openarms Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 (edited) My friends dog just had a seizure his head started turning in an awkard position and jerking and his front paws were curled up and his back legs were going straight and stiff. It lasted about a minute or 2. What on earth causes seizures in a dog? Should we worry? What needs to be done now? Will he be ok? HELP! We thought he was going to die.. ! Edited May 12, 2006 by openarms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBella Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 If he's never had seizures take to an afterhours vet. Could be a minor problem or some sort of head injury. If he's had one seizure he could have more. What is his general health like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidoney Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 (edited) He should recover pretty well ... be groggy for a while ... keep an eye out for more seizures though ... if all seems OK, take dog to a vet in the morning for assessment and treatment. If things not OK, get assessment sooner. I remember when my Cattle dog bitch (lived until she was 16) had her first one ... scared me so much! Thought she was dying! Edited May 12, 2006 by sidoney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openarms Posted May 12, 2006 Author Share Posted May 12, 2006 Fine healthy as can be, he's 9 years old but as fit and energetic as a 2 year old. So can a dog just have an isololated seizure and never have another and be totally fine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBella Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Not sure about dogs, I'm more of an expert on human ailments! sidoney reckons wait till morning. Has he got a temperature or any signs he is ill - apart from being groggy which is normal after a seizure? Looks like someone will have to keep a close eye on him overnight. Actually, you might be best to ring a vet and ask them what they suggest.. If he was mine we would already be at the afterhours clinic but I've never had a dog having seizures just people :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openarms Posted May 12, 2006 Author Share Posted May 12, 2006 do you know of a vet that would be open to ask right now?? I dont otherwise i would! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidoney Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 (edited) My dog had late onset epilepsy ... wasn't much you could do about individual seizures, just let the dog recover and keep an eye on it, but she went on a management programme that got them mostly under control. A bit of twiddling about to get the medication levels right. Seizures can be caused by other things than epilepsy, eg. brain injuries, tumour, high temperature. They can come in single episodes that settle down, or they can come in groups or "clusters". I was lucky, my dog tended to have only one, although at her worst she'd have more than one in a day. As she got older she tended to have petit mals rather than grand mals. But more of them. If the dog is settled and all signs seem fine then I'd let it be for the evening and get it assessed in the morning. If otherwise, I'd take it to the vet. That said, I found the whole thing scary at first but got used to it over the years and so individual seizures didn't freak me out any more. There is a 24 hour vet at Baulkham Hills I've used but don't know about Penrith way. Yellow Pages? Sometimes the local vet will have an after hours number on a recorded message at their normal number. Edited May 12, 2006 by sidoney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBella Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Yellow pages search comes up with Coreen Avenue Veterinary Clinic Caring For Pets Like Family With Quality Loving Care PO Box 798 Penrith NSW 2750 ph: (02) 4731 3055 as AH and hospital Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longclaw Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 (edited) Hi openarms, when I lived in Sydney the vets had an after hours service (this is in the inner-west, don't know anyone out your way). The answering machine on your regular vet's number should have a mob number or something for the vet on call tonight. They will be able to ask for and identify warning signs and tell you if it's anything to worry about or if it can wait til morning. I hope he'll be ok :D Edited May 12, 2006 by Longclaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBella Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Seizures can be caused by other things than epilepsy, eg. brain injuries, tumour, high temperature. Exactly the same as people except dogs obviously don't get high blood pressure. I can ring the AH vet in Canberra if you have no luck. They will know how to find one in another area I should think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidoney Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 (edited) Emergency vet Baulkham Hills or Strathfield. The Coreen Ave one specifies for established clients only. See how the dog is before you go driving it across half of Sydney in the middle of the night. Another 24 hour one, at North Ryde: Veterinary Specialist Centre Cnr Delhi & Plassey Roads North Ryde, NSW 2113 Phone: 02 9888 9800 Fax: 02 9888 9338 Edited May 12, 2006 by sidoney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openarms Posted May 12, 2006 Author Share Posted May 12, 2006 Thankyou Sid will call them now.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidoney Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Any updates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBella Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 That was my next question too? How's it going?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Ren Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 oh god i hope the darling is ok :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trishm Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 Cats can suffer from high blood pressure, so I presume dogs dan too. Trish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Heart Aussies Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 I have been through the whole seizure experience with my old kelpie x who suddenly developed them about age 9. It was tough, very distressing. She was sent for some brain test, I forget now it was so long ago but it was all clear. She would get them in clusters, normally in the colder weather and normally at ungodly hours of the morning (when her body was in complete rested state). Eventually she was put on the meds and once we had them downpat things seemed to settle down. The thing that makes then so frightening is they come from NO WHERE and in our case the dog would be effected significantly pacing and panting, confused and blinded for about 20-30 min after each episode. Sometimes she would go months without a seizures, other times she would have 2 or 3 in a three week period. I do remember my Vet saying it is unusual for a dog to develop 'epilepsy' at an older age, normally they get it before they are 5 so the seizures can be the cause of something else. We never found out what in our case, just learnt how to manage them. It takes a dedicated owner, especially if/when they go on meds. In the end we lost our girl to a sezisure about 3 years after she first started to get them, she just went into one and the Vet came and got her, tooko her back but couldn't stop them and had to put her under anasthetic to stop it. Unfortunately she never woke up and just as we were deciding to put her to sleep she went away on her own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHIHTZUSHELL Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 low sugar can cause it too. ask the vet to check for that! some dogs can suffer diebetes at later ages.exspceily if they have always been alittle over wieght. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 If your friend needs any support there are many DOLers with epileptic dogs. My Monte is an epileptic. He has been seizure free since Feb (fingers crossed). Staffy-lover also has an epileptic dog and a few others I can't think of right now. I have had Monte to the Specialist Centre at Ryde just recently.... expensive (over $200 just for a consult and nothing else!) but they are certainly worth it for their expertise. They have a specialist Neurologist who is an expert on canine epilepsy. Your best bet is to let the vet see him. No need for emergency a/hours visit unless he continues to seizure or shows other symptoms that are life threatening. I recommend that you video the episode, if possible, to help the vet with his diagnosis. The only thing you need to do while he is having a seizure is to make sure he can't injure himself and that he doesn't overheat. Make sure he is on th efloor in the clear of anything that can fall on him. Sit with him to reassure him. He may, as someone has already mentioned, bump into things as if he is blind and be very disorientated after the seizure. Again, you should just ensure he can't hurt himself and doesn't overheat. PM me if you like with any queries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHIHTZUSHELL Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 remember dogs don't know they have had one so it dose bother them to much when it happens cuddle them close so they are safe talk kindly and watch there toung they don't swollow it normal but just what out for it .my nans dogs was diagnose with epolepsy at a verry young age she is now 14 some times they have had to change the dose ....low sugar can cause them sometimes to even if they r not dietbetic if there has been no other explaination if your dog is a fuss eater and hasn't eaten much and has been very active it could burn thier sugar levels up.ucould try mixing somesugar water and suring a small amount down there throut to bost the levels. malt seem to get sceizers also (still think they r a good breed) but been a dog groomer it seems to be more comon in malts then other breeds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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