Epilepsy is the diagnosis

[schippsmom]

:Dog_run:

Well, that's it. I'm a little upset with the vet. I know he is busy but obviously I have a lot of questions. He didn't even talk to me on the phone. His secretary told me to pick up a Rx later.

If anyone has a good web site or info I would greatly appreciate it. I'm in the middle of cooking dinner so I'll try to get back later.


Paula & Re-Run

[imported_Matty]

Thats too bad, you must be heart broken. At the vet clinic I go to I realize the vets get very busy. I have made follow up appointments to discuss issues with my dogs after being diagnosed. I am kinda the type who pays for the doctors time. I have never tried to call for info on the phone, I like discussing in person.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1828&articleid=433

[Horsefeathers!]

Schip, I don't know whether to say I'm sorry or I'm relieved. I mean, epilepsy isn't a thing to wish on anybody, but then again, it could have been something worse. At least it's treatable. I'm curious, though... am I understanding correctly that the vet is putting Re-Run on medication after having only one seizure? Or have there been other episodes? Sometimes, when seizures happen, people think back and realize there have been little "episodes" prior that really weren't apparent... staring off into space, a little head bobbing, problems hearing (it seems, but in reality, the dog isn't hard of hearing or ignoring you, but in a mild, otherwise undetectable seizure). Despite handling a few seizure dogs, I'm certainly no expert, but I know my own vet won't put a dog on seizure meds unless the seizures are recurring. From what I understand, longterm use of seizure meds (we used phenobarb) can be harmful, so I am under the impression that vets usually want to avoid meds if seizures are not a recurring problem.

It sucks that your vet kind of dismissed you. Maybe these are some questions you can ask when you finally can talk to him. I know I'm the type of person who needs to know the hows, whats, and whys.

You know, I don't think I ever saved any seizure sites to my favorites. I basically just went googling around for information. There are some support groups out there, but I never really got into them. :oops:

I guess until someone comes forward with some viable information (I'm sure Matty will have a peteducation.com article :wink: ), just google around. There is a ton of info out there.

Good luck and it's not the end of the world. :wink:

[imported_Matty]

HF, I already put in the pet education link :lol:
I LOVE That site, as you can see I can spend hours reading articles on that site. If only all the info I read actually stayed with me, Id be a walking genius. :wink:

[Horsefeathers!]

I see you beat me to it! :o

It's good that you like to read and learn. It's the "I know all I need to know" people that scare me! I'm just like you... I read, read, read all the time, but it seems like my brain only has capacity for so much. It's like if I read one thing, it pushes another out. :P

[courtnek]

I too think epilepsy meds after one seizure is a bit excessive. they dont even usually do that for people. the doctor normally waits it out, to see if the seizures are re-occuring, and frequent. I believe with people epilepsy has to be diagnosed by a cat scan, so they can see the "wavering" brain waves. It's a neurological disorder, not a physical one. There are portions of an epileptics brain that dont function properly. it responds erratically to stimuli that non-epileptics blow off. I remember a story about a girl who had seizures every day on the bus on the way to work. prior to this job she never had an issue. The eventual diagnosis was the picket fence, that
"flashed by" the windows as they were driving by. it sent some sort of erratic brain message to her body. strobe lights can set off an epilepsy attack.....I personally would not yet go with the meds. it really takes a neurological scan to determine if it is true epilepsy.

there are forms of epilepsy that can cause anger manangement issues as well. I remember watchng a CBS documentary on a soldier who was thrown out of the military for constant fighting. it seemed like absolutely nothing would set him off. and he would seriously hurt the other person.
I lived with my parents at the time, and the show was saying that this man would just go ballistic during things like obstacle course training. While I was watching it, I remembered the lady on the bus, and I said to my mom
"I wonder if he's an epileptic?" thinking to myself that the constant motion and changing of positions was similar to the picket fence incident. At the end of the show he was diagnosed as an epileptic, and my parents accused me of having seen it before. :roll: :roll:

None of this info helps you I know. I guess my long rambling point is that I would not go for the meds until a neurologist has looked Re-run over....

:oops:

[imported_Kat]

Dogs with epilepsy can lead just a good quality of life an a non-epileptic dog. What medication has the vet put Re-Run on? I know its worrying for you but just monitor him and the medication will more than likely keep the seizures at bay.

[schippsmom]

:Dog_run:

FINALLY talked to the Dr. I was not supposed to give Re-Run the medication, (phenobarb) I just need to have it on hand in case I need it in the future. Would of been nice for someone to tell me that yesterday.

One (suspected) seizure does not warrent meds like you all said. I told the Dr. I was told yesterday that I "had to pick up a Rx, directions will be on the bottle" He was not too happy to hear that and measures have been taken to make sure it never happens again.

We think he may have had another seizure a few weeks ago. We came home and he had pooped in the house. Re-Run never poops in the house. We will never know for sure but the Dr. Thinks it's possible.

For now, monitor my baby (spoil, spoil, spoil) and take it from there. I can deal with that

Paula & Re-Run

[rednosemama]

i once had a greyhound with epilepsy... i was much younger and she used to sleep in bed with me. she often had her seizures during the middle of the night... i remember waking up and having to hold her and keep her from banging her head against the wall while crying and calling my mom...she'd often urinate all over me and foam from the mouth. it was awful to watch... near the end it took her longer and longer to come out of her episodes. she'd seize and then just lay there frozen with her eyes all glassy and her tongue hanging out while i hugged her and prayed that she'd come out of it this time...

oh i'm gonna make myself cry...

but anyway, she was on phenobarb, and while it helped, she was never 100% right. the first time she seized i was home but she was in another room and after she had come out of it she came in to "tell" me and was all foamy in the mouth... that's when we knew something was wrong. as kat has said, she continued to lead a great life aside from her episodes and ranks among the top 2 happiest dogs i've ever met.

good luck w/re-run

[schippsmom]

:Dog_run:

Well aside from yesterday morning Re-Run has been his goofy self. He just seemed out of it, tired and clingy, but nothing happened. I have been trying to find time to bake biscuits for him, maybe tomorrow.

Paula & Re-Run