My dog just had a seizure!

[Pollito916]

I was bringing her to the groomers (which is also her vet), and as we were going through the entryway, I thought I heard her chewing on something, but she wasn't crunching it like food or treats. So I bent down to pull it out of her mouth, and she collapsed and started shaking, then foaming at the mouth.

I yelled for help, and one of the technicians came and picked her up, said she was having a seizure, and that he would bring her in back to make sure she is ok. I didn't know what was going on. She is a 4 year old Beagle, so she gets excited easily, but nothing like this has ever happened before.

They came back out a few minutes later and told me she was ok and wagging her tail again, but that she had lost control of her bowels, and they wanted to do some blood tests for $150. I didn't know what to do, so I called my mom, because the dog lives with her and my sister. My mom said not to do the blood tests, b/c this has never happened to the dog before, and they are to expensive, but I don't know what to think.

Has anything like this happened to someone else?

 

[ashjohnson80]

oh my! that sounds so scary! nothing like that has happened to me before but if it did I would be so scared!

 

[ericamanda01]

That has happened to our puppy a few times. It is terrifying, I think more so for me than him because I can’t do anything to help him. The first time the vet thought it was just nerves, he was overly excited at the time it happened. The second we had a whole blood work done and it was determined he has epilepsy. He is on medication that we have to give him once a day and he hasn't had one since. They said that the med’s would make him lethargic, but it hasn’t slowed him down one bit. Good luck and I hope you both feel better soon.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Yes, our dog gets seizures. The first time it happened I was out of town and my poor husband had to deal with it, not really even knowing what "it" was. Very scary! Thank goodness you were where you were so someone could tell you what was going on.

We have had bloodwork to rule out other problems and Sheena is on medication for the seizures.

Is there any chance that your dog could have gotten into chocolate or anything else? That's something that could bring on a seizure. I don't know that it would hurt to hold off on the tests and see if it happens again. Could have been stress related, but that's just a guess. Maybe there is a vet on the DIS that can chime in about the tests and the risks of not having them.

 

[lesroi]

Well, I would certainly have the bloodwork done now, to rule out anything. Your dog may have gotten into some chemicals or something, or may have epilepsy.

Our cat had quite a few seizures prior to our moving from St. Louis to Nevada. Oddly, since we moved away from St. Louis, she never did have another one (knock on wood.) We think maybe she was getting into something in the basement or trying to eat bugs!!!

I would definitely get the bloodwork done. I have 4 dogs and a cat and would never even think "Don't do the bloodwork, it's too expensive." You're talking about a 4 year old dog that could live to be 14. Wouldn't you rather know what you are dealing with than not? I could never take the uncertainty, but that is just me.

to your doggy. Hope all turns out well!

Tracy

 

[twinklebug]

Odd that the timing would have been just as you went into the Vet's office. It sounds either like it was brought on by anxiety aggravating an existing condition, or she sniffed something outside as you were bringing her in that she had a bad reaction to - which could be from garden chemicals, certain types of loam, pesticides or even something another dog had rubbed off on the grass after being treated inside.

Did you notice her sniffing or licking anything outside before entering the vets?

 

[Chuck S]

I've had several dogs with seizures, they are frightening if you haven't seen one before. For our last dog, the seizure was triggered by the beeping noise the fire alarm made when the batteries were low and thunderstorms.

You may not know what the trigger actually was, but I would guess, as a previous poster stated, anxiety from the vet visit.

We never put any of them on maintenance meds, but a valium worked well when we saw a seizure starting.

 

[adisneylife4me]

I used to work for our state's Epilepsy Foundation, and you wouldn't believe the amount of calls we would get about canine seizures. Often times they are treated with the same meds as humans. Just like people, most dogs are fine after the seizure is over, but it doesn't make it any less frightening to watch. REMEMBER: Just like people, NEVER put anything in your dog's mouth if another seizure occurs. It's amazing how many people still believe that this should be done for a person!

