Focal Seizures while dog sleeps shallow breathing

[sandraoles]

Can I give Benadryl to my 10 year old pug who has been diagnosed with hydro encephalitis? She is on prednisone and phenobarbitol for the focals.  She seems to be laboring for her breath today and I was wondering ,how do you know if your dog is suffering?  How does one manage this disease and know when the dog is not well, etc?
Her breath is incredibly shallow today, it is rainy and she has environmental allergies.  She is eating ferociously but seems to be lethargic.

Thanks

[LL7970]

i have a french bulldog that has seizures.  PLEASE ... do not give the dog benedryl without checking with your vet ... or specialist.

[Jaybay]

It's a horribly difficult thing to watch when our pups begin a slow decline - particularly when there is more than one problem to deal with.  Your best bet is to pose these questions to your vet.  It sounds like you've been working closely with him already, so he should be more than happy to speak with you over the phone about end of life issues.  

You know your dog better than anyone else, so you are the best person to evaluate her quality of life.  From what you write, it doesn't sound like she's suffering from pain.  If she needs to lay low for a while, well, she's doing what she needs to do.  All you can do is provide supportive care for the symptoms as long as you can.  Bless you for already doing everything possible for her.  :-)

[sparkie32587]

I have a german shepard/rottie mix. she was a rescue dog who was abused by a former employee at my parents work. she has had a aggression issues with the other dogs. in the past year she has had more fights at night, during this she will wake up barke out the window turn and attack one of my other dogs with a glazed over look in her eyes. There was another time where she was growling in her sleep and i nudged her with my foot and she stopped. I talked to my vet and he thinks it might be focal siezures or something about having poor eyesight at night and her fear and anxiety causing her to attack and have a glazed over look.

[Jaybay]

Hey sparkie, and welcome to the Dogs Forum!  It sounds like your shep mix has some pretty serious issues.  Whether they are physical or behavioral (or both) remains to be seen.  I know that "glazed" look you mention, as I had a dog who did the same thing.  Her problem was completely behaviorial, and most of that was due to whatever happened to her before we rescued her off the streets.  She also had fear anxiety and aggression and we didn't know how to deal with it until a good 3 years before she died.

Do everything you can to rule out a physical problem first.  If she has a clean bill of health, see if you can hire a veterinary behaviorist to work with you both on the behavior issues.  It's going to take a lot of patience, time and yes, money.  But it's so worth it!

Med Help has a veterinarian to whom you can post your question as well.  Look on the middle right side of this page and click on the Ask a Vet link to post your questions to Dr. Cheng.

[chihuahuagrandma]

All the replied posts earlier are right...you know best...but, your little fella sounds distressed and I would not administer any Benedryl at this time, it could even slow
breathing and heartrate down too much along w/the other meds and medical history...
Is your dog lying on its side...where normally curl up in a ball or lye differently??
Do your best with what you have....its very difficult to watch a dog decline and spiral down...just continue your comforting to your little friend and keep calm...
Get 2nd opinions, call ER vet hosps for advice and this forum has vet Dr. Cheng...
Good luck to you and yours...