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Post by BeckyTech on Apr 25, 2016 16:47:34 GMT
With such a large, diverse group, I'm hoping someone here has some knowledge. I'm beginning to explore the topic and anyone who could share any experience or first-hand research would be helpful. 42-lb. dog. So far 2 seizures 2 months apart that I know of. They come and go quickly so she could be having them more often without my knowledge. No seizure medication is indicated until we reach the 3 in one month mark. I'm hoping not to get to that point. She is just coming up on 3 years old.
That is about the size of a child, and a lot of research is done on dogs that translate to humans, so if you have human knowledge that would be exceedingly helpful as well. |
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Post by Patter on Apr 25, 2016 16:51:21 GMT
We had a Keeshond with seizures. Started when he was two, and we had to put him down by the time he was 3 just over a year ago. It was a LONG and horrific year. He saw a neurologist, and we tried many meds. Nothing worked. The seizures just came more often and lasted longer. He had them weekly, and they began lasting 6 minutes long. That's when we knew we had to put him down. Most dogs with epilepsy are diagnosed around 2-4. It also happens as dogs age. I am SO sorry you are dealing with this. I don't like to know of any person or animal with epilepsy because it is dreadful, dreadful. Let me know if you have specific questions. I've been through it all. Hugs.
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Post by pmm on Apr 25, 2016 17:00:33 GMT
My friend had a little dog that had seizures. On of the things the vet tested for was thyroid distinction. Apparently this can lead to seizures in dogs.
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Post by debmast on Apr 25, 2016 17:05:30 GMT
We had a beagle/border collie mix that had seizures. Never had them often enough to be put on meds, but still would have them every so often. Our vet was hesitant to put her on meds because the meds themselves can shorten the lifespan of the dog.
She passed away about a year ago. She was 12. She had cancer which was unrelated to her seizures.
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scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,821 
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Post by scrapngranny on Apr 25, 2016 18:39:28 GMT
I have a 14 year old border collie that has been having seizures for almost 4 years now. She is not on any medication and has seizures at very random times. There have been occasions when she has had 2 in one day and she has gone almost 2 months without one. Every 2-3 weeks seems to be about the norm.
She has coordination issues right after the seizure is over that last for fifteen minutes or so, otherwise she is fine. We have chosen not to medicate her yet because over time they build up a tolerance to the meds and they have to keep upping the dose for it to be effective, so we want to wait until the seizures are more frequent.
We have been kind of surprised that they haven't gotten any worse over the years, but are thankful that at this time they are not life threatening.
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Post by whipea on Apr 25, 2016 18:40:03 GMT
My previous Whippet had ideopathic Epilepsy. I adopted him at two and knew this but figured he would be hard to place and I just wanted to give him a home. There were times when he had seizures a few times a week and other times when he would be seizure free for months. I did tons of research, worked with a neurologist and monitored his meds. He lived a full and happy life and we lost him at 13 due to pancreatic cancer.
There was a good web site "epilepsy angles" with support, new treatment options and tons of resources. My boy has been gone for over 3 years so not sure if the site is still there but found it a terrific resource.
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Post by BeckyTech on Apr 25, 2016 18:45:46 GMT
Well, I just ordered some CBD from the original company that developed Charlotte's Web, a product named after the little girl it was developed for. At least I know this is a human-grade quality product made for this purpose. Because so little research has been done in this area, I received a recommendation as to dosage by talking to a person on the research side (Realm of Caring), not the store. He said to start out low and to find the right point of dosage slowly. The problem is going to be to try to find that right clinical point. She is a wonderfully tempered girl and it may be difficult to know when we've hit the right point.
They did a complete blood panel after her first seizure, so the thyroid was fine, I believe. She has her annual checkup this afternoon, I'll double check with the vet on the thyroid.
Her vet doesn't want to do meds yet, but okayed the CBD. Hopefully it will treat her prophylactically and we can prevent progression.
Thank you, everyone, for sharing.
