[QUOTE=Beckham03;6872615]
Poor girl…the look in here eyes says seizure to me. I hope you find a neurologist soon. Where are you located?[/QUOTE]
Near Charlotte, NC I can’t figure out if it is a look of “pain” or out of it because at times she will respond and look at me during them. She also isn’t locking her jaw during them (why I stuck my finger in her mouth to check) so to me it doesn’t feel like a classic seizure. I’m glad they don’t happen often definitely not fun for either of us.
I wouldnt change anything before seeing a neurologist. usually waiting time is VERY short (you can usually make an appointment within the week). Its imperative that a baseline is seen/discussed before changes are implamented. Changes can certainly be made, but ensure your neurologist is on board or at least has knowledge about everything. Its not like a surgery where you go in, get it fixed and its all better - expect a lifetime relationship with this doctor. Not necessarily meaning constant diagnostics (or any at all), but trending in neurology is EXTREMELY important. Best of luck and I hope you get some relief for your dog!
Many different types of seizures and you do not always loose consciousness with them and can easily be aroused from them. OR, it could be something else and NOT a seizure - but really the only one who can decide that is the neurologist 
If you can, try to get video of your dog during an episode.
Wow!!! That video shows EXACTLY what my Pyrenes does!! An yes, I did give him some scraps and a better dog food!! Thanks for the input!!!
So much interesting feedback! Crosscreeksh have you every tried giving diazepam during an episode?
[QUOTE=Kwalker024;6873784]
So much interesting feedback! Crosscreeksh have you every tried giving diazepam during an episode?[/QUOTE]
No medication has been given to my dog for this problem!! I just sent my vet the link to the syndrome description!!! My vet offered NO treatment suggestions or explanations!! (So much for rural Ok. vet expertise!) My dog’s episodes are usually months apart ad last only a few minutes. I basically offer comfort/petting/soothing until they pass. When it stops…he gets up and walks away. No lingering effects!! I have always noticed (I’m an RN) that there is no rapid eye movement, convusing or stiffening…this syndrome description explains that very well. http://www.borderterrier-cecs.com/index.htm
My 8 year old Chesapeake hasn’t had a seizure in 15 months - since I changed her food to one that has no chicken in it. Coincidence? Possibly, but whatever works… I changed her food NOT because of the seizures, but she stopped eating and would get sick after eating so through trial and error, voila! No chicken, no not eating, no puking and no seizures!!
My thoughts are that a knowledgeable dog owner has the edge in figuring things out by first hand observation!! According to the link I provided, the diet should be gluten free, low protein, avoid dairy, eggs, soy, beef, corn and rice. My dog will not eat beef, anyway!! He will only eat chicken!! Go figure. This thread has really been informative, though…at least I have a good idea that “this” CECS is my dog’s problem, not his brain!! Thanks guys.
[QUOTE=Kwalker024;6864981]
Hi everyone looking for some advice on canine seizures and I will warn this is kind of long but I’m not sure what to do.
I have a female lab mix that is a rescue and about 5 years old and 20 pounds. Last year around April she and I were sitting in the bedroom she was sleeping while I did some paper work. She went from laying on her side to the sternal position and without out warning started rhythmically rocking side to side. At first I didn’t know what she was doing as I was behind her and only after it went on for about a minute did I go over to investigate. This is when I noticed it seemed like her back end had locked up on her and was having what felt like a spasm. So I picked her up to try and assist her and the what I thought was a spasm continued. During this time she had what I thought was a pained look on her face and after about 2 minutes I went to sit her down to grab things to head to the vet and that’s when she really seemed to lose control of her back end and scramble. This continued for about 2 minutes and by the time I got her to the vet 1.5 miles away it was over and she was acting normal.
The vet examined her and took blood work and everything came back fine. Vet chalked it up to it was maybe a seizure but maybe something else and to keep an eye on her.
