Willy, my 2 yr old yorkie, has just had his second seizure; the first one happening approx 6 months ago. Both times he has been back to normal w/in approx 20 mins. Should I be concerned that he has a condition that warrants investigation? I have a book that suggests these occassional episodes are not unusual. And a vet that also doesn't seem concerned, so long as he continues to behave like usual.

Anyone know any different? He's my lil man of house - couldn't do without him. Do I need another vet's opinion? Thanks for any help you can give!!

Hi Willysmum,
Seizures are frightening, aren't they? What are the exact circumstances of both fits? Time of day/ food/ room temperature/ exercise/ excitement etc?

To be honest, no vet is going to medicate for infrequent fits like this (the possible side-effects are more serious), so your best bet is to be aware that it might happen, but carry on with normal life in the hope that it doesn't.
:)

Thanks, Jeangenie, for your speedy reply! I agree. I feel as tho I'll notice right away if anything else about his behavior changes or seems unusual. And I hate to put him on any medication or through testing unnecessarily. I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else. Thanks so much!!

Hi Willysmom

First thing, DON'T PANIC.

if the seizures are 6 months apart, there is no need for medication, and no need for a second veterinary opinion.

You may find your dog will never have another seizure again, or maybe they'll remain at 6 mnthly intervals.

i would suggest you invest in a notebook. Keep a diary of any seizure activity. If you can remember the details surrounding the first one then great. If you don't remember any specifics then just note down the date, the same for the second seizure.
To be prepared for the next seizure, try to make note on the following:
Date
Time
Length of seizure (as close as you can estimate)
Actions during - i.e Rigidity of muscles, drooling, vomiting, loss of bowel/bladder control etc.
Length of post-ictal behaviour - panting, tiredness etc.

If the seizures start to become more regular, or if your dog starts to cluster then its time to return to the vet, and the diary you've kept will be invaluable. Hopefully you may never have to endure another seizure with your dog again, but if they do become more regular then the diary is a great tool for trying to work out any possible triggers. Playing with my diary dates on Excel opened my eyes to an aspect that i'd never even considered. I worked out that my mother's dog was seizing (when she became monthly) in perfect synchronisity with the moon.

I would recommend that you invest in a few bottles of Bach's Rescue Remedy. keep one in the car, take one on walks, keep one in the kitchen, keep one where he sleeps. A few drops can dramatically reduce post-ictal time, and if it's safe to, a couple of drop on the tongue can help bring the dog out of the seizure. A cold wet flannel on the dog's forehead can help bring the temperature down again during post-ictal phase too
My mothers dog started seizing once a year, then it was every 6 months, then every 3 months. When the frequency was monthly our vet decided to put her on medication, phenobarbitol. We played with her medication over a year or so, and after a few breakthorough seizures we have her medication set at 30mg/day - she hasn't had a seizure in over 18 months now, which is brilliant. having worked out that her main trigger was the lunar cycle, we simply increase her dose to 45mg/day when the moon is full, and voila, no seizures! Another of her triggers is journeying. If she goes on a long journey (more than an hour) in a car she gets over excited and will be relied upon to have a seizure within an hour after reaching the destination...again, increasing her dose the day before prevents this.

i would strongly advise that you get your dog neutered, if he's not done already. The hormone levels will stabilise, and that may prevent further seizures, also you certainly don't want to be breeding from him with seizures in his history.

your dog may never have a seizure again, and I hope this is the case, but if the seizures do become more regular then don't despair. The knowledge and research is out there and there are ten's of thousands of dogs out there leading full and happy lives with their epilepsy under full control!

Here are a couple of web sites that my family found extremely helpful, and i hope you will too:
http://lochvale.freeservers.com/Eplinks.html
http://www.gijoe-gsd.com/
If you join the email group http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/k9epilepsy you will find there is always somebody online 24 hours a day who will respond to your question, drawing from their own experiences as a k9-Epi owner, or they may be a specialist vet.....it is a brilliant resource!

Hope to have helped, and hope i haven't made you over concerned but instead have made you better prepared, just in case! ;o)

Caroline