I have an 11 year old staffordshire bull terrier, who has recently started having some strange what I would call "episodes".

About 6 weeks ago, he fell down onto front paws breathing heavily, with a vacant look on his face.  He was up and about again within 1-2 minutes.  4 days after that he fell onto his side and looked like he might be having a seizure.  10 mins later this happened again.  Both times he was only out of it for approx 30 seconds and right as rain again after.

The same happened again last week.

I have taken him to the vets who have checked his bloods and confirmed he has no problems with heart, liver or kidneys (he had a spleenectomy just over two years ago, not sure if this could be relevant). 

I took him to the vets again this Wednesday as he had two very minor what looked like dizzy spells on Monday.  After a half hour consultation with the vet, I came home and one hour later after climbing the stairs (I live in a 3 storey house so this is unavoidable) he collapsed onto his front paws again and did not want to move for approx 20 mins as if he was exhausted.  Every day since he has had at least one small dizzy spell, when he has these, he doesn't fall over, but sort of curls his lip up as if he has tasted something nasty and his head sort of jerks a bit.

The vet said I should monitor him before we jump in and put him on medication, I was just wanting anyone elses thoughts and views on what the problem may be.  I am thinking it may be vestibular disease, but not sure if dogs that have this are continually off balance, or if they come and go like these seem to be doing.

I am going to ring the vets on Monday as the vet suggested that if they got worse / more regular we could try him on vivitonin.  Unfortunately the vet tells me it is very difficult to take a dogs blood pressure therefore we could be treating him to increase his blood flow when this may not be the problem!  The vet does not seem to think it is epilepsy, and is reluctant to jump in with anti convulsants and thinks we should try vivitonin first.

I would be very grateful if anybody could give me their thoughts experience of anything similar.  Sorry its a bit long, but just wanted to give as much info as possible.

Thanks.

Julie (& Fagin)

"the vet tells me it is very difficult to take a dogs blood pressure"

Its actually easy. The BP is taken with a small cuff at the base of the tail. In any case, vivitonin is supposed to increase the blood suppy to the brain, not increase the BP generally. I have had dogs with senile dementia (which is what vivitonin is for) and they have not had the seizure like episodes you describe.

I've also had a dog with episodes of 'old dog' vestibular syndrome and it is quite different. The dog suddenly loses its balance and remains that way for anything from 24 hours to several weeks. There is often nystagmus and a head tilt, and the dog may roll over and over on the floor if it is not supported.

I've not had a dog with epilepsy, but from your description this sounds like it. It is fair enough to observe for a time before staritng anti-convulsants but if it is epilepsy vivitonin is unlikely to help. If I were youI'd I think be asking for a second opinion at the nearest vet school. Apart from anything else, in an 11 yo dog you want to find out if there is an underlying cause for this.

The vet did say something about being able to use a cuff, however he said it is not very accurate, different readings each time you take it!  He did appear to have a bit of a head tilt on Saturday am and does tend to shake himself quite frequently, so I thought I would put him in some ear drops to see if this might help. 

Touch wood, I don't think he had any "episodes" on Sunday night, although I was not with him continually.  I was in the house and he did seem quite cherpy every time I went to check on him.  He has on occaisions been extremely tired after an "episode".  I don't want to rush into putting him medication however neither do I want him to suffer too much.  Its a very hard decision to make, since he does seem to be a bit frightenend when these occur, as he obviously dosen't know what's happening to him. 

I do trust my vet however I know it can be very difficult for them to diagnose these things if they do not actually see what happens.  Would you happen to know where the nearest vet school is to me, I am in Bradford, West Yorkshire?

Hi, it must be very worrying for you. :(

I think your nearest Vet School would be Liverpool.

