My dog is having seizures. HELP

[Rita Jean]

Wish all of you the best will say a prayer for answers soon and better health. Take care.

Rita Jean

[tanza]

@lvoss:

I also forgot, has your girl been tested for Fanconi? You had mentioned increased water drinking earlier. In some dogs with Fanconi there are also neurological issues that develop.

That was going to be one of my questions also. Have you strip tested her for Sugar in her Urine? Or was it done with her latest blood work?

[wubanga]

@tanza:

That was going to be one of my questions also. Have you strip tested her for Sugar in her Urine? Or was it done with her latest blood work?

she has been tested for everything, i have it all documented.

well heres the update on her, i got her home finally no more seizures since the originally day when she had aprox 5 of them. shes still acting "drunk" coming off the drugs, but shes doin good got her in a nice padded crate so shes not walkin around into walls and such. shes still being pretty vocal but its partially because she hasnt been in a crate in 7 yrs since she was a puppy and absolutley hates crates. still no real diagnosis yet but in the written report it says "we are prescribing 2 antibiotics (clindamycin, doxycycline) for amber, in order to empiracally treat her for some rare infectious diseases that can cause seizures" .

so thats as much as we know so far, i will keep everyone updated on the last test. they tested some fluid not sure exactly what type.

[tanza]

Do you have a copy of the blood work? Does it specifically say that they checked for sugar in the urine? Did they do an ultrasound to check out her internal organs?

Here is a good link about Seizures in Dogs and some of the causes
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/symptoms-and-causes-of-seizures-in-dogs.html

However most everything says most common cause is Epilepsy. here is another interesting link
http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/Why.html

[lvoss]

They would have had to do a urinalysis to look for sugar in the urine so if only bloodwork was done you may want to pick up some urine test strips and test her just to be sure.

What were her thyroid numbers? Were all the values well within in the normal range or were they toward the low side of normal? If they were toward the low side you may want to submit the panel to Dr Dodds since she works with many basenji clients and get her opinion.

[thunderbird8588]

Glad to hear Amber is doing well. Lets hope it is an infection and the seizures were a one off

[wubanga]

@lvoss:

They would have had to do a urinalysis to look for sugar in the urine so if only bloodwork was done you may want to pick up some urine test strips and test her just to be sure.

What were her thyroid numbers? