Seizures and Dogs

[bluezchick1018]

So I have a blue-tick, husky mix named Hank. Hes about 40lbs and is a dumb cuddly dog. He means alot to me. The past 2 nights around the same time, like 1 am or so he has had what I believe is a seizure... He gets stiff and shakes furiously and has a look of Panic in his eyes. He also looses control of all boul movements and slobes profusily. Like I said this has only happened the past 2 nights and Ive had him over a couple years now and never seen him do anything like this.  Im gonna take him to the vet but I wanted some advice on what it might be first so I have something more to offer the vet other then my dog started having seizures... fix him.  So please let me know asap. I am probably gonna change his food and start cooking him chicken and rice for a while, and watch him to see if he might be gettin into something or whatever is going On. Please let me know if you have any advice. Thanks.

[bluezchick1018]

Hi thanks for the response. I talked to the vet and he said Epilepsy without evn asking how old he was... which is what I expected him to say. So I watched him the past two days and nights and their hasnt been any other episodes.... at all.

We were staying at my fiances parents house for a few days and Hank was free to run around and Im wondering if he might have gotton into some cleaner or possibly the coffee grains in the garbage can... soo I dont know.

He might have gotten into something, also a possibility is we had a bleach tablet in the toilet and he would drink out of it sometimes when the seat was up.,

So Im gonna watch him closely for the next few weeks and see how it goes. Im also gonna start cooking him food instead of feeding him the dry bagged dog food. Which also might be something to look into.

But thanks again.

[Jaybay]

It certainly sounds like seizures.  Many times the cause for them cannot be found, particularly in younger dogs.  Try not panic about this and see what the vet has to say.  The first line of treatment is usually phenobarbitol.  Like humans, it can take some time to get used to this medication to where side effects like drowsiness aren't a problem.  You're going to have to be very patient while different meds and dosages are tried.  

Assuming there is no underlying pathology like a tumor or some other kind of lesion that is causing the seizures, your dog has every hope of living a long, normal and happy life - even with a seizure now and then.

My neighbor's lab, King, began having seizures between 2 and 3 years of age.  Like your dog, it seemed to come out of nowhere.  His owner and the vet documented the activity and when it became clear that they were increasing, King was put on phenobarbitol.  He never experienced any side effects from the meds, although the dosage has increased over the years.  He still has a seizure every few weeks, but they are very mild and he doesn't lose bowel and bladder control.  Other than that, he's just a 120-pound gooberhead who loves everyone and everything and has a wonderful active life.  Can't ask for more than that, right?  :-)