[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

[CorkyMax]

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!

[CorkyMax]

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.

[CorkyMax]

"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.

[CorkyMax]

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.

[Lara's mom]

I'd be looking for a new vet PRONTO!!!

[anifunk1962]

My 3-year-old Jack Russell had a seizure yesterday evening. He has no risk factors.

• He has been on a raw diet for 6 months.
• He had not had any vaccinations for a couple of years.
• He doesn't get flea and tick medications.
• We use natural cleaning products.
• We don't give him people food that we know is harmful to dogs.

He had an obvious grand mal seizure about an hour after he ate canned mackerel, raw egg, raw chicken liver and gizzard yesterday evening. My 6-year-old dog ate the same thing and was fine. The Jack Russell was fine after the seizure and has been acting normally ever since.

Both dogs were outside for about 1-1/2 hours before eating, roaming around, playing and eating whatever they could find on the ground.

I'm very puzzled about what could have caused the seizure and have been racking my brain, trying to figure it out. I have been thinking about switching from a raw diet to Innova Evo because I don't know if the raw diet is good for them and because it is expensive, but I've heard so many negatives about "kibble" so I don't know what to do.

I'm wondering if Vito (the Jack Russell) could have eaten a toxic plant or something else outside that could have caused a hopefully solitary seizure. ??? He once ate some weeds I was pulling from the garden and acted "high" or "spacy" all evening but then was fine the next day.

I've seen lots of grand mal seizures because my husband has them but every seizure, no matter how many you've seen or who has them, is very scary. And I can't help but wonder if he's going to have another one.

[CorkyMax]

I imagine you have already checked things out on the web--Don't know what words you put in your browser--I put: seizures/dogs/food related----and also : seizures/dogs/causes--in my browser. A lot there to read. Don't think this incident had anything to do with feeding raw--suppose to be a good thing for dogs who have seizures and the commercial stuff with PRESERVATIVES is suppose to be bad! What do you feed for raw---ratio of meat(protein), carbs, including veggies and how you feed the vegs (pulverized?) some fats, supplements, etc---Typical day's menu? There are a lot of things that can cause seizures including diseases, injuries--esp. brain and the injury doesn't have to have just happened, blood sugar drop, brain diseases, and epilepsy. I would put dogs/epilepsy in my browser too. Hopefully this is just a 1 time thing and may of been caused by something the dog got into outside. If more happen, you will of coure have it checked by a vet and will find out what is going on.

[anifunk1962]

My dogs eat mostly chicken. They usually eat chicken necks in the morning and then chicken quarters (Vito gets the leg) or hamburger around 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Once a week, they get canned mackerel, a raw egg and organ meat (usually chicken liver or gizzard). They eat lettuce stems, celery bits and carrot bits when I'm making a salad but I don't usually feed them much vegetable stuff because I've read that dogs don't digest vegetables well.

Vito (the dog who had the seizure) has been acting normally since the seizure. We're watching him closely and if he has another one, we'll have to take him to the vet. Hopefully, it was a freak thing and doesn't happen again but it is really puzzling to me.

[Yogi]

any mushrooms growing in the yard?

[anifunk1962]

Originally Posted by Yogi

any mushrooms growing in the yard?

There could be but I'm not sure. We live in a damp and wooded area. Do mushrooms cause seizures?

[CorkyMax]

Mushroom poisoning occurs as a result of ingesting toxic mushrooms. Not all mushrooms are poisonous, but each type of poisonous mushroom can cause different signs of illness. Poisonous mushrooms are classified into four main categories, based on the clinical signs they cause, or into seven categories, based on the toxins they contain. The onset of clinical signs may occur anywhere from minutes to hours following ingestion.

Mushroom toxicity is most commonly associated with curious puppies.

What to Watch For



Vomiting

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain

Lethargy

Jaundice (yellow skin color)

Seizures

Coma

Excess salivation

Diagnosis

When poisonous mushroom ingestion is suspected, initial blood tests are done to evaluate the overall health of the dog.

High liver and kidney enzymes may be seen 24 to 48 hours after ingestion of certain mushrooms, together with low blood sugar and blood potassium levels.

Also see new thread I just entered on Poisonous mushrooms and dogs.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by anifunk1962

There could be but I'm not sure. We live in a damp and wooded area. Do mushrooms cause seizures?

Moist wooded areas is a common place for mushrooms to grow. Like snail and slug bait, the ingredients are toxic to dogs who ingest them, which leads to neurological issues including seizures. Dogs in general will eat just about anything so best you check the area for mushrooms and eliminate them. Not to mention they are a fungus which is simply bad for dogs.

[anifunk1962]

My son said there were mushrooms or something that looked like mushrooms in our yard at one time but he wasn't sure if they are still there. Vito will eat just about anything. The weird thing, though, is that he had no other gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting, except that he had black, sort of runny stools sometime during the night after the seizure. He's been completely normal ever since the seizure but I'm kind of paranoid now and watch him more closely, especially when we're outside.

I talked to my friend, who is a 3rd year vet student, about it, and he said it was a good sign that he recovered from the seizure so quickly and didn't have any other signs. He also said that, since Vito is only 3 years old, it's not likely to be from chronic disease. He said most vets would say to observe the dog and if he has another one in 6 months or so, to get him checked. He also said that's its possible that he won't have another one.

I just don't get it. I can't see how a dog can just have a random seizure. Something had to cause it. The vet student didn't think the caffeine in the Swiss Mocha could have caused it. So I'm still very puzzled.

Thank you to everyone who is trying to help me figure this one out.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by anifunk1962

My son said there were mushrooms or something that looked like mushrooms in our yard at one time but he wasn't sure if they are still there. Vito will eat just about anything. The weird thing, though, is that he had no other gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting, except that he had black, sort of runny stools sometime during the night after the seizure. He's been completely normal ever since the seizure but I'm kind of paranoid now and watch him more closely, especially when we're outside.

I talked to my friend, who is a 3rd year vet student, about it, and he said it was a good sign that he recovered from the seizure so quickly and didn't have any other signs. He also said that, since Vito is only 3 years old, it's not likely to be from chronic disease. He said most vets would say to observe the dog and if he has another one in 6 months or so, to get him checked. He also said that's its possible that he won't have another one.

I just don't get it. I can't see how a dog can just have a random seizure. Something had to cause it. The vet student didn't think the caffeine in the Swiss Mocha could have caused it. So I'm still very puzzled.

Thank you to everyone who is trying to help me figure this one out.

You do not always get full symptoms from mushrooms. Being that the dog had a seizure and diarrhea confirms that in all likelihood it was something that he ate. In this case, odds are mushrooms and not enough to bring on all of the symptoms. Good luck.