Epilepsy...

[17th Angel]

It looks like one of my dogs (Dizzy) is epileptic(sp) she has had two majorly violent looking fits today.... I am told by the vets and by the websites I am looking at currently that the dog doesn't feel any pain and shuts off... It is so scary and very upsetting.... The first fit happened just as I came home.. And bless my neighbour I banged on their door and they gave me a lift to the vets! the second happened about 10pm tonight and we rushed her to the 24/7 animal hospital... I delt with the second fit better but still upsetting...

She has had a blood test and should get the results in two days, then if no solution from that she is having an MRI scan... And if no solution from that, then she is simply epileptic... And will be like this for the rest of her life... I am so sad. She is just like a child to me.

I think the main thing I hate about it, is I can do nothing.. I have to simply make sure she is in a safe postion (such as not on top of the stairs) and simply leave her to it....... I was stroking her and calmly calling her name and telling her it will be ok, but the vet said it won't work... Screw that, I am still going to do it.

Anyway... Not sure really why I just shared that... Anyone else out there have to deal with epilepsy in the family home? Be it four legged or two legged member of the family? How do you deal with it?

Says here on one site that full moon fits are not just folklore but have been proven... Well it's the 18th of june and it's a full moon tonight.... And here we are... My poor poor baby Dizzy.

 

[17th Angel]

As I finished this post... Vicky in a distressed tone shouted from upstairs.... 11:55pm has just had another terrible fit on the bed.... :\ *takes deep breath*

 

[juantoo3]

I'm so sorry for you Alex, and I wish I had something to offer to assist. I think I would do as you and love on my baby and try to keep her safe. Beyond that I don't know anything about epilepsy. You and she have my prayers.

 

[greymare]

oh, darling, i have not ever heard of a stafford having epilepsy. How old is she again?? I have a theory but ill pm you about it.

 

[17th Angel]

Thanks guys, was a long sleep deprived night for all.

I have come to an understanding of epilepsy (even though I am not sure if I can spell the word lol.) It lasts in periods of 12 hours... And if the dog/human has one fit or 20 fits that is still just one seizure. And is a situation that happens (in dogs) from the age of 2 - 6 the devlopment of the brain has fully matured to adulthood and this is where the errors can occur, but also it could be heart diesease (heart cutting off oxygen to the brain) It can be liver/kidney/spine/brain damage. So there are many things that can cause it, so waiting for that blood test. May sound strange but I hope it is a diesase that shows up in the blood test, as all these troubles can be cured. Or it can be a tumour/lump on the brain, which can be picked up from the MRI scan.. And that too can be cured, simply by removing it in surgery... And if it isn't any of them, like I said it is just a "mystery" and cannot be cured...

It seems to be random on how many seizurs a dog will have, it can be one a month, one every three months, one a year and sometimes just a one off(please be this one.)

But when an animal has a seziure dog/human it is a state of comatose...(sp lol) and the creature is totally unaware of what is happening. So it wakes with no idea what has happened.

At about 3:30am she had her final fit, and an hour later of nursing and cuddling and watering and feeding her she slipped off to sleep and we shut our eyes waiting for her next outburst(it kept happening when she went to sleep, and that is one of the many times when seizurez occur when the animal is relaxed or sleeping)

Luckily it never came and woke at 8am and she seems poistivie and friendly and our boy Taz doesn't seem sheepish anymore and is back to his self, was disturbed by Dizzy's fits.. Now just to see what will happen next..

I. need. sleep.

Saw a CURE (Citizens United Reseach for Epilepsy) advert "They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice, for a child with epilepsy it can strike hundreds of times a day." That's very sad...

 

[path_of_one]

Get a vet that can get her on the right meds, Alex. I had a dog with epilepsy throughout my childhood and it lived a normal lifespan and rarely had a seizure. It was on anti-seizure medication and we dosed it (I think, it was a long time ago) twice per day with the pills in a piece of meat or cheese. The dog was kept seizure-free and lived to ten years old, which is a good span for a Samoyed. He was happy and healthy.

My handicapped uncle also has epilepsy, but his is harder to control, in part due to his many other medical problems.

Don't worry too much- it is a very distressing condition to watch, but it is quite treatable (though not curable) and epileptic dogs can (and do!) have normal, healthy lives!

Blessings to you... I know how worrying illnesses with our "babies" can be,
Kim

 

[17th Angel]

Thanks so much for the post Kim! The vet gave her a shot of diazepam but not in a high dose as medication. Medication can help but if you have to go onto the dail medications for sezieures it hits the liver/kidneys hard.

We have loads of diazepam(valium) pills and basically to give her these as we feel fit, but we are attempting to use as little as possible, such as before she sleeps and if we go out for a little while and she will be alone. As the body grows a tolerance (more than other drugs) to Diazepam.

