My dog has fits!

[A&Omummy]

Spoke to the vet about a week ago (was there with our sick cat) about our dog having fits. He has had a few now. Only been having them for about 6/7 months. At first we didn't even relise it was a fit. Just thought he had like a cramp in his and leg and couldn't get up. Anyway they have gotten worse and now he shacks and eyes are blodging out of his head and he trys to get up but legs are stiff. It's really upsetting to watch. Well the vet said for us to write it on the calender each time has one so we can see how many he is having. I really don't wanna leave it any longer incase it's something really bad like a brain tummer. She said they will have to do tests to see what it is. Could be eppalepsy (I have no idea how to sp that). So he would need to be on mediciation for the rest of his life. Anyone that has had a simular experence with thier dog can you reply? Just wanna see like costs and what sort of tests he will have to have done. Thanks

[Mum2Tyla]

If he is epileptic will probalby go onto a drug called phenobarbitone, it can take a little while to get the dose right and they have blood tests every 6 months if all is okay more often if not, once the dose is right it is easily managed, I have not worked in the industry for 2 years so not sure how much, the drug is not too expensive but blood test can cost a bit. good luck
kelly

[blackdog]

Samson had an epileptic fit and I nearly had one myself observing it!

Vet did a barage of tests and couldn't find any cause...said this was not unusual.

He said they only put them on medication if the fits distress the owner too much...it's not like they have to drive a car or anything, and the medication actually damages their internal organs. As my dog is only two, he said he would advise against medication because it would do more harm than good.

He hasn't had another one (that I have seen, anyway) since.

[Mum2Tyla]

really does depend on the dog some dogs will ahve a fit and never have another but some dogs will fit several times or more a week and really do need medication to keep it under control.
kelly

[vickyandsteve]

hi
i have a japanese spitz that has epilepsy. we got him from the rspca when he was we think about 3months old. he is a gorgeous white fluffy affectionate dog who had been abused. anyway after we had had him about 6months he started having seizures, just little ones every few months until eventually he was having 5 a day lasting for 5 mins each... talk about horrible to watch .

anyway we had a wonderful vet who had been keeping an eye on him, when they finally got this bad he decided to put him on diazepam for a week (mind you it was the same dosage you would give a human) to try and break the cycle and phenoibaritone. this worked wonders to begin with. he was having regular blood tests which would always come back with his levels being sub theraputic so they had to add potassium bromide as well. he is now on the max dosage that we can give him and it seems to b holding him for now, fingers crossed cos im not sure what we will do when it doesnt as he is still only 4yrs old.

we have found he has had a few side effects from these medications but if we give them to him of a night time he tends to sleep most of them off and by the morning hes fine.

my advise try and keep an eye on your dog when he does have them and look for triggers or things that seem to set them off. i know that when things get to busy or stressful in our house thats when hes more suseptable to them ( sometimes i swear he picks up on my mood).

goodlucky and i hope that he doesnt get to the stage that ours is at
vicky

[Grizabella]

My Mum's cat has epilepsy. He has been on phenobarbitone for yrs now and is fine. He had BT's at first but once they sorted out the dosage they didn't need to again.

[JeSka]

my dp's dog had a few and it wasnt nice 2 watch but only had them evry couple of days 4 probably a week we think he was poisioned.
have u been back 2 the vet?