[puppylove2009]

Causes of Seizures in dogs? What are signs that a seizure has been triggered?
Okay the vet can't see her today but has her set up for an appointment.

My Terrier mix is a year and a half old. (She is believed to have Jack russell Terrier and Chihuahua in her but we don't know what else.)

She is about 21 lbs.

Today she had what I learned was a seizure.

Here is what happened:

We were sitting here on the couch. I got a phone call and I'm about to hang up after about 10 minutes and next thing I know my terrier is trying to get behind me.She then lays down on me almost like she just collapsed. She was shaking like shivering or scared and she is now in my lap, ears back all submissive. She kept looking up eyes fixed on something I thought me. And I couldn't get her to calm down.

Her breathing became rapid, and then as the shaking slowed down she began to pant hard. After the shaking stopped she tried to get up but laid back down again. A minute or 2 later she got up and went to the corner and she won't leave that corner. I know she is scared. I'm scared too.

The whole episode lasted maybe 2 minutes. But it seemed like forever.

The first time she did this, I thought she was spooked, it didn't last as long and then she went over to the corner as she did now.

The second time I got suspicious.

This time I was pretty sure what happened so I called my mom immediately.

She currently has a dog that has seizures and she had one in the past that did.

She suggested to call the vet but her vet told her there wasn't much he could do to treat her dog. But her dog is really really small, 4 lbs.

Anyways she confirmed what Sasha did is exactly what godiva does.

So Now I am terrified, I'm just waiting for the vet visit.

I'm scared to leave her, what if it happens again and I'm not here.

And I keep thinking, why her? Why my dog? Why my special girl?

I'm so scared right now. I don't know who is more scared at the moment.

Anyways thanks for the insight you can give.

Again we have an appointment but he can't see her today.


She is the sweetest, calmest, and happiest dog in the world


This is my beautiful Girl , oh and please keep her in your thoughts and prayers

[Corky/Max]

Just recently posted about seizures to another member 2 days ago! Her dog was later diagnosed with liver shunts but the info is still in that thread about seizures! Go to the Dog Health and Nutrition section/forum---It will be the thread titled: What could be wrong, please help. (Title has a blue question mark in front of it) Quite a lot there--Hope it answers some of your questions!

[Corky/Max]

Canine Epilepsy and Dog Seizures Table of Contents - Canine Epilepsy Guardian Angels

Animal Epilepsy/Seizure - Causes, Predisposing Factors and Treatment
Dee Blanco, D.V.M - "You take healthy animals and often very quickly after you vaccinate, you can see simple things like itching of the skin or excessive licking of the paws, sometimes even with no eruptions. We see a lot of epilepsy/seizure, often after a rabies vaccination. Or dogs or cats can become aggressive for several days. Frequently, you'll see urinary tract infections in cats, often within three months after their [annual] vaccination. If you step back, open your mind and heart, you'll start to see patterns of illness post-vaccination."

Magnesium Deficiency and Your Animal's Health Holistic veterinarian Roger DeHaan, DVM states that some forms of epilepsy respond to supplementation of vitamin B6, magnesium, and manganese.

William Pollak D.V.M. - "The most common direct cause of seizures seen in clinical practice in our pets is parasitic infection combined with nutritional deficiencies based on 100% commercial pet food feeding

[Lunareclipse]

You can also look on youtube for epileptic dogs and see if that is how your dog looked. I will be getting Luna from a shelter this weekend. She has epliapsy. Her's is diagnosed as genetic. Saint Bernards are prone to genetic seizures. I can't believe the vet wouldn't see your dog that day. No way he can be sooo busy that he can't make time for a siezing dog. My vet would stay after hours to make sure he sees a dog with such symptoms. And don't be scared. If your dog has seizures, the best thing to do is to remain calm. Put a pillow under your dog's head so he doesn't hit his head on the floor and talk to your puppy. If the dog feels that you are scared or upset, it may think that it is doing something wrong. You want to ensure your dog that it is ok and it is not doing anything wrong.

[Corky/Max]

"Feeding a natural raw food diet is vital to not only maintaining the health of your pet, but also keeping ideal immune function alive and well. Many times after eliminating seizures through improving the diet, seizures return after commercial pet food is re-instituted. "

"Today's modern approach to dealing with these problems is the administration of more chemicals, injectable or otherwise and even greater processed "prescription" diets. Seizures are masked by giving chemicals that profoundly dull the CNS, slowing it down and confusing it so as to reduce the likelihood of another seizure. These chemicals oftentimes do not work and further confuse the biological system as already described earlier. The underlying imbalance is not directly addressed. Deranged metabolic disorders due to chemical shortages or imbalances are superficially addressed by further limitations in the diet; i.e.even more severely processed foods.

Should of given you the below info before the web address in above post!! The below describes that web site !!