That evening we decided to go to dinner and took her with us and while at dinner sitting under the table again her back end seemed to lock up and her body tensed and she started rhythmically rocking while crouched down with her jaw clenched. This episode lasted 5-6 minutes and we took her to the emergency vet and again by the time we got there she was fine and at that point we hadn’t gotten results from the blood work earlier in the day so the vet recommended waiting for the results, which as I said turned out fine.
She made it about 30 days before having another similar episode that lasted again 5-6 minutes. Then hasn’t had another one until about a month ago.
Roughly a month ago she was resting in the office with me and again woke up and sat up a little and started rhythmically rocking. It lasted 5-7 minutes.
Then this past Tuesday it happened again same situation in the office she was resting I was talking on the phone look down and she had sat up to a sitting position and was crouched down rhythmically rocking. So I picked her up as that has seemed to help before and her body was tense especially her back end with her back legs moving. This one timed in at about 6 minutes.
I’ve been a little concerned as during the past two she has started to pant/gasp especially during the last part of the episode. She has never had what I felt would be what most consider to be a “normal” seizure where she has been completely laid out flailing on the floor. Always, contained to rhythmic rocking, very tense body, crouched down or sternal position rocking, clenched jaw, and sometimes a little drooling. She always bounces back quickly once it stops.
Sorry this is so long but I’m just not sure of what to do from here. I felt like we were doing great as it had been about a year since she has had any. I know technically she could have had one while no one was watching but we are pretty diligent about not leaving her alone. Thankfully, I work a job where she is welcome so she tags along for a lot of things.
The length of time is what is concerning me most. The way I time them is as soon as I notice the rhythmic rocking begin I hit the timer on my phone and stop it when it stops.
Part of me hates to put her on a daily medication for something that seems to affect her only sometimes especially since the medication can be so hard on the body but on the flip side the seizures themselves are concerning too. I’ve thought about getting diazepam and giving it rectally when she has an episode but does that work very quickly?
Part of me is terrified she has a brain tumor or something worse. Maybe an illogical thought but I’ve not had great luck with dogs (my barn dog as a child was hit by a car, senior in high school “my” dog at 4 was diagnosed and died about 6 months later of lymphoma, you get the picture just bad luck) so I’m a bit paranoid of it being the worse. If it were a tumor would the frequency of the seizures increase over time?
Any advice I did speak to our equine vet about her condition as he is always pretty helpful and willing to bounce ideas around with me on animal ailments. He is willing to prescribe the diazepam to us so should I try this route and continue to monitor her? Is it possible seizures can be seasonal? It is about this time last year that she had her first one.
How many a year is too many? Or should I suck it up and take her to a neurologist?
Thanks in advance and again sorry this is so long but it has been weighing heavily on me. I love all my dogs (we have 3!) but I have had her the longest and she has always been close to me and I’m not sure I can deal with another case of bad luck with dogs right now.[/QUOTE]
Any updates on the dog/condition?? I’ve sent this info on to my vet - without response - and I’m very sure that’s the problem with my Great Pyr. Thanks.
If your vet thinks it is seizures and there is no other going on, putting the dog on medication is diagnostic in itself.
If the dog quits having spells, then it probably was epilepsy.
That is how we diagnosed my dog with idiopathic epilepsy.
If you’re near Charlotte OP you have two options for a neurologist. The closest to you is probably also the emergency vet you went to, Carolina Veterinary Specialists. They hav neurologists at both the south Charlotte and Matthews locations. Otherwise NC State is your next bet.
The glassy eyed expression looks a lot like a seizure to me too. I hope she is doing well, and my advice to you is no longer needed, but please please please keep your hands out of and away from her mouth during an episode. She could quickly lose control of her jaw muscles and clamp her teeth on your hand. I would hate for any necessary care she needs to be delayed because you had to go to the ER yourself.
Hey no real update at the moment. She hasn’t had a spell since and we still need to go to the neurologist.
I hesitate to medicate since they happen so infrequently and the medication itself comes with so many potential side affects.
My husband and I run our own business so most days she comes to work with us so I don’t have to worry too much about this happening without anyone present.
We do still plan to go to the neurologist in the near future if for no other reason then to establish a relationship.
Thanks for checking in!
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