If it is 'old dog vestibular syndrome', ear drops probably won't work as the problem is usually central rather than with the outer ear. When my old girl had it the vet gave her bolus steroid injections as there is some suggestion (it isn't really proven) that steroids speed up the recovery. But what you describe doesn't sound like my old lady. She recovered fast from all three episodes, but she still totally lost her balance for 24 hours each time and was a bit unsteady for a few days afterwareds.

Best of luck in getting it sorted.

Thanks for replying, your right I am at my wits end with it all, its knowing what to do for the best.  The vet has said I could send him for an MRI, but in the same breath insisted that is not without risks, because of the GA.  I would also have to drag him half way across the country in doing so as there are no MRI scanners available locally.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, its comforting to know your not on your own at a time like this.  The last time I needed help I found the answer I was looking for on Champdogs as everything my vets suggested drew a blank.  This was for his colitis I read about Naturediet on here, started him on it right away and never looked back since.

I will post any updates on his progress.

Thanks again.

Hi - having had a dog who had full-blown fits for a couple of years, I can say this certainly doesn't sound like epilepsy. Epilepsy usually develops between 1 and 4 years of age, so your dog is well outside that rnage. Is he conscious during the episodes? During fits dogs are generally completely unaware of their surroundings or what's happening to them.

I also had a 15-year old dog who developed vestibular syndrome, and this did indeed come and go. During an attack she'd be desperately trying to keep her balance even when lying on the floor, as it makes you feel as though the room's spinning round and round and over and over. The dog's eyes flicker from side to side as they try to focus and their heads often tilt to one side afterwards. They need to be held still and are completely conscious during the attack.

Is it possible this could be the cause?
Dawn.

http://www.aht.org.uk/sci_diag_disc_genetic_l2.html

His episodes have differed somewhat, from falling over onto his side, and appearing completely out of it, waving front legs (not sure of this is like when fitting, or if he is just trying to get himself up), to just what looks like a bit of a dizzy spell, either a stagger or if sat down a bit of a dazzed "what the hells going on" kind of reaction.  The more recent dizzy ones, I always know they are coming, as he tends to chomp with his mouth like he has just tasted something sour and then seems to lose balance and his head sort of twitches a bit.  I just hold him up so he doesn't fall over and reassure him and within seconds he seems ok again.  It does seem very similar, how was your dog diagnosed and what treatment was your dog provided with?

When a dog has a full-blown epileptic fit, all legs are paddling (as if the dog's running) and the head is often thrashing about too. Frequently they lose control of bladder and bowels, and afterwards are very disorientated, taking several hours to be back to normal. However the chomping and head-twitching you describe are similar to the onset of epileptic fits I've witnessed - a sort of 'petit mal' before it goes into a complete 'grand mal' seizure.

A vestibular attck is different and is usually over much quicker, though the dog can sometimes vomit because of the 'seasickness' effect. The vet diagnosed vestibular syndrome partly because it was over so quickly, but the flickering eyes are a dead give-away. There's no treatment for it - they usually get over it within a few days, though can have other attacks later.

Well so far we have had 4 tonight, falling on his side once, the others he was sat on me so I managed to hold him so he didn't fall off the setee.  He has been fully conscious through every episode, he thrashed his front legs about when he fell over onto his side, but almost certain thats because he was trying to get up, obviously thinking "how the helll did I end up down here?".

In total each episode as probably lasted 20 secs and afterwards he is back to same old self again.

I am going to ring the vets tomorrow, as we cannot go on like this or he might hurt himself.  He had his first one, that we saw approx 5-6 weeks ago, so we are well past the few days stage.  Although he has only been having them daily for the past week, tonight being the most in one day (that we have witnessed anyway).

I would be really grateful of any more suggestions anyone might have, so I can flag them up with my vet tomorrow and hopefully get some helpful treatment.

I wonder whether it's some kind of vestibular problem/ear problem.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

I think both are a distinct possibility but how are either correctly diagnosed? 

