I have a 4 year old husky and all of a sudden she's been having seizures, they were short ones and when I took her to the vet, they told me to change to a dog food with "easy digestive" so I swiched to Pedigree. Well she was doing good for a year and just had one about 5 minutes long and scared the crap out of me! I don't know if there's any way I can prevent it or help her any way when she has one, I just get so scared but I try to stay calm for her. What triggers it and is there warning signs I should look for?
2007-09-22 13:00:10 · 10 answers · asked by Adina C 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Epilepsy is a known genetic problem in many breeds, including Siberians. It may have nothing to do with her diet. I'm surprised that your vet suggested only a diet change to deal with seizures, although I don't know all of the details. Any dog who is seizing at that young an age either has a genetic predisposition or a severe allergic reaction. Maybe both.
I believe that when my b itch was having seizures, the vet suggested a low-protein diet in conjunction with her medication...
EDIT: This is true; because she was on phenobarbitol (a common anti-seizure medication), which is known to affect the liver, a low-protein diet, with high quality proteins, was deemed best.
Either way, Pedigree isn't a great food.
I suggest a few things:
1. Consult with your vet. For whatever reason, the diet isn't working any more. If the seizures persist or become more frequent, you may need medication in addition to a different diet.
2. Research the problem. There are lots of sites, lists, online support groups, etc. dedicated to canine epilepsy. You will get better answers there than you will here.
3. Find a different food. High quality ingredients, no wheat or corn...talk to your vet about what foods may have *specifically* been causing the seizures and look for foods without them. Pedigree is junk. That really is the truth.
Good luck!
2007-09-22 13:16:44 · answer #1 · answered by Loki Wolfchild 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ist answer is so right!
Change vet!
I've got lots of horrid experience with seizures,.. grand mal ones too,... it is the worse affliction a pet could have (in my opinion) and the worse to witness too. It is so unexplained, unexpected and frightening.
Causes could be a gamut of things, head injury (trauma), genetic history in breed or line, inflammation of brain, or just "idiopathic" (for unknown reasons)..
I went thru the worse living hell with my darling puggy yrs. ago.
Spent in the thousands of dollars within a month. Every test avail then and every anti-convulsant drug (even new experimental ones too), it could not get under control and she ended up deaf and blind as a result of the long seizures. The vet was making house calls and actually putting her to sleep with general anesthetic on my floor, it got so long and bad! That was $400 a wk.
It suddenly started before she was 3 yrs. old and got worse rapidly, before a years end, I had to mercilessly put her down.
If it's continuous and more than a few times, the vet should put dog on Phenobarbitol, if that doesn't work, Dilantin,.. and others too.
In the meanwhile, you are doing right thing,.. keep her calm, anything could trigger,.. bright lights, headlights of a vehicle, etc.
It is a difficult malady to treat,.. epilepsy is just a name for seizures.
But do go to another vet who's experienced at this.
However, on a slight chance the vet could have been right, sometimes (rarely) a food allergy could trigger,.... I even tried my pug on lamb and rice, thinking and being told it may help.
It didn't.
I hope your dog has few and far between fits and for not too long a duration.
2007-09-22 20:19:32 · answer #2 · answered by deltadawn 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Gran Mal Seizure - usually epilepsy. Off to the vet for you!!!
My dogs AND my dad's dog (all 3 purebreds) were on Phenylbarbitol for YEARS. It stopped the seizures. Spent about $8 bucks a month on phenylbarb. They usually do not know what triggers them. Not really anything you can do during them either.
Great resource, Redd. Thanks for the quality info. Sincerely.
My friend's dog would have about one or two a year and the vet did not worry until they became frequent, then put the dog on seizure meds.
2007-09-22 20:10:59 · answer #3 · answered by Asked and Answered 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have too much info to tell you everything here.
This link is to www.veterinarypartner.com. It is a veterinary website that is written by vets to explain ailments and help pet owners understand what is having to their pet.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=560
This should answer a lot of quuestions for you about the seizures your dog is having.
BTW: If your dog is having seizures and the vet tells you to switch foods, go to a different vet. Get a second opinion.
The American Animal Hospital Association is an optional assoc. that vet hospitals can apply for membership. They meet or exceed their standards for quality vet medicine and they can help you find a reputable vet in your area:
www.aahanet.org
2007-09-22 20:09:15 · answer #4 · answered by redd_rvt 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A majority of dogs have epileptic seizures, You must take her to the vet, dont get all work -up it wont help anything. It may medication does't help, it maybe something you and your pet may have to live with, Good Luck...
"it is the worse affliction a pet could have (in my opinion)" what about a CAR?
2007-09-22 20:12:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What sorts of tests were done on her?? She at least should have had bloodwork done to see if there are any underlying issues. I think it's imperative you get her into the vet. If this vet doesn't think tests are necessary, you need a second opinion. Unless the bloodwork is absolutely normal, this dog's live could very well be in danger.
2007-09-22 20:09:51 · answer #6 · answered by ibbibud 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it could be brain realted like a brain tumor or something similar. take it do a different vet as food shouldnt cause seizures. you may need to start him on medication to prevent the seizures
2007-09-22 20:04:50 · answer #7 · answered by tassiequartz 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am so sorry you are going through this!
You really need to take her to the vet as soon as possible.
And pedigree isn't a really good food.
Check on Canidae and/or Innova, both are excellent and well worth it.
Not sure about easily digestable, sorry.
But please, take her to the vet. Good luck!
2007-09-22 20:09:56 · answer #8 · answered by xoxogirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I'd take her to the vet it might be something else
2007-09-22 20:05:24 · answer #9 · answered by Melisa M 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
omg stupid people..
take it to the vet now! [emergency]
2007-09-22 20:06:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