Hi all

I don't know if some of you will remember Ollie my Italian Spinone, but I wrote here almost 2 years ago now when we were in the first spills of his epilepsy (thought to be vaccination induced). I have lurked on and off and have pm'd some of you about your questions, but need some advice if you have any please.
In order to briefly catch up, well to say it's been a rocky road is an understatement, weve enountered more vet vists (most in out pj's!) and sprints to the AHT than we care to remember and are on first name terms with them all. I think the last count we are up to around 255 seizures, but after a long and hurrendous battle at getting it 'right' we are on our way and Ollie enjoys life as he should, happily.
Anyway, as you can imagine we have learned a lot along the way about how to manage the epilepsy, and have peaks and troughs of time between the good and the bad days.
Most recently though, we've seen 10 weeks YAY! which is unheard of as we have been rigid 7-10 dayers, although this pattern has been spoilt this weekend by a dog from the neighbouring farm getting into our garden whilst being on heat, and of course leaving her lovely scent here.
Thankfully Ollie was not out at the time and my husband could repair where this Collie had broken through, but as you can imagine his hormones are now raging, and as a consequence the changes in his hormaonal level has altered the meds ability to cope, and thus has lowered his seizure threshold.
As a direct result we've seen seizures throughout Sunday - mostly 3-4 hrs apart, and teetering off on Monday due to us using (albeit reluctantly) rectal and oral Diazepam. I have to say here though we use low doses due to his reaction, for his weight we should be using something like 40ml, and we never generally go over 20ml unless we need to.(I'd like to know actually if it's better for him to use a 'knock out' dose first thing on the second/third seizure, and would it be less of an aftermath than a lower dose??? - anyone know?)
Ollie has always suffered very badly with the valium, it literally sends him up the wall, barks and howls excessively, is inconsolable, suffers total insomnia, clings to the floor with it effects, and is sproadically blind whilst it wears off. So as you can imagine, it's a gamble with us to use it as one thing cures one thing and causes another problem. But you have to draw the line somewhere to stop the clusters coming sooner. We know how to deal with those after such qualifying status but not how to deal with the valium after effects, or this raging hormones we also have to contend with right now.

Please, do any of you have any information about alternatives we can use to the Diazepam, like a natural sedative, which is strong enough to work in the same way without the ill after effects. Or maybe if I changed the type of Benzodiazepine (sp?) would it make any difference do you think ?
We currently have Ollie (42kg) on Potassium Bromide 1500mg/day, Keppra (a human epilepsy med) 3000mg/day and Dorwest Skullcap & Valerian 2 tabs 3 times a day. We did also have Neurontin in the equation until Dec '06 but stopped that as it made no difference to seizures, but took away the life in our Ollie.Since dropping that he is back to himself apart from the odd seizure.

I would be so happy to hear any success stories with any meds, or anything anyone uses to make life more easy for their epi's.
Also any information about how I can solve this awful situation of the dog on heat scenario, which is making the after seizure effects linger somewhat from the weekend. He is still sniffing the air, and howling given the chance. When he sleeps it's the first waking thought too !!!! just as it is to bark, (last night he slept for about 4 hrs and in between that the 3 times he woke he did this) it's totally out of characther for him, he's the typical soft, gentle Spinone normally and wouldn't know what to do with his 'dinkle' normally lol !

Well here's hoping someone can help !

Thanks all, hope to hear from you soon
Shelley & Ollie

No knowledge of epilepsy I'm afraid but as far as his hormones I would imagine castration would benefit in the long run although obviously too late for this occasion, perhaps the vet would advise.

Hi Shelley of course I remember you and Ollie  sorry to hear about the knock back but I am sure after all you have been through together you can sort this out and get him back on a steady level.
Cant help with any advice ....what does the vet say???
PM me if you wish.

Roni