I am however getting somewhat worried, having just read about L-2-HGA (L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria).  I am just hoping that because of his age this can be ruled out, as nowhere can I find anything about treatments for this disorder, only information about testing.  Please could anybody tell me what you do if your dog tests positive for this.

Thanks.

Well we went to the vets last night who is today going to speak to the neurologist to get some advice as see if he needs an MRI.

I have however just got up off the floor after spending the night with him.

Between 2045 and 21.35 he had no less than 11 "episodes".  I did however manage to catch a couple on video. At around 1030 he hadn't had one for about 40 minutes which was the longest period he had gone without one.  I decided to ring the emergency vets for advice and  they suggeted I take him there where they did an examination and asked lots of questions before popping some diazapam up his bum.

The diazapam was supposded to chill him out however he has been a bit restless most of the night, but that could be cause he's not used to me sleeping virtually in his bed!

The emergency vet checked his ears and said his eardrums looked fine,however she asked how long he had had the "head tilt"!

Its now approx 10 1/2 hours since his last one so hopefully we have got through that part ok, just dread the evenings now though as he seems to only have them in an evening for some strange reason.

Well only an hour or so before the vets open.  I will keep you updated as and when I can.

Please keep us informed Julie.
Dawn

Four more this morning, last one at 0945 so have had a couple of hours without.  The Neurologist luckily has an appointment tomorrow at 1230 so we are off to Chester for an MRI.  I should get the results of that when I go back for him, so please all keep your fingers and toes crossed it is something treatable. 

Its a bit of a trek there, as we live probably an hour and a half away, which in not ideal, but my vet advises me this neuroigist is one of the best in Europe therefore its worth it to know hes in the best hands.

Just hope we can get through the night tonight without too many.

Hi Julie, good to know that you are going to a specialist neurologist. Best of luck tomorrow.

We went to the neurologists today and had the MRI scan.  Everything is normal with his brain, they could not see any problems at all with it.  However while under the GA, his heart rate slowed down considerably, which has given a probable indication of what his problem is.  They think it may be something called "heart block" which was described to me as the bottom ventricles of the heart do not beat when they should do occaisionally, which is causing the "faints" not "fits".  It seems to fit in with all the symptoms he has been displaying as sometimes he has seemed just very out of breath and tired, it also explains why it seems to happen when he is resting and not when he is playing.  Apparently the heart has some kind of back up mechinism whereby if the ventricles do not beat themself, the heart does it for them.  This however can be maybe a second or so after when it would normally beat hence the fainting spell.

We are not 100% sure if this is the problem yet, as the vet I saw was not a cardiologist however he did speak to one on the telephone and we will hopefully be going to see him on Monday for a heart scan.  Yet another long trek down the M6!!!

If this does turn out to be the problem, Fagin will have to have a pacemaker fitted.  That way if his heart forgets to beat the bottom ventricles, the pacemaker will kick in and do it for him.

I am feeling a little better now I know its not a brain tumor although it does mean he will have to endure yet another operation if it is what they think.

The surgery I went to today, was ChesterGates Referral Hospital in Chester, which was excellent.  They reallly took their time to explain everything throughly and didn't rush you through it was all very relaxed.  The staff were all very friendly and the waiting room was full of thank you cards from grateful owners for what they had done for their pets.  I would not hesitate in taking Fagin back there if I needed to. 

I will let you all know how we get on after we have seen the cardiologist, fingers and toes crossed again as we're not out of the woods yet.

Thank you all for all your support and comments.  It really does help to know there are people out there who care as much about their pets as I do.  None pet owners just don't understand!

Julie & Fagin

Thats good to know you have a lead now, and he can get the treatment he needs, I must admit I was thinking "Brain tunour" to myself, and was VERY pleased when I just read the MRI was ok.  i'm pleased for you, Fagin will be fine now, he sounds in good hands.
Dawn.

