I have a pomeranian named ChuChu who is 10 years old. He weighs around 13~14lb and is an extremely active dog. However, I witnessed him having a seizure, and it lasted around a minute and half. He started to panic and urinating and shaking his body uncontrollably. I saw that the seizure happens while hes sleeping or tries to fall asleep. I marked the days when he had on the calendar and found out that every 12 days interval, the seizure formed. When he got his first seizure, we took him to the vet and went through a blood test. The vet told us that every thing was fine and normal, besides his liver enzymes level. Three out of four liver enzymes tests were high so the Vet offered us to put him on a liver medication. Because once we start giving him the seizure med, Phenobarbital, ChuChu must take the medicine because once we start we can't stop giving him the medicine. Because it has the potential of exacerbating the seizure. So the Vet told us to just feed him the liver med. for a month or so and run through the blood test again. However, he started ha ving a seizure again... My question and worry is to whether I should give him the phenobarbital or wait a while to see if the liver medicine might cause the seizure to form less. Because seizure forms from liver failures/problems, so we assumed that that might be the cause of ChuChu's seizures. For anyone who experienced their dogs from seizures, can someone please help me out?? What should I do? Thank you so much for reading this. God Bless.
Answers & Comments
Pomeranian Seizures
2 is the magic age when idiopathic seizures are most likely to start. Your veterinarian did the right thing by not medicating him when the seizures were so infrequent. I have had three dogs in my lifetime that had idiopathic seizures. The worst was my Siberian Husky who had her first seizure exactly on her 2nd birthday. We spent four hours at the vet that night as she would not stop seizuring, my vet was extremely concerned. My Husky would cluster seizure-they could be prolonged. She was put on Phenobarbital and for the next 13 years of her life she got that medication twice a day RELIGIOUSLY at 12 hour increments-even if it meant I had someone come by to give it if I was going to be late. We tested her liver every year and she never had any issues. She died at age 15 of old age. My Akita also had seizures. He came to me as an adult. His seizures were not often enough to put him on medication. Last but not least we had a Golden Retriever with seizures and she too was on phenobarbital for many many years before she passed at age 17. Again we tested her liver every year. All my dogs would ALWAYS come right out of the seizure. I never noticed any desire to go drink. Remember 100% control of the seizures even on medication is not probable, so do not get discouraged. I was very lucky with my Husky when we got her on the 12 hour schedule she was nearly completely controlled. Every single drug in the world CAN have side effects, it does not mean they will. Good luck with your dog.
Seizures in our four-legged friends are often frightful to witness. The dog can become disoriented for hours or days. Just like human seizures, the canine variety, which is also referred to as canine epilepsy, has a main cause and temporary treatments.
Types
Dogs can experience a number of different types of seizures, which are divided into three main classes: Generalized seizures, which can further be divided into Grand Mal or Tonic-Clonic seizures and Petit Mal, Partial or Focal seizures and Status Epilepticus.
In a Grand Mal seizure, an electrical surge in the brain appears everywhere at once and comes in five main stages: 1) Aura, the time before a seizure when a dog can sense its coming. This is characterized by restlessness, anxiety, a "blank" expression or overly affectionate behavior. 2) Prodrome, post-aura and pre-seizure when the dog becomes still and loses consciousness. 3) Ictus, the actual event. A period of timed contractions following an increase in muscle tone. Chomping of the laws, "running" of the extremities, facial twitching, stiffness, heavy drooling, the emptying of bowels or bladder and pupil changes all are signs. 4) Post-Ictus, the stage immediately following a seizure. This can last minutes, hours or days and is characterized by blindness, ataxia, confusion, depression and fatigue. 5) Interictus, the dog should be fully recovered and exhibiting normal behavior.
A Partial Seizure (Focal) affects only part of the brain, but is able, in some cases, to expand into a Grand Mal. An underlying disease or injury will be highly suspected as the cause. In a Simple Focal, consciousness is preserved and the area of the brain affected is that which controls movement. In a Complex Focal, consciousness is altered and the area of the brain affected is that which controls behavior. This is also called a psychomotor seizure.
The most severe type of seizure disorder in dogs is the Status Epilepticus. These often can go on for 30 minutes or more or as cluster seizures without any periods of normal behavior. One outcome of Status is irreparable brain damage.
Causes
Breeds of dogs such as Beagles, Belgian Tervurens, British Alsatians, Collies, Dachshunds, Golden Retrievers, Keeshonds and Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to canine epilepsy than other breeds because of genetic factors, but there can also be internal causes. Brain tumors, liver disease, a severe worm infestation, cancer and a poor diet that throws blood sugar levels off course are just a few of these.
What To Do During a Seizure
During an episode, there are "Dos" and "Do Nots" of caring for a seizing dog. Stay calm, relax and make sure your dog cannot hurt himself, but do not restrain your dog. Many vets believe the dogs are not in pain so let her seize, but make sure to keep hands and other pets away. Dogs experience loss of control over snapping jaws and flailing limbs.
Treatment
Quite a few treatments are now available for canine epilepsy. Whether you gravitate toward narcotic treatments, homeopathic remedies, home solutions or a mix of all three, there are plenty of choices.
Home remedies include giving your dog honey (1tsp for small pets, 1 tbsp for large pets); Breyers all natural vanilla ice cream (1 tsp for small, 1 tbsp for medium, 2 tbsp for large dogs); and keeping him on a healthy, balanced diet. Home cooking is generally recommended, but if not possible, you can feed your dog Flint River Ranch or Azmira pet foods.
Oh my gosh I am so sorry to hear that!!!
I think you might want to call the vets and ask them what to do for your poor buddy. I hope everything turns out okay
I would take her to the vet and be like "Just tell me what to do...do I need medicine or what?" I'm no expert but that's what I would do. Good luck! I'm so sorry!