Pru had a seizure today... a question for the seizure dog owners

IrishSetterGrl

Do you know why JJ acted aggressively with Prudence?

That's a totally normal, natural, survival of the fittest response. I would never leave a dog who had had a seizure loose with other dogs. Just like what happens if somebody is injured and having a screaming fit... nobody can be blamed for a fight where the agitator cannot fight back. 

That's great news, Shelly. Hopefully, it's not idiopathic. Once her thyroid level normalizes, hopefully, you won't see another one. *fingers toesies and eyeballs crossed* 

Greyhound Low Thyroid levels!  I'm really hopeful this is your culprit even if your vet has not confirmed the correlation in her own practice!!!  And I know a lot of folks with epi-cats are convinced of the correlation particularly when onset of seizure doesn't happen under the age of 2 years (and I think that age marker holds for dogs, too).

Fingers and paws crossed!

pofi_pasquale

Greyhound Low Thyroid levels!  I'm really hopeful this is your culprit even if your vet has not confirmed the correlation in her own practice!!!  And I know a lot of folks with epi-cats are convinced of the correlation particularly when onset of seizure doesn't happen under the age of 2 years (and I think that age marker holds for dogs, too).

Fingers and paws crossed!

OHHHHH... this is cool to hear about the cats.. i really hope that this is the case!!   She isnt extremely low.. I forget what the vet said, but not nearly as low as JJ was when we had him tested 2 years ago.   It does seem odd that she had one all of a sudden like this so I too am hopeful. 

incidentally,  she and JJ both went in for teeth cleaning about 3 weeks or so ago and while they are under they do a very complete full body exam and they found 2 things with her.  A really bad yeast infection was in her right ear and she also had an infection on her vulva.  We had asked about this before because she gets itchy down there sometimes and it is discolored, but every time they have tested it, it was normal (ie- no infection).  This time was different.  the vet said that low thyroid levels can also mean the possibility of more infections (think she said they have a harder time fighting them off) . So she said she feels this will go a long way to helping her keep this infection under control in the future.

She has been an incredibly healthy dog until recently.  In fact, unlike JJ who has:

-low thyroid

-an amputated tail with previous re-occurent infections before they amputated it

-allergies (food and grass related)

-arthritis

-bone spurs

-joint problems 

-terrible teeth (tho NOT terrible on a greyhound scale.  retired racers have simply awful teeth)

-and totally dark and discolored teeth due to his trainer putting tetracycline in his water as a pup

Pru has been completely healthy.  in fact she has had 3 previous visits to the vet for checkups and blood work and she says she is one of the healthiest greys she has seen come off the track as an adult.  So i am really hoping that all of these recent problems are largely due to the thyroid problems.

Tho.. I am not sure I will ever trust to leave teh two of them alone in the same room if we are not home. :( 

Thanks!!!

And thank you everyone for your support and really helpful information. Additionally it helps to see so many others having to go through this and also playing the game of "dog separation"...lol 

In the future, I would separate out the vaccines.  And you may want to consult a holistic vet once you get the thyroid meds stabilized.  Also watch cleaners, etc.  Once a seizure has happened, those neurological pathways are opened in the brain and can not be closed (at least that is my understanding of it) and an individual who has had a seizure is more susceptible to them.  Sighthounds are so sensitive to many things, I think in part because of the low body fat.  They are especially sensitive to some anesthetics, but if your vet specializes in grey's she probably already knows that. 

I have a friend who does epi-dog rescue and she's SEEN, in her home, dogs react to cleaners.  One in particular is Pine-Sol or anyting piney- and even pine cones and pine sap.  She's ditched all the high-powered cleaners for more natural stuff and had far better luck with it.  I don't use pine anything b/c of Kee.

agilebasenji

They are especially sensitive to some anesthetics, but if your vet specializes in grey's she probably already knows that. 

Yes, she is not only a grey owner, but has been involved in grey rescue forever.  All of her staffed is very versed in the greys and they LOVE working with them. She does all the spay and neuters and teeth cleaning for one of the many grey rescues in town. Almost 1/3 of her patients are greyhounds.  That is why I go to her. They never use any anesthesia that is sensitive for greyhounds and everything is always explained in terms of “greyhound results” . So teeth problems, thyroid levels, anything that can be different in greyhounds or  sighthounds in general versus other breeds is explained in great detail.  And yes, the issues have to do with low body fat, different metabolism and the inability to regulate their body temps more than other breeds. This is why she explained that they don’t get too concerned with the 1-2 minute seizures.... it is when they are longer or keep rolling one seizure into another that it is very dangerous.  In basic terms she explained that due to their body temp and such they can “fry their brains” much quicker with these types of seizures than other breeds.

Good info about the cleaners everyone.  Nothing new used in terms of cleaners that I can tell that would have triggered this one, but I will keep an eye on it for sure and be aware of what I am using. 

Today was a BAD DAY.  The neighbors called to tell me she had been whining for hours this afternoon.  She is so distressed I think by not being able to see JJ.  Tonight I am changing things and will be trying to keep them in the same room but separated.  This weekend when DH is back in town we can drag the ex-pens down from the RV in the mountains and them split the family room in half just so that she cant get to the stairs and hopefully he cant get to her if she has one.  I am hoping this makes a significant difference.  She vomited a little this morning and then when I got home today there was fairly fresh foamy bile.  She is having a  rough time and dad not being home this week is really not helping matters  :(

Hi Shelly--I've been reading along for a day or two.  I don't have any experience with this sort of thing but wanted you to know that Willow and I are thinking of all of you. 

Lori

I would think if they can see each other, her anxiety would decrease.  You also may want to use a DAP.

Cleaners - That Pine stuff is bad.  Vinegar is mild and usually does the job.  (If you can't stand the smell, add a little lavender oil, or oil of your choice.  Lavender is just what I use.) 

Don't they make DAP collars? That would probably be really good, for her.

Maybe put on some soothing music, on the neighbor's side of the house, and put Pru on the other, LOL. Poor girl. I hope she feels better when she can see her friend. 

Lori, thanks so much for the support from you and Miss Willow!

We have tried the DAP before and didn’t have any success. She was a SA dog when we got her and so we tried in the beginning and it didn’t seem to change anything.  Then  the last vacation we went on without them, we found out from our neighbors that she was literally screaming all day long as tho she was in pain.  She was so anxious we were leaving her again so we tried the Dap and it seemed to have no effect.   I haven’t tried the color so that might be something to look into   

We do keep the TV on during the day for them and tonight I rearranged some things to try to separate the small family room so they each get a side.  I have a thick screen  that she can see through that separates their beds. And then I have other barriers forming a “wall” down the middle of the room.  Hopefully it will help her if she can see him in the bed right next to her.   

If he REALLY wanted to, he could knock down the barrier and get to her, but he is usually pretty good about not trying to knock things over or get across something that he isn’t suppose to.  I know I am taking a little bit of a change tomorrow since it isn’t the most sturdy thing but I am out of options.   Unfortunately, until DH gets home tomorrow and we go up to the RV in the mountains this weekend where the ex-pens are kept, I have no other options.

Love the lavender idea!

I don't have any advice, but that must be scary!! I am happy to know it is only low thyroid. When i worked as a vet assistant years ago, we had a rotti that would come in for treatment of histoplasmosis. After she had her medicine (i'm not sure what it was, thick green and intravenous) her nose would start bleeding and she'd have a seizure. It was so scary and i can't imagine that happening to my own dogs. Hope everything goes well!!