That's encouraging news, Julie! The symptoms weren't enough like epilepsy or vestibular syndrome to convince me that it was either of those - it's good to know that they fit in with another recognised treatable condition. Hopefully this will see him on the road to recovery. :)

I've just been reading the cardiologists website which is very encouraging.  I don't think I could ask to be referred to anyone better qualified he sounds very experienced in this field so I feel happy knowing I have given Fagin the best care that money can buy.  He is insured now however even if he wasn't I wouldn't think twice about the cost.  At the end of the day I couldn't not let him have the treatment because of the cost, I would go without something if thats what it took.

Awww hes fast asleep now curled up in his bed.  Poor baby he's had a long day, he's so nosey he wouldn't sleep in the car all the way there or back, just winged constantly 2 hours there and 2 hours back.  Cant say I'm relishing the 2 1/2 hour trip on Monday after today, think I'll just have to take my ear plugs with me.

Julie

All good news Julie. Very glad to hear it. LEts hope you are getting to the bottom of this. Let us know how things go on Monday.

Monday went well, Fagin had heart scans, ECGs, xrays and a blood test.  His blood tests came back yesterday, and thankfully they are all fine.  The ECG confirmed what the previous vet had suspected, and he has what is called 2nd degree AV block, aparrently going into 3rd degree block when he is having his falling over/passing out episodes.  Thankfully over the last week he seems to have stabilised, and the vet was happy his heart is managing on its own at the moment all be it irregular, therefore he suggested it would be a bit premature at the moment, to jump in and have a pacemaker fitter.

I have been keeping a very close eye on him this week and as far as I am aware he hasn't had any "episodes" for over a week now so hopefully we just had a bit of a bad week before. We may have to go down the pacemaker route at some time in the future however I am keeping everything crossed that he is able to manage without one, as with all surgeries there is a risk involved.

I will keep you updated of any further news and would like to thank you for all your comments and kind thoughts at this very trying time.

Julie & Fagin

Hi Julie. glad you've got to the bottom of it now. Hopefully Fagin will stabilise without a pacemaker, but at least you know what's wrong and what to do if he has further problems. Best of luck!

Good news, lets hope it continues.
Dawn,

Hi Julie, just wandered how your dog was now.  I have a staffie and about 2 months ago he started to have fits where by he fell off the sofa onto the floor and looked like he was reching, then fell on his side a started to fit, his legs paddling and foaming at the mouth.  They have lasted in between 1-3 minutes and when he comes out of them he looks very disorientated and scared (bless!).  We found the best way to deal with it is get a wet towel and wrap it round him and talk to him to calm him down.  We took him to the vet and he couldnt find anything wrong with him either, after blood tests etc.  Its very scary!  Just wandered if you had any other tips or suggestiions to stop this from happening, thanks, helen

How old is your staffy, Helen? What you describe sounds very much like an epileptic seizure, which would make sense with all the tests being normal. How many times has this happened?

You may find the information on this site useful.

Hi sorry for the delay in replying, he has just turned 8 (10 jan) and has had 4 seizures in total.  The first 3 within 2 week intervals and the last one nearly a month (had last week the day after his birthday poor baby!)  they last between 1 and 6 mins then it takes him a while to get his feet back and looks very disorientated for a while.  He seems perfectly normal after that.  He tends to scrape his bottom along the floor alot and it looks quite puffy (not irritated tho).  Do you think this could have any thing to do with it?  x

Unfortunately Fagin relapsed over the weekend and had another 9 or 10 episodes on Saturday.  The cardiologist said I should take him to my own vets and get an ECG done so they could see what his heart is doing at the time he is having a 'bad day'.  I faxed the "£108" ECG (Saturday teatime - he only seems to get ill out of hours) to the Cardiologist, who firstly said it didn't contain enough information as it was very short and still said it didn't conclusively confirm he was having 3rd degree AV block.  He is spending tomorrow at my vets hooked up to an ECG machine again :rolleyes: to see if we can get some evidence of his condition when he is relaxed, as every time he has a test done he is hyped up by the fact he is somewhere different and rushed in and out so fast he never has chance to calm down. 

