Seizure...

No brilliant thots, but will sure send good vibes her way...and yours. 

I sure would mention these peeing episodes to your Vet.  Don't have a panic attack over them.  Could be just sleeping so deeply that the dog isn't aware they're doing it.  I've had other dog owners report something similar to me. 

I haven't a clue how a Vet can test to tell if a dog has had a seizure.  It's all simply owner observation as far as I know.  That is, unless you go to some big Veterinary Hospital with lots of equipment to test the dog further.  I do know that the meds Vets give to dogs for seizures are some serious stuff.  They really alter the dog's behavior and overall demeanor. 

I think Vet's give this meds ( like phenobarbitol) to bring the number of seizures a dog has per week (or some other specific period of time) down to an "acceptable" number.  A dog could be having so few seizures that a Vet might not think it worth treating. 

Anyway, these are just rambling thoughts on the matter.  Yeah, if a dog is having seizures "something" isn't right.  The big question is "When or if to treat?".  These decisions can only be made individually with your own Vet.  I wish you the best in figuring out what's going on with Sadie.

 That sounds like a seizure to me. Its very similar to the first seizure I ever saw Jackson have.

Good luck and stay strong. 

It sounds like you have a good plan in place for getting her checked out. You may also want to make arrangements to have her blood sugar tested, as low blood sugar can trigger a seizure in a dog. And, I'd also ask for a Lyme test, just to cover more bases. (The ticks have been crazy here in RI lately. I bet they have been out in Mass., too--hopefully this cold streak will help with that!)

Sending lots of positive thoughts for you and Sadie!

 Thanks! I'll add low blood sugar to the list for the vet, Sadie had her blood test and Lyme shot just a couple of months ago. We get the deer ticks terrible here on the border of CT and Lilly has had ehrlichiosis and babesiosis so I make sure the puppers are in regularly for their wellness checks.

DON'T let them just put her on pheno -- pheno has really harsh side effects.  Please consider trying TCVM -- Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine -- that's acupuncture and oriental herbs (which are far stronger than ours ... and they have one that is VERY like phenobarbitol but withOUT the side effects -- Kee Shu was on it for years!!!).

The Chi Institute http://www.tcvm.com -- is near the U of Florida Vet School in Gainesville -- Dr. Xie teaches acupuncture and herbology at the Vet School and SEVERAL members of faculty are on staff at the Chi Institute.  I have heard them lecture MANY times in seminars up there -- they truly discourage the dog being put on the big pharmaceutical drugs until you TRY to control the seizures with the herbals.  They REALLY do work. 

You may want to email Megan, PIrate's Mom (SLR2Meg) -- Pirate is a seizure dog -- and in the beginning, being a new dog-mom and college student, his seizures scared the bejeebersout of her -- and the vet put him right on pheno.  But within just a few weeks Pirate developed pancytopenia (which is an auto-immune disease where the body kills it's own platelets -- caused BY pheno).  He's on an ultra low dose of potassium bromide now but his seizures are largely controlled BY the herbs.  And Meg will tell you she wishes she'd done the herbs/acupuncture FIRST.

I'm NOT saying to leave your regular vet -- not at all.  I'm saying ADD a vet who does TCVM.  They should work WITH your vet.  But in the long run -- it can wind up saving you money because then you don't have to treat the side effects caused BY the drugs. 

Feel free to email me -- I'm happy to help you.  There is a locator on that URL I gave you above.  But I can help you sort out which practitioner to try  -- I've actually got quite a bit of experience with this. 

calliecritturs

But within just a few weeks Pirate developed pancytopenia (which is an auto-immune disease where the body kills it's own platelets -- caused BY pheno).

If the body was killing its own platelets wouldn't that be thrombocytopenia?  They change the name of the disease when pheno is causing it??  Pancytopenia is when all three blood elements are decreased-red cells, white cells and platelets. 

Hope they are able to manage Sadie easily.  I'm just learning to deal with seizures in a newly adopted cat.  However, low blood platelets are something I've been dealing with in my dog for over 2 years. 

 Thanks so much! Nope to the pheno it's on the list for the vet. I checked out the Chi Institute in my zip code 01570 and there is only one CVCH but please let me know what you think. Hopefully DH can get her into the vet this week (he works nights)... but he is not being very co-operative and trying to get me to wait and see .

Thanks again everybody... I would be lost with out you!

willowchow

If the body was killing its own platelets wouldn't that be thrombocytopenia?  They change the name of the disease when pheno is causing it??  Pancytopenia is when all three blood elements are decreased-red cells, white cells and platelets. 

Yeah, it's just typical that pheno causes it and in Pi's case it was mostly platelets (they were almost zero when they found it) - some of the other.  But Pancytopenia is very closely linked to pheno.

Springer Lady

 Thanks so much! Nope to the pheno it's on the list for the vet. I checked out the Chi Institute in my zip code 01570 and there is only one CVCH but please let me know what you think. Hopefully DH can get her into the vet this week (he works nights)... but he is not being very co-operative and trying to get me to wait and see .

Seven came up when I looked -- DON'T limit yourself to just the one person who is closest -- you want the most experienced or the one who has the right background.  For seizures you either want someone who will work hand in hand with the Institute (because Dr. Chrisman ROCKS at this and she's there most of the time now that she retired from UF) or someone who is really comfortable with herbology (which is Chrisman's special interest which is why I mentioned her -- she's in FL but she will work very closely with a vet up there to help them get Sadie on the right combination of herbs or formula)

If you want we can chat on the phone.  I would *NOT* just send your husband to do this -- this is *not* like a regular vet appt.  The first appt would be like a couple of hours in duration -- to talk over the dog's history, food (yeah they will tell you specific foods to add to the diet to help whatever is triggering it) and the biggest frigging exam - you can't even believe the exam they will give the dog.  There will also be treatment (acupuncture) involved.  You'll want to talk extensively to them -- and it's likely it may take you a couple of weeks to get in to them.

You may also want to email Kate (Frisby's mom) because she lives up there near you (she lives on a bitty island off the coast of RI) and she can tell you who she took Frisby to.

Kidney issues can cause seizures and the dribbling of urine.  So, be sure to mention the pee thing to the vet.

spiritdogs

Kidney issues can cause seizures and the dribbling of urine.  So, be sure to mention the pee thing to the vet.

She's right -- renal problems can cause seizures (probably not as quick as liver problems cos the liver toxins affect the brain) because ANY toxin in the body can literally cause a seizure.

But at the same time, a petit mal seizure can cause a loss of bladder control (or sphincter control either one).  ANYTHING noticable is something you need to tell the vet.