Dog Community

Seizures & Meningitis. Help!

Posted : 10/1/2006 6:48:11 AM

I have a black lab puppy named Rhett. The other day he was found with his head hanging down, looking close to death without any warning or previous symptoms.
We rushed him to the vet, where he was promptly diagnosed with meningitis and a parasite (that starts with a Co?) - but both of these issues focus on attacking the brain and spinal cord.
He was given antibiotics and another medicine to kill the parasite, but around midnight he was having serious convulsions and foaming at the mouth. He was rushed to our vet again (thankfully it's a 24 hour on call vet) after having the seizure for about 20 minutes. It took him three doses of valium to bring him out of the seizure.
We picked him up today around 1pm, but not even a half hour after we'd gotten him he went into another seizure. He had a doseage of anti seizure medication this morning, and we were advised to give him another doseage. This seizure lasted somewhere around an hour. We were told that if we took him in again they'd have to discuss putting him down, but the only reason we didn't take him to the vet during that ridiculously long seizure was that he was in and out of coherancy. His violent twitching would go down to a mild shake, he'd look right at me, follow my fingers with his eyes or head, and respond to his name. But then go back into a violent episode. Are these seperate seizures, or should be counted as one?
Current situation: It's been a scary two days. He's trying to get up and walk around, but he has the balance of a toddler learning to walk. He's pretty coherant, and I don't know if his still-twitching leg is still seizure related, medication related, or permanent seizure damage? Just today after the big whammy seizure did he lose his appetite, but he'll take some water through a syringe pretty willingly. The other pills that have been prescribed to him had to be mashed up into a powder, mixed with water and fed through a syringe.
It's not that we're keeping him here, forcing him to suffer instead of racing to the vet to put him down. He's just in and out of it so much that I feel that he may have a chance to recover, and having him put to sleep would be jumping to conclusions. I just don't know what to do..
I don't even know where to start on asking for advice or anything, but anything you have for me is extremely appreciated.

dyan

Posted : 10/1/2006 6:59:51 AM

Hi and welcome!
First of all, I want to say that I really didn't write to give you advise,,,I really don't have any idea about this sort of thing. I wish I could help you! But I came here to say that I don't blame you for not giving up on him quite yet. IS there another vet you can get a second opinion? Secondly, I'm sure that there will be someone to come along soon with some sound advise or information of past experiences. There is more then one poster on this forum that has a dog with seizures.
I did want to ask you though,,is it possible that Rhett got into something that could hurt him? You know,,some chemical, or even food like chocolate or grapes that could poison a dog? Or had he just been givin vaccinations or even heartworm prevention pill? Just trying to think of another reason that this could happen.
Please check back, I'm sure you will have more then one poster here to give you advise...

Cheshire Charms

Posted : 10/1/2006 7:13:16 AM

We had originally feared that he may have gotten into something poisonous, but the veterinarian said that little Rhett here may experience seizures due to the meningitis and parasite. I did a little research on the topic, and everything unfortunately sounds about right.

We've only had him a few weeks actually, but he is AKC registered and the woman we bought him from had all of her puppies go through a common examination and have had their first round of vaccinations including a deworming.

At the moment I shall add that I forgot to post about the panting. He doesn't seem to have a fever, but he's been panting like he's thirsty for the last few hours but won't drink unless it's through a syringe. I don't even know where to go with this one, my Mother suggested breathing difficulties? Seems like he's getting enough air by a good look, just panting with his tongue out like it's a hot day in midsummer. Any ideas? Thanks.

dyan

Posted : 10/1/2006 7:17:45 AM

Gee, I wish I did. And you know,,sometimes the medicine we give them (and humans) have OTHER effects,,hard to tell if some symptoms could even be caused by them.
Again, please check back. Seems like early Sunday mornings on this forum don't have as many people posting, as during the week or later..but I'm sure soon someone will come with help on seizures at the least.

calliecritturs

Posted : 10/1/2006 10:37:22 PM

The thought that jumps to MY mind is auto-immune - the high high fever can certainly bring on the seizing -- ask the vet if that sounds at all possible (and typically they'd put them on high doses of pred for something like that). Don't give up -- but DO ask the vet about auto-immune.

I've just been thru a really severe auto-immune thing with my own dog -- so I'm not saying that lightly. ARe you anywhere near or could you GO to your state's best vet school? Often that's the best place to jump for something like this -- they aren't as expensive as you might think and they can often deal far far better with something like this -- such stuff can just plain be 'beyond' the normal vet's experience. Billy would never ever have made it had we not gotten him to U of FL at Gainesville -- but he has!

Cheshire Charms

Posted : 10/2/2006 12:19:59 AM

We're taking him to the best in town. They assured us that he had a fighting chance, but they've done everything they can for him.

I'm happy to announce that he's been seizure free for nearly 36 hours, and he's eating very generous portions of both hard and soft dog food and drinking his water out of the bowl again. Perhaps the medication is in his system a bit more than it was a few days ago when it was first introduced to him. Very coherant, still walking like a toddler though - but that's to be expected since he's on doggy painkillers. Yesterday I had a hard time trying to differenciate if it was the painkillers or the "aftershock" of a seizure. He walks straight off and on, so it's really looking like it's due to the painkiller which brings relief. He's done very well today, dramatic improvement in the last 24 hours plus. If he can hold out like this a little less than a week, the parasite should be out of his system and it shouldn't be much longer after that for the meningitis to be cleared up. I'll keep you guys updated. [

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Pwca

Posted : 10/2/2006 2:37:06 AM

Glad to hear he is doing better. Seizures are very scary.

dyan

Posted : 10/2/2006 6:16:37 AM

I'm so happy he is doing better. YES,,please keep us updated!