some more, he thought she wasn't too bad... then all of a sudden, she ran out of steam and just drooped.   He re-examined and agreed with us that it was kinder to do the hardest thing.

It is such a huge shock when they go suddenly, and nothing can prepare you for it.

You did the absolute best for her, that's all anyone can do.

{{{{HUGS}}}}

My other two girls realised before we did that she was going.

They missed her, and it took almost a year, but they're back now to playing and rough-housing.  She was mum and granny to them.

It sounds as if you are preparing you little one well for being told that Cara has gone.   Nothing wrong with her seeing you cry, it will give her permission to cry too and be sad - because it is really sad, but it will also help her come to terms with it.

>Does anyone have any experience of explaining it in the best way to a little one. At the minute she thinks she is just at the vets and when I was crying before said it willl be ok mummy. I have said Cara may have to float up to heaven if the vet cant make her better and will play with other doggies in the sky.

My oldest is nearly 4 and recently each of his Nans have lost animals, 2 dogs and a horse. I wanted to explain to him before he went to visit them and ask where the animals were.  I told him about Rainbow Bridge, how it's such a special place and how his animal friends were really old and tired and needed to go there to feel better. He just accepted this and hasn't been upset, although he does sometimes ask in a quite serious voice if they are still there. I just tell him that they will always stay there because they are having so much fun. I guess it depend on the age though.

Thanks again.

Went out for a wee while. Not coping in house. Out with little one I can try to forget for a while. Was walking with her before and decided couldnt put it off and told her when we got home Cara wouldnt be there because the vet had called daddy to say she had floated upto heaven because she was very poorly. She replied with so we only have one doggy. I told her she is playing with other doggies up there.
Lunamoona she is three, not sure really understands and will leave trying to explain until further questions are asked.
The other dog is behaving quite puppy like today like Cara did.

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's a lot to take in when it happens so quickly but your girl is at peace now.
I have never had to explain a dogs passing to a young child but when my friend lost her dog she told her 2 young ones he'd gone to heaven. She wasn't sure how much they took in but was surprised when 9 months later one of them said she missed the dog and the other one asked if they could visit him. It caught my friend completely off guard but showed how much they loved the dog and I'm sure your little one will feel the same.

So sorry for your loss. I was recommended Judith Kerrs 'Goodbye Mog' by a friend for a 3 year old and it did help what we were trying to explain .