Here is another website that provides additional information on canine epilepsy and other diseases that cause seizures in dogs including canine hypothyroidism. Their canine epilepsy section provides information about canine epilepsy, what happens when your dog has a seizure, possible causes of seizures by age, what tests are used to diagnose canine epilepsy, and information from our Guardian Angels on what they would do differently "if they knew then what they know now." Under medications you will find information a number of medications that are used to control seizures in dogs. Those medications include the more commonly used Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide as well as newer drugs such as Gabapentin and Felbamate. The section on thyroid contains several articles on canine hypothyroidism and the connection between low thyroid and seizures.

[Corky/Max]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

You can also look on youtube for epileptic dogs and see if that is how your dog looked. I will be getting Luna from a shelter this weekend. She has epliapsy. Her's is diagnosed as genetic. Saint Bernards are prone to genetic seizures. I can't believe the vet wouldn't see your dog that day.I (Corky/Max) thought that was 'bad' too and also couldn't believe that the vet--Do you--Puppylove--have the same vet as your mom??---Could not believe that her vet told her that he couldn't do anything for your mom's dog!! Sounds like you need another vet (and your mom too) No way he can be sooo busy that he can't make time for a siezing dog. My vet would stay after hours to make sure he sees a dog with such symptoms. And don't be scared. If your dog has seizures, the best thing to do is to remain calm. Put a pillow under your dog's head so he doesn't hit his head on the floor and talk to your puppy. If the dog feels that you are scared or upset, it may think that it is doing something wrong. You want to ensure your dog that it is ok and it is not doing anything wrong.

Lol, was just going to go over to other thread where I pasted info on seizures before and paste these 2 posts for you to see!! That address tells it all I think!

Lunarclipse--Keep us posted on your new arrival---everything about her!!

[Lunareclipse]

I will keep you guys posted. Luna seems like such a sweet puppy.

[puppylove2009]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

You can also look on youtube for epileptic dogs and see if that is how your dog looked. I will be getting Luna from a shelter this weekend. She has epliapsy. Her's is diagnosed as genetic. Saint Bernards are prone to genetic seizures. I can't believe the vet wouldn't see your dog that day. No way he can be sooo busy that he can't make time for a siezing dog. My vet would stay after hours to make sure he sees a dog with such symptoms. And don't be scared. If your dog has seizures, the best thing to do is to remain calm. Put a pillow under your dog's head so he doesn't hit his head on the floor and talk to your puppy. If the dog feels that you are scared or upset, it may think that it is doing something wrong. You want to ensure your dog that it is ok and it is not doing anything wrong.

The doctor explained from what I described it wasn't a life threatening seizure, it wasn't a grand mal. She didn't stop breathing, she didn't pass out. Being that its not a frequent thing, he wanted to set up an appointment where he can run all the necissary tests. I agreed that it didn't have to be that moment. Because she had had 2 of these in the past. When I said she was sleeping, I was told not to disturb her.

So we are going in for tests, he said it didn't have to be right away but in the next few days. He said they probably won't medicate her unless it becomes a life threatening thing. She is going in Monday, because that is when my husband gets paid. And the doc agreed that would be okay as long as she is back to her old self. BUT IF SHE HAS ANOTHER SEIZURE, she is to go in immediately.

This is not my Regular Vet by the way, its someone my mother recommended that specializes in this.

I may just take her to my regular vet anyway.




Oh and regarding Raw Diet whoever brought that up. Not an option. First of all I can't afford to feed two different diets. I've already been advised against feeding my other dog a raw diet, several times. Second, I'm pregnant and I vomit everytime I get near raw meat. I can't even cook right now.

Also we feed an excellent quality food. We feed California Naturals, from the same makers of Innova. I swear by Naturapet products. We will be continuing with kibble. And I can't beat 27 dollars a month for food. 1 bag lasts us a month. We also don't have the space to do raw. We live in a teeny apartment with a very small freezer. We are going to be sticking with good quality kibble

[puppylove2009]

SHE SEIZED AGAIN about a half hour ago



Okay I called our regular vet when this happened, ready to take her in, and he doesn't want to see her until she has had 4 seizures in a 30 day period. He wants me to log everything that happens when it happens. What she was doing, how long it lasts, what she had eaten. Everything.

He says that will help know what triggered it.

Strange he didn't want to see her after having 2 back to back.



They also mentioned it could be trembling due to low blood sugar. So set her out some food.



Um this is really scary. they said if it is seizures being that she is so young she may have been having them her whole life they just weren't strong enough to notice.

If she has more than 4 in a 30 day period they want to run a test for epilepsy.





Should I cancel the other vet appointment and stick with the regular vet that she sees and we know and trust?





What happened was we were sitting in the living room and she got extra snuggly and tried to get behind me again. I got up to make some toast and next thing I know she is on the ground trembling again. Fully conscious, still walking around but acted terrified.



I'm wondering if because she focuses so much on that tv if the flashes are triggering this?

[Lunareclipse]

A lot of dogs can sense when they are going to have a seizure. Watch her reaction and see if she does the same thing everytime before her seizures. Like come to you, goes and lays down in a particular corner, ect... Then maybe you can be prepared before she actually has one. Remember not to be scared. The dog can't help it. If this is going to be a continual thing, you will get used to it.