Is my chihuahua having a seizure?

[areagan85]

Abbey was found at the bottom of the stairs by my boyfriend and we are not sure what happened but she was stiff and couldn't move and her eyes were rolled back. By the time he got dressed and got her to the vet she was blinking and breathing but not moving. Vet said concussion and brain swelling and gave her a shot for the brain swelling to go down. He said she will get better or worse within 48 hours. She's eating bits of cheese but won't drink any water. She also is alert but moves her head very slowly and stiff like. She follows me and walks sideways and wants to sit in my lap or very close to me. She is also breathing kind of loud and hard. It has been twice now that she stiffened up and her head started tilting back and then she kind of just slid down to the floor (she was sitting in my lap) and just curled up. The after about 30 seconds (which seems like forever) she loosens up some. The first time it happened, which was about an hour or more ago she urinated while she was doing it. This last time she did nothing but drool a lot on me. Does it sound like she is having seizures or maybe had one which may have caused her to fall down the stairs? She has been going up and down those stairs for 9 months now so I don't feel like she fell down the stairs, but she may have. She has not had any problems with seizures before and she is going on 11 months old. What are the odds of survival?

[Shoshe]

I'm so sorry to hear about your Chihuahua.  I have two myself and have had one similar instance, but mine wasn't as bad.  Both my dogs have problems breathing sometimes and they start wheezing really bad.  My oldest had a bad fit once and did the same thing with the eyes rolling and going really stiff, but my Vet told me it was a type of vasal-vagal (sp?) reaction to not being able to breath.  It does sound very similar to seziures in humans and I think if your Vet can properly diagnose the problem then you have a better chance at survival.  I have heard of people giving their dogs medicine for seziures so I know it's out there.  Good Luck!

[LL7970]

How did the vet determine that there was brain swelling, and what kind of shot did he give him?  Were any type of blood tests, or an MRI run?

[jakesbride110]

It does sound like seizures. But what brought them on? Falling and hitting her head can cause the brain to swell like your vet said, which in turn can cause seizures. However there can be many other possibilities. She needs to be taken back to the vet and be evaluated for a while, especially since if she isn't getting any better.

[Me967]

I was curious as  LL7970 mentioned.  What all did they do to determine this.  It sounds like a seizure but ???.
*I would personally get a secound opinion and NOT wait.
*I would NOT allow her to do the stairs.  Block them off with a box or if you have it a gate.  
*It sounds like x-rays and a neuro exam, bld work, ect. along with a good physical exam would be in order.  

*If she does this again, do not try to restrain her but keep her from hurting herself,
    wet and wring out a cool washcloth and gently wipe down her head.  A mixture of H20, honey and gingerale will help break down the thick mucus in the mouth.  Just put your finger in , let a couple drops fall on her tonge, and let her drink the "drops" off her tonge.  This will help to break down the thick mucus.  
You can also try to get her to lick on crushed ice by holding it in your fingers.  Keep a check after wards on her temp.  Keep the lights lowered and everything mello.
I had a dog that had many (~7) a day due to epilepsy.  I gave him phenabarb by the vet to control them.  The main question is what's causing them, or is it eilepsy.  They can control it if it is.  You need to find that answer though!  Please like I said before though keep her off the steps and get a secound oppinion.  
I don't know if this helps or not.  I wish you the best for your baby and will Pray for Abbey.  
Amy

[areagan85]

Well, my boyfriend actually took her to the vet. I was at work about 55 minutes away when he called me and told me what happened and I left immediately. However he told me that the vet did do x-rays and I couldn't tell you the name of the shot because he apparently did not ask all the questions I would have asked. However, she is improving tremendously. She is drinking out of a bowl, the swelling has gone done, and she eats just fine. She just hasn't barked or wimpered yet.  I have blocked the stairs so she can't go up them when we are downstairs and can't go down when we are upstairs. I do wonder one thing can a dog have a seizure from having too much sugar? My Boyfriend has a REALLY bad habit, which I have scolded him several times for doing, of leaving snacks and such down on the bottle mantle of the fire place and Sunday ( I think) she got into some crackers with peanut butter and covered with white choclate that he had made and ate 1 or 2 of them. SO does anyone think that this could have caused her to have a seizure? I also know that dogs are not supposed to have chocolate too. As far as I know there were no blood tests done, which I have told him already that he needs to get one done and I am not sure about the MRI. Thank You for your concerns, it is greatly appreciated!

[Me967]

I'm glad to hear that Abbey is doing better and also that you have blocked off the stairs.  It took me a couple of broken legs to block them off for my little man.  I felt soooo bad.  Chihuahuas are tough little dogs so you really have to protect them.  They have that lion personallity in a small little body.
I'm glad also to hear that you will be getting blood work done.  That will help maybe answer as to why, and at her young age it's always good to have a baseline anyhow.  
I don't believe that she would be wobbly though due to a seizure still.  I would ask for a further evaluation on that.  
And as to the chocolate or salt; BIG NO NO.  It is toxic and dogs can't break down salt like we can.  I made a mistake on time and tried to give mine a little of canned chicken broth when he was ~2 yrs old.  STUPID ME; he peed almost staight blood for 2 hours.  Mine was the ruler of my pack for almost 17 years.   Best wishes, keep us in touch;
Amy

[areagan85]

Thanks to everyone for their prayers. Abbey is doing soo much better!! She is playing with her toys, and her walking is getting better. She runs, and we have heard her bark once. So we know she can. For a little bit we were wondering if she hit her head and forgot how to or lost her ability to bark. She is still having a little bit of hard time jumping on the bed, but she is doing good for everything else. She also has not had any more seizures since the day it happened. Thanks again for all the prayers!

Amanda

[Myown]

chocolate can kill them. So can raisins and grapes.

If its seizures, the doc will be putting her on Phenobarbitol (sp) most likely. My mothers dog has been getting seizures also. They are about every month or so. lately she seems to pop out of them alot better cause in the beginning it would take a few days of her acting strange and wanting to be alone. She just had one the other day and after it she was totally normal within 5 minutes or so. That was a relief cause it stresses me out really bad to see this happen to her. She is a rescue dog and she had a horrible life before we adopted her (now she has the life of Reilly - totally spoiled) and she is the sweetest dog so its bad enough to see any dog go thru a seizure, but when a dog finally finds a good home and now she has these seisures, its heartbreaking cause we want her to be happy being she was so neglected and abused by the family that had her before us. It makes me very sad to see, but I think that she is doing better lately and I'm praying the seizures will just leave and never come back. The doc said the meds help control them a little but even with the meds the vet said it doesn't make them go away completely - but I'm hoping it does anyhow.

Glad to hear that your dog is doing better.

MO