Hi, I just wondered if any of you had a similar experience to what we're going through at the moment.

My male Terrier X (11 1/2yrs) recently had an "episode" one night. I woke up to find him screeching, although apparently still asleep and when I finally managed to wake him I found that he had wet himself (he's usually a very clean dog). He wasn't dazed and I therefore wondered whether it was just some bad dream although I vowed to keep a close watch on him. Just over two weeks later I woke again to find him whimpering and writhing. I woke him and found that he had again wet himself although he seemed quite normal when awake, if not a little upset about being covered in wee!

I realised then that something was wrong and took him straight to the vet the next day and was told that he is probably epileptic. He was put on to one 30mg Epiphen in the morning and the same at night. This morning, after being on them for a couple of days, he was bouncing around as normal but looked slightly drunk, which I know should wear off soon. I believe he has had another fit today when I was out however and his stomach has swelled tremendously this evening.

Just to give you an idea, he has no previous history of epilepsy although he is on 9 tablets a day for enlarged heart, water retention and chronic bronchitis. He was an extremely active dog until a few days ago, bounced around like a puppy and you'd never have known he was "ill". He is back at the vets again on Monday evening but I don't think the vet is going to do any tests on him to make sure it's epilepsy (not sure though).

Basically I am sorry for the long message but I wondered if anyone else had seen anything like this?

Thanks
Andrea

Hi Andrea,

I can't help much I'm afraid...
I've only had experience of epilepsy in a cat.
I thought i'd reply, because the 'episodes' your dog is having sound exactly like those of my cat.

It's a really difficult situation to be in...but do you think the medication is working now?

Sorry, I got cut off mid post there for some reason!

If a dog has epilepsy, it becomes noticable from 12 -18 months of age, usually.

As far as I know, it's quite unusual for a dog to start fitting at your dogs age.

Maybe you should get some more vet checks?

Hi Andrea

I hope your dog is ok this morning. If his stomach swelled suddenly it could be bloat which is a medical emergency.
Lara x

Had to take Ebony back to the vet this morning because of his swollen stomach. It was a lot worse yesterday but seems to have gone back down to how it was on Friday. The original vet wasn't there today and the one that I saw told me, after listening to his chest under a stethoscope and prodding him, that water tablets wouldn't work and that he would need to have the fluid drained off. I left Ebony there and went back an hour later only to be told that there was no fluid or gas in his stomach. Strange that he thought that's what it was when he listened and prodded!

Anyway, he told me that the only thing it could be is a tumour and a large one at that and that he wouldn't be with us long. I asked about an x-ray and he told me it wasn't worth it because it would simply show that something was there but it wouldn't tell us what it was. Ebony has been extremely flatulent over the last couple of days, pooping every 3-4 minutes (very loud and VERY smelly). I don't see how the vet can disgnose a tumour without even doing tests. What do you think? Eb is eating well, drinking well, weeing and pooing well and is playing well. He has slight rapid breathing and a very swollen stomach. I think it's another trip tomorrow for a second opinion!

Any ideas?