Hi everyone,
My 15 month old springer, Murphy had a really strange "episode" last night and I just wondered if anyone had ever seen anything similar.
He is kept in an outdoor kennel run during the day with my fathers working dogs (in separate pens).
Last night I went to collect him to take him for a walk. He was jumping up and down in the pen and generally very excited as he always is when he hears me arrive.
I had to speak to my Dad about something so I suppose he was jumping about for around 10 mins before I let him out.
He tore around like he usually does for 5 mins or so then I noticed that he was standing very still and staring at nothing in particular. It was very out of character and I knew something was wrong.
I took him inside and within a couple of minutes he completely collapsed.
He laid on his side with no movement,quite rigid body, very shallow breathing and his gums and mouth were almost white! He appeared to be unconcsious.
This lasted about 10 minutes.
On the way to the emergency vets he started to perk up and by the time we got there he was almost back to normal.
The Vet checked him out and thinks he had a fit of some sort.
Anyway took him home and fed him as normal as the Vet advised. About an hour and a half after his meal he was sick and brought up his meal, he then ate it again before I had chance to clear it up!
He seemed fine overnight with no more vomiting.
Fed him again this morning and he ate his meal ok then about 15 mins later we had the standing still, staring again and then he collapsed again. This time he seemed concsious the whole time and it only lasted a couple of minutes. He didnt go stiff and his colour was ok. He just flopped down by the door and looked very sorry for himself. Shortly afterwards he vomited again (his breakfast). After 20 minutes or so he seemed to be back to normal again.
The only thing I can think of is that I put a new piece of carpet in his bed in the kennel the other day and last night when I picked him up it looked like he had been tearing it up as there were bits of carpet everywhere and we found some with white froth on it. I wonder if he has eaten some and it has caused these strange episodes.
He saw my Vet this morning and again she could find nothing wrong and couldn't feel any blockage or signs of discomfort in his tummy.
She has given him some Hills bland meat and biscuits for me to try him on for a day or two to help his tummy. She thinks the carpet is the likely culprit as it didn't sound like a classic fit.
I have been reading up about fits and it didn't seem like an epileptic fit as there was no leg paddling, mouth champing or frothing etc and he wasn't resting at the time either.
I will have to wait and see how he is and if he vomits again or has another funny turn I will pop him straight back to the vets.
Has anyone seen or heard of anything similar as I am pretty worried about my boy and would be very grateful for any ideas or advice.
Many thanks
Angie

Hi
Yes this does sound like epilepsy. I had a dog like it, hers was caused by brain damage incurred when she had distemper as a puppy. It can also be hereditary.(Frequently though is is referred to as ideopathic epilepsy, meaning the cause is unknown.) If it continues frequently you may need to put the dog on medication. I don't think there is any connection between this and chewing the carpet, not unless the dog could have been poisoned.

Forgot to say, it is far from all epileptic fits that actually show leg paddling etc -many are just like this. With my dog, she ALWAYS had hers when she was doing something, such as being out for a walk. Never when asleep. So it can vary.

From what I've been reading myasthenia gravis can also give similar symptoms especially during or just after exercise.

Don't want to worry you, but I'd make a record if anything happens like this again and what he was doing before the episode.

Sounds very much like a petit mal seizure.  It may not be the same but I looked after a child once who, after alot of activity and excitement, just used to stop and stare into space.

Sometimes it was followed by a full epileptic seizure but other times he'd be okay.

I didn't realise that could happen in dogs too.

Hi,

I would also say this sounds very much like an epileptic fit, but as Sarahlolly said a petit mal rather than a (grand mal which is when you would get the thrashing of the legs etc) Epilepsy can occur at any stage in life, with dogs and people.  I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was about 22 with no prior history of it personally or in my family. 

If it's happened a couple of times I think I'd want my vet to do some tests, but if you don't feel you want to do that yet, do as someone else suggested and keep a record of incidents.  I hope it turns out to be nothing!

Karen

Hi guest,
     Have the vet check Murphy's liver enzymes.  It does sound like epilepsy.  If you have a video camera it might prove useful to get it recorded.  Having said that "a watched pot never boils".  Great advice from an earlier post keep a journal of the fits.  Length of fit and time for recovery.  Be patient it could be nothing.  When were his last shots?  Just remember if it is epilepsy that is not a death sentence it's just a little inconvenient but managable.  Stay calm and join the forum.  There will be lots of great avice that eveyone can share with you.