Yeah I think I am getting calmer and being able to deal with the fits, though they look very distressing. She has only had one fit today, so that is good.

The other thing our normal vet said (first time we got to see him.) He looooves staffys!) That he had a poodle that lived for 16 years and only ever had two fits so this week of diazepam is to aid and comfort her and then next week, I hope she is back to herself.....

I am so sorry to hear about your uncle, that must be quite hard to look after and care for him, My thoughts go to your uncle

 

[path_of_one]

Thanks, Alex. I'll ask my dad if he remembers what they gave Shaunroy (the Samoyed). I don't think it was the med you have, but I'll check.

I've heard that in most dogs the seizures settle down far less regularly after the initial start-up, and they usually become more or less regular on a longer basis so you kind of have an idea of what's coming and how to handle it.

My uncle is severely mentally and physically handicapped- in a wheelchair (can't walk at all) and sort of like being ten years old forever. I don't know the whole story, but he got a very high fever as a child combined with (I think, not sure) polio. And he already had epilepsy. He is a real inspiration, though. He just has this pure love for people and God that is very humbling. It's the faith of a child. And he's so patient with his illnesses and all the pain he's had (lots of surgeries, lots of broken bones due to weakness, etc.). He brings out the best in people- people smile at him, they help him, they listen more closely to him.

He shares an incredible gift with the world, in his own way.

 

[wil]

I had a friend whose wife dealt with this. For her she said she never felt anything, hardly remembered anything during a seizure. However for us it was always troubling. For him, he got used to just catching her, laying her down and insuring her airway was clear.

The worst times were in public when we were out and about and acting up, becuase security and police and others would often think she was drunker than we and that was the deal. Which made us beligerent and creating a scene..

Quite the deal, my heart goes out to your and yours.

 

[17th Angel]

I had a friend whose wife dealt with this. For her she said she never felt anything, hardly remembered anything during a seizure. However for us it was always troubling. For him, he got used to just catching her, laying her down and insuring her airway was clear.

The worst times were in public when we were out and about and acting up, becuase security and police and others would often think she was drunker than we and that was the deal. Which made us beligerent and creating a scene..

Quite the deal, my heart goes out to your and yours.

Wil thank you so much... And mine to your friend and his family... Yes it is said and I know understand that it is the ones that love the person/dog with epilepsy that are the most distressed as the seizure is a coma sort of fit you shut off 100% and the person/dog is no longer there and has no idea what is going on.

The only main issue I have with it, is obviously it damages the brain and its system (only minor) but it still causes damage.... And yes that is all that you can and need to do, once the fit starts boom make sure the person/dog is in a 100% safe location, we have installed two baby gates on the stairs and she is no longer alowed access to them without an escort.

I have found that stroking and calling gentley to the person/dog actually can prolong the seizure. It sends more message to the nerve system, so our new tactic is make sure she is in a safe position, turn off the lights and be silent and monitor/time the seizure, with not physical contact. Not sure if swallong the tongue is true in humans? I know it is a myth in dogs.

Thanks, Alex. I'll ask my dad if he remembers what they gave Shaunroy (the Samoyed). I don't think it was the med you have, but I'll check.

Sorry me and my names... You may know it as Valium?

I've heard that in most dogs the seizures settle down far less regularly after the initial start-up, and they usually become more or less regular on a longer basis so you kind of have an idea of what's coming and how to handle it.

Speaking with my vet today and again doing my indepth reseach it really depends on what the problem is that is causing the seizure in the person/dog. And Tomorrow our blood results come back that will eliminate (or not) a possible fifteen diferent causes.

My uncle is severely mentally and physically handicapped- in a wheelchair (can't walk at all) and sort of like being ten years old forever. I don't know the whole story, but he got a very high fever as a child combined with (I think, not sure) polio. And he already had epilepsy. He is a real inspiration, though. He just has this pure love for people and God that is very humbling. It's the faith of a child. And he's so patient with his illnesses and all the pain he's had (lots of surgeries, lots of broken bones due to weakness, etc.). He brings out the best in people- people smile at him, they help him, they listen more closely to him.

He shares an incredible gift with the world, in his own way.

Yes, yes he does And I think it is great that you see his gift. That is very touching, I am sincere...(even though I cannot spell it.)

I have a cousin who is not in such a simular condition but he is 36 with a mental age of 14. He is a very warm heated friendly soul... And I have found from meeting people with such issues and illnesses and problems and such that they are the most loving and happy people you could wish to meet... I met a child, that has such a terrible Condition... He shall not live to be an adult, but he will live a full life. The smile that he offers... Amazing. And it strikes me dumb... If that is the right phrase how uplifting and positive people in these situations are. That is ofcourse only from my experience with people I know/met.

Again my prayers are with yourt uncle.... God bless him.