My dog (lab) has Epliepsy..How do I comfort her?

Question

My lab Brandy is only about 9 months old..she has been found with epliepsy. It's apparently common in labs, but I've never seen any other dogs really go through with it. My vet says to pet her and comfort her, since she's scared which makes sense. I'd like to be able to hold her. But im afraid to move her when she passes out. Should I just put a blanket over her?
Im in Vet. Asst. at high school, and I know how to handle animals. But she acts diffrently when she passes out, so she's harder to control then any other dog I know. She gets jumpy and snaps....any suggestions?
thanks =]

oh for those who don't know what eplipsey is here you go:
**A transient seizure or fit usually associated with a short-lived disturbance of consciousness. It stems from a synchronous high-voltage electrical discharge from groups of neurones in the brain. The disorder takes several forms, which include loss of consciousness with generalized convulsions (grand mal), short periods of loss of consciousness

Answer 1

I had a cocker who had epilepsy, which gradually progressed to grand mal seizures. He didn't seem to have any warning of an attack, and would go into convulsions at any time. I noticed there was a cycle to the seizures, he would be fine for a month or so, and then have several attacks within a two week period. This would be followed by another month or so free of attacks.

I just stayed beside him and talked to him while the attack lasted. He would snap in the air, and I knew that he had no control over it, so I was careful not to get close to his muzzle. I know he could hear me and was glad to have me with him, even though he wasn't able to give me any signs of that, while having an attack. He had no muscle control at all during an attack, so the best I could do was to stay close and try to comfort him.

When the attack was over, he would be very disoriented, and I would have to guide him into the house, or to his bed, if he was indoors. He would generally sleep for several hours afterward, and was fine when he awoke. He seemed to feel cold, so I would cover him over until he woke up.

We discussed keeping the attacks under control with medication, but the side effects (because of other medical conditions he had) would have been nearly as bad as the epilepsy. So we just kept an eye on him as much as possible, and we were devastated when we finally lost him to cancer.

Answer 2

I picked out a black female lab at 2 1/2 mos for a Christmas present for my family of 3 children. The owner contacted me
a couple of wks later saying she had been hit by a car and in
a 3 day coma which she came out of.....did I still want her. Little did I know when I said yes, that a year later she would be starting to have seizures.
As the years progressed they went from mild every few months to more severe and every month. She would come to me knowing an "aura" was beginning signaling the onset of an attack.
It was very emotional and draining for both of us. We would both race for the front door to try and get outside (in good weather) because vomitting and losing bowel control were part of the process. Towards her 10th yr she was having, on occassion, two seizures in a row lasting up to 45 min. I remember throwing myself on top of her to try and hold her down while she shook uncontrollably and talking to her all the while. She would look at me, in the rare miniscule moments of recognition, with a grateful look in her eyes that we both understood. I got scared a few times and cried because I didn't think her heart was going to take the strain. My vet said that when they start having one a month you should think about putting them on a medecine. Reebok was found to have bone cancer and Lyme Disease and I made the decision to put her down on a blanket in our front yard at age 12. She had family around her. It wasn't easy trust me. Reebok never ever snapped during a seizure. Don't know why yours does. If you remain calm and talk during their seizure, perhaps it is like a patient whose brain can still process despite the coma or trauma they are undergoing.

Answer 3

My dads lab had eplipsey, best thing to do is stay close but not to where you might get bite, just talk to her in a soothing way so she knows your there. do not try and move her. His vet told him to give his lab cooked liver once a month. It seemed to help because he didn't have the sescures as much. Good luck. Merry Christmas

Answer 4

I had a cat with epilepsy and what I did was to make sure he couldn't hurt himself, made the room somewhat dark (the light will bother them when they wake) and just sit close and gently stroke their head talking very calmly.

Didn't your vet say there was some medication for it? Cats really can't have the meds, but I thought dogs could if it's a bad case.

Answer 5

I grew up with a poodle who had epilepsy. I came to be able to tell when she was going to seize. I simply sat on the floor near her, and talked to her, stroked her head a little. After the seizure she would stand, get her footing, shake it off, and she was back to normal. I wouldn't know how to react if there was snapping. I guess I'd sit a little further back, but continue to talk softly.

Answer 6

If she is snappy then just comfort her from a distance. You dont want to get bit. My chihuahua has it and it is terrible for the dog and you. Just talk to her in a soft voice. Let her know you are there.

Answer 7

Yes, as your vet said, pet her and comfort her. Give her close attention and be by her side.
before she passes out, still give her comfort and attention. Stay close by (just in case) when she passes out.