My Dog Just Had a Seizure

[Anonymous]

My dog had her first seizure tonight. Actually 2 within an 1/2 hour. She is 2 years old. It was horrible.

Looking for advice and empathy.

Please be kind.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, I have no experience with seizures. Just wanted to tell you that I’m including your poor pup in my prayers tonight.

[Anonymous]

Are you taking her to a vet ER? I'd recommend taking her immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you taking her to a vet ER? I'd recommend taking her immediately.

+1. And/or each out to your normal vets after hours line at the very least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you taking her to a vet ER? I'd recommend taking her immediately.

+1. And/or each out to your normal vets after hours line at the very least.

+2. I'd be in the car to the ER right now, particularly as it is the first time it has happened. Good luck OP, thinking of you and your pup!

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry OP. It’s so scary. My dog had a few scary seizures in about a week’s time three years ago. We were frantic and took him to the vet ER. They could not tell us what caused them and suggested a vet neurologist. We decided to wait and see. He has not had a seizure since. We think it must have been an allergic reaction to something. I’ve talked with other dog owners who have had similar experiences - one or more seizures and then never again. Sending doggy hugs to you.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all PPs. I no longer live in DC and the closest vet ER to me is an hour. I did call them and they told me that if my dog seemed ok when I was there, I was looking at a several hour long wait.

DH and I decided to not put us or our dog through that. Being a pandemic puppy/young dog, she is super reactive and nervous.

I figured out her seizure (?) was caused by a reaction to one of her toys. We toss it off the loft balcony for her and she runs to get it and comes back for another toss. Sometimes she sits and chews on it for a while. We do this for an hour every day b4 her dinner. I determined that as this toy (stuff less with squeakers) was made in China there is a high chance it contains lead. Repeated pressure (chewing) and dog saliva causes maximum release of the lead and god know what else toxins.

Anyway 24 hours post the seizure/tremor episode, she is doing fine.

I was shocked to see how there are no quality control standards on dog toys. For example, tennis balls for people have less toxin than tennis balls for dogs! Shocking when one adds in the fact that people are NOT chewing and salivating on their tennis balls.

What do you think about all this?

[Anonymous]

My German Shepherd had a seizure last year. The vet said to call if he had another one. He wasn’t overly concerned. I did learn that diffused tea tree oil can cause seizures in dogs. I was diffusing tea tree oil right next to him. I had no idea it was dangerous. The seizure was terrifying. I know exactly how you feel, OP. My dog hasn’t had another one, thankfully. And I am very careful about essential oils near my dogs.

[Anonymous]

Years ago I had a German Shepard that developed seizures. Our vet said that sometimes it happens and that by age 2 it usually stops. Sadly for ours, she seizured until she died over the course of a week. It was awful because we were so helpless. Even if you don’t take your dog in tonight I’d suggest that you get yourself set up with care as soon as you can so that if you have an emergency your dog has established doctors. I’ve had many puppies and older dogs in my life and IME, seizures aren’t normal.

[Anonymous]

OP, after some trial and error, our dog was prescribed Gabapentin. It worked very well. He needed it for 10+ years (meaning he had a long and happy life)

Vets often prescribe Phenobarbital. For many dogs that drug does not work. Don't let the vet tell you that is your only choice.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry - it’s terrifying. My dog had a couple in a row one night and it was scary. He lost control of everything and we rushed him to the vet. They ruled out all obvious causes and he lived about 7 more years without having more. We had walked him in a community where they were doing the landscaping while we were walking. A few weeks later I saw the same landscapers back and watched how much pesticide and weed killer they sprayed. My little guy would always wash his paws after walks - I am convinced he licked a bunch of pesticide. After that I began washing his paws after walks

[Anonymous]

I've had a number of foster dogs and a dog of my own who had seizures, but they were all seniors unlike your dog. It is very frightening if you've never seen it before.

I would schedule a visit with your regular vet rather than going straight to an emergency vet. The reason is that there isn't much they can do for your dog after a seizure, unless your dog keeps seizing and doesn't stop. I learned this after a costly emergency vet visit where it cost me several hundred dollars to check him out and put an IV in him "just in case." There was no "treatment" they could give him. They wanted to keep hm for observation overnight but I took him home because he has separation anxiety and would have been miserable. None of my dogs ever had another seizure so I didn't do anything in the end.

Given your dog's young age, definitely have your regular vet see him and rule out epilepsy or some other underlying cause.

[Anonymous]

Have your vet check thyroid levels

[Anonymous]

Yeah, treatment (Rx) is if the dog has repeated seizures and needs the meds to -not- have seizures.

[Anonymous]

Certain breeds can be susceptible to epilepsy. We learned this when our beagle had a grand mal seizure at about 16 months. German shepherds are another one. We put our dog on anti-seizure meds.