 

[nucpharm29]

We had a cocker spaniel growing up that had seizures. The first time it happened we thought he was reacting to a bee sting, but it kept happening. Poor thing would all control over his body and would, more often than not, mess on the floor. He ended up having to be medicated daily, don't remember the medication name, but it worked for the most part. Instead of seizing weekly, he was down to maybe once every couple of months.

 

[VSL]

All I know is that I would be terrified and distraught at that happening

I would definitely get the bloodwork done.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would get the bloodwork too.

 

[Pugdog007]

You need to have the bloodwork done.

 

[milkabum]

I'm sorry, but do what's best for the dog. My cousin's dog has had seizures, and that's why he was put down this January Please, do the blood testing - it could save his life and put less stress on his owners.

 

[minnieandmickeymouse]

I would have the bloodwork done also.

 

[Pollito916]

Odd that the timing would have been just as you went into the Vet's office. It sounds either like it was brought on by anxiety aggravating an existing condition, or she sniffed something outside as you were bringing her in that she had a bad reaction to - which could be from garden chemicals, certain types of loam, pesticides or even something another dog had rubbed off on the grass after being treated inside.

Did you notice her sniffing or licking anything outside before entering the vets?

Well, she is a beagle, so all she does is sniff everything all of the time. I hope you are right about one of the triggers.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. She is fine right now, but she did have another seizure when I went to pick her up from the vet. We were just standing at the counter, checking out, when she started acting like she was choking, then collapsed again. They said she was fine the entire time she was there (about 2 hours) so it is weird that it happened just as I picked her up. She wasn't even acting excited or anything, like she normally does, and was just standing there calmly, which is not normal for her. So I think we are going to have the tests done just to make sure she is ok.

The funny thing is, she is very attached to me right now and won't leave my side. Not that she didn't like me before, but she usually lays with my mom, because that's who she spends the most time with, and I don't even live with her anymore.

 

[minkydog]

The "velcro-dog" behavior is very typical after a seizure. There is a period after the seizure call the post ictal state. It can last a few minutes or a few hours depending on the severity of the seizure. During the post ictal period dogs often feel tired and anxious.The may sleep for awhile. their muscles are sore and they can feel nauseous. Keep reassuring him--he'll come out of it eventually.

My poodle started having sezures when he was 3yo. The first time was terrifying. In fact, every time he has them it's upsetting. We keep him safe, but he is just so scared and confused. Finally we had to put him on meds to keep the seizures from happening so frequently. He's the happiest dog now and you'd never guess he has epilepsy.

Good luck with your doggie. I hope it turns out to be something easily treated.

 

[southernbella]

Our dog had seizures too. I know that they are scary! Our baby started having them the night we got home from Hurricane Katrina. We took her to the vet & got bloodwork done. It is needed and $150 doesn't sound too bad. I think we paid around $200.

Unfortunatly, her seizures seemed to get worse, so we had to up her meds. She still was having at least one a day. The vet never really figured out was what wrong with her (he figured epilepsy or cancer).

She was very disoriented and confused after each one. That would explain why she hanging by your side. Be careful with her outside (if you don't have a fence). Our baby (who was NEVER the type of dog to leave the yard) tried to walk off several times with us standing right by her.

Here's good thoughts and lots of Pixie dust for you!

Sbella

 

[Chris2597]

Our little dog has had 2 seizures...The first when he was a puppy and then again at age 2....He twitched and his eyes rolled...it was horrible to watch...the vet took a wait and see stance with the first but with the second a round of blood work was done and Chico was kept overnight for observation...He was so tired, weak and not himself for a day or two after the second episode. That was over a year ago and he hasnt had another one. The blood work was all normal. The vet said that if the seizures became regular and/or more severe...meds would be needed.

 

[Kycha]

Seizures are a sign that there is something wrong. Please have the bloodwork done.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

How is it going today? This seemed to be a good resource site on seizures in dogs. Hope it helps. http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/Resources.html