The problem isn't helped either by the fact that my vet uses the Vets now service who use the local PDSA at nights.  When you take your animal in they have no history of your pets condition or notes so are reliant on what you can tell them, which I don't beleive is necessarily the best way information should be obtained as they are reliant on what you know.  I have just spoken with them on the phone to see what other information was written on their report so I can pass to the cardiologist I have also said I will get my vets to pass on Fagins history so they are not having to go in blind with him every time I have to take him in. 

Sorry about the rant, but I just need to vent my frustrations somewhere at the moment as I seem to be going around in circles.

In reply to your questions, Helen, Fagin falls over and sometimes his front legs paddle.  He doesn't foam at the mouth, but does sort of curl up one side of his mouth like he's got a nasty taste before keeling over.  Sorry but I don't have any suggestions how to stop them other than keep him quiet in a darkened room afterwards and stay with him and reassure him until he falls asleep.  It is very scary and you feel so helpless.  Fagin has had an MRI which has come back clear i.e. no sign of tumors, but as time goes on I still suspect it could be neurological as the heart tests are not conclusive at the moment.  If you haven't already I would ask your vet to refer you to a specialist if they are as frequent as Fagins however hopefully he is insured as the tests alone are very costly.  I think we are up to about £1700 or so in the last couple of weeks. With any treatment to go on top of that.

If you would like any info on the specialist I have been to see, I would be happy to supply you with their info.  You can e-mail me direct if you prefer.  I will see if I can get my e-mail to show when you click on my name.

I would be interested in knowing how you get on, hopefully we may be of some help and support to each other at this very worrying time.

Good Luck

Julie

This is so hard to write I can hardly beleive what I am writing is real. I feel like my heart has been ripped out and have bearly stopped crying for two days.

I took Fagin to the specialists on Wednesday, a happy lively dog and picked him up on Friday dying!  I rang the specialists on Friday before I made the 2 1/2 hour journey to pick him up.  "Yes he's fine, really perky you can pick him up".  All the stress of the last two months just melted away.  My baby was ok!  I smiled all the way down, something I haven't done for a long time. 

I arrived at 1200 and my whole world fell apart.  After they had spoken to me Fagin had collapsed!  He was very anemic and weak.  They did loads of tests and turns out his blood count was 20 his stools were also very dark.  The only possible cause I can think was he had reacted extremely badly to the post op antibiotics which had triggered a really bad colitis attack (he has had colitis before, but although antibiotics have brought on a small attack, a few weeks after the course end after a week or so he has been back to normal).  I had to make he decision whether to leave him there over Christmas or bring him home.  As the specialists were cardiologists and all tests carried out confirmed his pacemaker was working fine and it was not his heart that was the problem I decided to bring him home.  When we got home he seemed in a worse condition than when I picked him up and had the most horrendous black diarreah.  We took him straight to our own vets who did another blood count, this time it was 16.  He was put on a plasma drip overnight and another blood test revealed in the morning his blood count was 12!  He was given a blood transfusion and the vets said we could bring him home and as long as the bleeding stopped he would be fine!  We were unsure about this, but the vets thought he would be more comfortable at home and it would be less stressful for him.

About 1 1/2 hours after arriving home, he died an my partners arms after throwing up blood.  We rushed him to the emergency vet, but they just confirmed what we already knew in our hearts he had gone!

I cannot stop going over the whole thing over and over again and feel so guilty that I took my precious baby so happy and healthy looking and picked up a different dog two days later.  I cannot forgive myself for putting him though this.  I keep telling myself I did what I thought was best by taking him for the op, but did that decision cost him his life?  I loved that dog so much, and miss him terribly.  I feel like I have lost a limb.  Life will never be the same again. 

