Spencer had a GM seizure last night at 11:00 p.m. His last GM was six days ago. This morning, I talked with the Vet and he wants to add PB. I drove over to pick up a prescription for PB which I filled on my way home. I planned to start it at his evening feeding time - the dosage is ½ pill a.m. and ½ pill p.m. and the strength is 32.4 mg. The Vet said he wanted to start him off with a low dose. I am to continue giving him the Kbr (.7 ml) as well. Spencer had another GM seizure at 1:30 p.m. today. Talked with the Vet and he told me to give him a whole PB pill right away and another half this evening. So of course I am a nervous wreck right now. The shortest period of time between GM was six days but this time it was only 14.5 hours. I’ve gotten to the point where every time I hear a noise (or a thump), I’m off and checking on the dog. Of course having cats as well, it’s usually one of them jumping on or off something. Do you ever get to the point where you feel you can relax again? He just came into the Office and is on the couch (which he tumbled off when he had the GM this morning) and I can’t see me forbidding him to be on the furniture. Or am I wrong?
Seizures and Meds
- Thread starter Jan244
- Start date
Spencer had a GM seizure last night at 11:00 p.m. His last GM was six days ago. This morning, I talked with the Vet and he wants to add PB. I drove over to pick up a prescription for PB which I filled on my way home. I planned to start it at his evening feeding time - the dosage is ½ pill a.m. and ½ pill p.m. and the strength is 32.4 mg. The Vet said he wanted to start him off with a low dose. I am to continue giving him the Kbr (.7 ml) as well. Spencer had another GM seizure at 1:30 p.m. today. Talked with the Vet and he told me to give him a whole PB pill right away and another half this evening. So of course I am a nervous wreck right now. The shortest period of time between GM was six days but this time it was only 14.5 hours. I’ve gotten to the point where every time I hear a noise (or a thump), I’m off and checking on the dog. Of course having cats as well, it’s usually one of them jumping on or off something. Do you ever get to the point where you feel you can relax again? He just came into the Office and is on the couch (which he tumbled off when he had the GM this morning) and I can’t see me forbidding him to be on the furniture. Or am I wrong?Oh Jan, so sorry to hear that Spencer is having more seizure issues!
It sounds like you have a very capable vet, though. So that will help emensely. I know I have probably asked this already, but have you had his thyroid tested yet? (6-panel, sent off to HemoPet.org for interpretation) With Shelties being prone to thyroid issues even without epilepsy, and the connection between thyroid function and efficiency of anti-seizure medications, it really is worth the extra time and money to get it checked out.
As for feeling secure again ... it happens eventually. I usually go for about a month or two after Gio has a burst of seizure activity before I can sleep properly again. His recent seizures all occured at between 3-4am, that was a couple of weeks ago and I am still waking up at 4am on the nose to check on him. Pretty good internal clock!
Any little twitch, and I wake up to check, even if it is Romeo running in his sleep. I tend to also get night terrors and waking nightmares because of the stress and lack of sleep. As long as he doesn't have any more seizures, all that lasts about a month or two before I get to sleep through a night. But things quiet down eventually and you will be able to relax.
Here's to hoping that the PB in addition to the KBr helps. We've got our fingers crossed for you and Spencer!
It sounds like you have a very capable vet, though. So that will help emensely. I know I have probably asked this already, but have you had his thyroid tested yet? (6-panel, sent off to HemoPet.org for interpretation) With Shelties being prone to thyroid issues even without epilepsy, and the connection between thyroid function and efficiency of anti-seizure medications, it really is worth the extra time and money to get it checked out.
As for feeling secure again ... it happens eventually. I usually go for about a month or two after Gio has a burst of seizure activity before I can sleep properly again. His recent seizures all occured at between 3-4am, that was a couple of weeks ago and I am still waking up at 4am on the nose to check on him. Pretty good internal clock!
Any little twitch, and I wake up to check, even if it is Romeo running in his sleep. I tend to also get night terrors and waking nightmares because of the stress and lack of sleep. As long as he doesn't have any more seizures, all that lasts about a month or two before I get to sleep through a night. But things quiet down eventually and you will be able to relax. Here's to hoping that the PB in addition to the KBr helps. We've got our fingers crossed for you and Spencer!
mcguiregirl2248
Forums Enthusiast
I'm sorry to hear about Spencer having so much trouble. I hope the new meds work and you can get back to normal soon. Thoughts are with you and Spencer. Big wags and licks from my girls to you both!
Ann
Moderator
Oh Jan, I feel so badly for you and Spencer. I'm praying that the additional meds help the poor guy. Like GeeRome, I've found that Pixie's seizures come in clumps too. She won't have one for months and then she has several close together. One wonders if their nervous system just gets in seizure mode. I know what you mean too about always watching them...I do the same thing and the slightest little twitch sends me running to check on her. My solution is for her to sleep right next to me on the bed. I sleep when she does. Fortunately, she's a pretty solid sleeper most of the time. As GeeRome said, it sounds as if your vet is right on top of this and that's a comfort. Keep us posted.
GM stands for "Grand Mal". Grand mal seizures occur when seizure activity occurs in the whole of the brain. The alternative, Petit mal seizures, occur when seizure activity only affects a small portion of the brain. Grand mals can present in a number of ways, but the characteristic grand mal includes complete collapse, unconsciousness, leg padding, jaw snapping, excessive drooling, labored breathing, and occasionally uncontrolled urination/defecation. Time for recovery is often decreased with grand mals, lasting anywhere from a couple of minutes to 6+ hours before the dog regains complete awareness again.
sheltiemom
Forums Enthusiast
My Marcus had gran mal seizures. He was started out on PB twice a day and continued to have gran mal and petite mal seizures. It does take a while on the meds before they get a maintance dose in their systems so a week on PB is actually not a long time to see if the meds are controlling the seizures. Be sure to never miss a dose and you may also want to ask your vet about Neurontin for seizures if the pb is not working as expected. Marcus did better on Neurontin then pb and normally it can be more costly but we got therm at Costco for 1/4 the regular pharmacy prices and it was a generic we got (Gabapentin)