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Post by BeckyTech on Apr 26, 2016 3:18:33 GMT
My previous Whippet had ideopathic Epilepsy. I adopted him at two and knew this but figured he would be hard to place and I just wanted to give him a home. There were times when he had seizures a few times a week and other times when he would be seizure free for months. I did tons of research, worked with a neurologist and monitored his meds. He lived a full and happy life and we lost him at 13 due to pancreatic cancer. There was a good web site "epilepsy angles" with support, new treatment options and tons of resources. My boy has been gone for over 3 years so not sure if the site is still there but found it a terrific resource. Did you mean angels instead of angles? I found a couple of websites with "angels" in the name. One is www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/ and the other www.angels4epilepsy.org/ which is more about human children. |
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Post by BeckyTech on Apr 26, 2016 3:21:03 GMT
He saw a neurologist, and we tried many meds. Nothing worked. Was CBD among the things you tried, by any chance? |
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Post by Patter on Apr 26, 2016 10:18:37 GMT
He saw a neurologist, and we tried many meds. Nothing worked. Was CBD among the things you tried, by any chance? No, sorry. But lots of other drugs. I threw them all out recently so I can't remember them all. Maybe I need to pull his vet sheet. |
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Post by whipea on Apr 26, 2016 11:48:59 GMT
My previous Whippet had ideopathic Epilepsy. I adopted him at two and knew this but figured he would be hard to place and I just wanted to give him a home. There were times when he had seizures a few times a week and other times when he would be seizure free for months. I did tons of research, worked with a neurologist and monitored his meds. He lived a full and happy life and we lost him at 13 due to pancreatic cancer. There was a good web site "epilepsy angles" with support, new treatment options and tons of resources. My boy has been gone for over 3 years so not sure if the site is still there but found it a terrific resource. Did you mean angels instead of angles? I found a couple of websites with "angels" in the name. One is www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/ and the other www.angels4epilepsy.org/ which is more about human children. Yes, "angels", sorry. The canine epilepsy guardian angels is the site. I am not familiar with the protocol you mentioned, mine was on Phenobarbatol and we experimented with Potasium Bromide. The PB worked very well but made him gain a dangerous amount of weight so we had to stop. I also kept him on a diet for dogs with epilepsy and I feel that helped too. |
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Post by BeckyTech on Apr 26, 2016 14:11:41 GMT
Was CBD among the things you tried, by any chance? No, sorry. But lots of other drugs. I threw them all out recently so I can't remember them all. Maybe I need to pull his vet sheet. No, that's okay. I just wondered if you had tried CBD and what the results were. At this point in time no other meds are being considered. |
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Post by jeremysgirl on Apr 26, 2016 14:15:04 GMT
I had a Scottie dog once who had seizures. We figured out it was caused by his heartworm medicine. I think he was on Sentinel. If I remember correctly. It took me a few months to figure out that I would give him the pill and then within 24 hours, he would start having seizures. We took him off of it and never had another one.
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Post by BeckyTech on Apr 26, 2016 14:45:47 GMT
Yes, "angels", sorry. The canine epilepsy guardian angels is the site. I am not familiar with the protocol you mentioned, mine was on Phenobarbatol and we experimented with Potasium Bromide. The PB worked very well but made him gain a dangerous amount of weight so we had to stop. I also kept him on a diet for dogs with epilepsy and I feel that helped too. What kind of diet was it? Low in carbs? CBD is the non-psychotropic part of marijuana, or basically high quality hemp oil. THC is the part that gets you high, CBD is the "medical" part of "medical marijuana." This group in Colorado Springs worked to grow a strain that was heavy on CBD and thus helpful for seizures. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, they have found that CBD causes no harm while THC may cause seizures. The Epilepsy Foundation is calling for much more research in this area. Here is the story of Charlotte and how this product was developed: CNN Story: www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/health/charlotte-child-medical-marijuana/. I called CSU, one of the premier vet teaching schools in the country, and they are also working on research. They told me they just finished a clinical trial for dogs and will be starting a new one in a few months. I put Lacey's name in for consideration, but in the meantime, my vet is going to call them and verify the dosage that the organization suggested I start her on. CSU must have had good results from the first test because when I called them and asked if I should wait for their next study before starting Lacey on CBD, the vet said "Oh, I wouldn't." |
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Post by BeckyTech on Apr 26, 2016 14:52:16 GMT
I had a Scottie dog once who had seizures. We figured out it was caused by his heartworm medicine. I think he was on Sentinel. If I remember correctly. It took me a few months to figure out that I would give him the pill and then within 24 hours, he would start having seizures. We took him off of it and never had another one. Lacey is on a monthly heartworm preventative, but I don't think there has been any connection. Thanks, I will definitly keep better track of when I give it to her. |
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Post by whipea on Apr 26, 2016 17:51:17 GMT
Yes, "angels", sorry. The canine epilepsy guardian angels is the site. I am not familiar with the protocol you mentioned, mine was on Phenobarbatol and we experimented with Potasium Bromide. The PB worked very well but made him gain a dangerous amount of weight so we had to stop. I also kept him on a diet for dogs with epilepsy and I feel that helped too. What kind of diet was it? Low in carbs? CBD is the non-psychotropic part of marijuana, or basically high quality hemp oil. THC is the part that gets you high, CBD is the "medical" part of "medical marijuana." This group in Colorado Springs worked to grow a strain that was heavy on CBD and thus helpful for seizures. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, they have found that CBD causes no harm while THC may cause seizures. The Epilepsy Foundation is calling for much more research in this area. Here is the story of Charlotte and how this product was developed: CNN Story: www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/health/charlotte-child-medical-marijuana/. I called CSU, one of the premier vet teaching schools in the country, and they are also working on research. They told me they just finished a clinical trial for dogs and will be starting a new one in a few months. I put Lacey's name in for consideration, but in the meantime, my vet is going to call them and verify the dosage that the organization suggested I start her on. CSU must have had good results from the first test because when I called them and asked if I should wait for their next study before starting Lacey on CBD, the vet said "Oh, I wouldn't." That sounds very promising. If they do not find any adverse effects what harm could it do and the benefit may outweigh the risk. As I recall the diet included white fish, sweet potatoes and green beans. There may have been barley too. Also I was advised to avoid any preservatives, keep low protein to help metabolize the pheno and only give the old style Flarabits for heart worm as some of the newer formulas could increase seizure activity. |
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