Although it was an awful experience and one I would not wish to see ever again, I am glad I was there and he was at home with those he knew loved him so much.  I could be kidding myself, but somehow think he clung on until he was home with us, and not alone in some sterile cage with strangers.  The house is so empty and quiet without him.

I'm just grateful although it was a horrible end, it was very quick.  I wish I could have saved him from having to go though this, hindsight is a great thing as they say, but I had no idea this might happen.

At least now he will be pain free and can run around without fear of fainting every two minutes with my dog from my childhood, I'm sure they wil be great friends.

Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm very, very sorry to read about Fagin :(  Please try not to beat yourself up about "what ifs" - we've all done it and it makes things so much more stressful.  You did everything you could possibly have done to help Fagin and sadly it was not to be.  For him it is a welcome release and he's been spared from suffering and indignity. 

I'm glad he was at home with you - for Fagin that was much better than being in the sterile surroundings of a treatment room.  Take comfort in the reality that he is running free, restored to his happy, healthy, youthful self and playing in fields of gold and, particularly, that he was in familiar surrounding with those he loved and who loved him back when he said goodnight.

God bless you - words seem so meaningless at times like these - I wish I had something more helpful for you.
You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Luv Teri xxx

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear your sad news!
Brave little Fagin, RIP.
My thoughts are with you.
  Karen

Oh Julie, I am so very sorry....You did what you thought would be best for your boy, in your shoes, we would have done the same....He went to sleep in the comfortable surrounding of his own home and in the arms of people he loved...He would not have wished it any other way....

Run free at the Bridge Fagin

I'm so sorry, Julie. :( Please don't blame yourself - you did what, with all the information you had at the time, looked to be the best thing. Nobody can do more than that. I'm so very sorry there wasn't a happy ending, but at least Fagin died in his home, in the arms of someone he loved and who loved him - much better than in a strange place with strangers. The time will come when you'll be able to look back and smile at the memories of the good times. {{{{{hug}}}}}

No words can ever express how horrible it is for you - but all of us who have had to lose one of our heart's treasures does now the anguish you are going through right now.   Nothing can make it right - but he died in your arms, with love all around him.  Carry that thought with you.   In time, you will be able to remember the glad times with a smile.

{{{{hugs}}}

Margot

I am so very very sorry for your loss.
I have kept up with your postings and i along with many others were hoping that god willing he would be fine.
It is not your fault as you did everything you could do for him and more.
He was blessed to have you and you him,and he was with the people he loved and was loved by when he went to sleep.
Thinking of you and sending love and wishes your way.

Jonelle

As the others ahve said what iffs are not going to be any good for you.  Just remember the love he gave and received.

Thank you all so much for all your kind words and thoughts.  I miss him so much and keep expecting him to come running to greet me every time I come home. The house no longer feels like home anymore.  I always knew this time would come and have had 2 1/2 years to prepare for it since we nearly lost him before, and although I knew it would hit me hard I didn't realise just how hard it would be.  Every little thing reminds me, I can't even eat without thinking of him as he loved food so much, you only had to rattle a sweet wrapper or clink a plate and he'd be there in 2 seconds!

I haven't managed to get through one day yet without crying and I'm sure I've got loads more days to come.  He will be coming home again tomorrow though albeit in a casket, but I think I will feel better once he's been returned to us.  I think we are going to put him in the garden under our two weeping willow trees that he loved to hide under.  I'm sure he will be happy there even though it was only his garden for just over a year, he loved it as he'd never had so much space before of his own.

Thank you all once again.

Julie

Just caught up with this. I'm so sorry you lost Fagin Julie. Don't beat yourself up with 'if onlys'. He couldn't go on the way he was and you did the best you could for him. Sadly it went wrong but it's not your fault.

Many of us have been through grieving for a dog and it takes a long time to get over. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about it or say 'it's just a dog'. Fagin was part of everything you did and he leaves a bigger gap than many humans would. The only thing to be said is that it does get better with time.

Hi Julie, just read about Fagin, so sorry to hear about it, I know if it was Milo it would be the worst thing in the world too.  All my sympathy to you and I know you've probably heard this over and over but it will get easier I promise xxx

Hi julie just read about fagin i am so very sorry to hear that
you sadly lost him please accecpt my deepest sympathy
i to own a staffordshire bull terrier so i know just how loving the breed can
and how they can melt your heart...

RIP FAGIN

with deepest sympathy from fran

I've just been reading this and I cried.  Just remember that he was poorly and his episodes were causing discomfort. you did what was right and he died in your partner's arms which you should take as a comfort. Better than dying when you weren't there. I'm so sorry, I can imagine how hurt you are right now, but he's in a safe place now, free from pain and totally loved x

Sounds like he is having grand mal seizures. Please take him to the vets and have an MRI scan to rule out epilepsy. I hope you have insurance as it is pretty costly for the scan. Can be about £1500. If it is epilepsy it is treatable.  Good luck x

Hi thanks for the advice.   He's now had 4 seizures the first 3 were in 2 wk intervals, then he went nearly a month (had it last week) until the forth.  When we took him to the vet he said that he couldnt give him anything for them even if it was epilepsy as it may do more harm than good, and that if he had 2 fits in day bring him back.  I've been advised to keep him in the dark and make sure there's nothing around he could harm himself on.   I'll let you know how he gets on x

Hi Helen

I was just wondering how Milo was doing.  Have you got to the botton of the falling over episodes yet?

Julie

Hi no still haven't found out what it is.  And because they are so 'infrequent' the vet said that he can't give me anything for them.  I have a couple of friends who also have dogs that have seizures (relating to different things) and they have both said that you just have to let them run their course.  He's had four altogether so we've basically been told to keep a fit diary and then if he has more than two in a week take him back. 

Totally unrelated tho, I have noticed a red lump on the side of his left back foot which has got a bit bigger, so I will be taking him to the vets in the next couple of days for them to have a look at that, if you can give me any insite to what that may be I'd be very grateful! 

How are you doing now?
x

hiya, i've just been reading all about your dog and it sounds very much like epilespy, i have a dog myself that has epilespy and from what you have explained is excatly how his started out, only it got worse and more regular until the one day he was having fits continously all day long well evening actually, i got up to a dog slumped in the middle of the kitchen floor absolutely exhausted and surrounded in wee and the other walked in all over the floor, he looked like a complete zombie didn't even have the energy to lift his head up.He is now on medication and fingers crossed we have got it under control,is last seizure was 11th January of which he had 2 straight after each other.It is very distressing to you to watch your dog go through these seizures but you just have to let them take there cause, make sure that theres nothing in the room that he can damage himself on, dim the lights and just be on hand for when he comes round from it, with mine after his seizures he usually paces up and down for an hour or so, not really with it still and then eventually he will settle down and sleep for a bit to get his energy back.They don't know whats happening and also they don't feel any pain,my dog will start off by going into a trance and when you call him he just ignores you, he just stares infront of him and then i know that he is starting a seizure.Mine started off with just mild seizures like the ones you have been seeing but over  afew months they just got more regular and no sooner was he over one then he was into another,i hope that yours stay mild ones in which case most vets won't use medication- they only like using medication if they are more regular and last longer because of the side effects of the tablets.

Always best to get lumps checked out, you can never be too careful.  Fagin developed a few lumps and bumps in the last year or so, most harmless but one wasn't so always check with your vet.

I have my good days and bad, yesterday was paticularly bad right from the minute I got up.  Just taking each day as it comes, its nearly 5 weeks now, but I still expect him to be at the bottom of the stairs waiting for his breakfast every morning.  And stil can't get used to the lack of greeting when I get home from work.  The cats trying his best, but its just not the same.

Fingers crossed the seizures don't increase in frequency.

Julie

Sorry, my last message was meant for Helen23. Should have stated that!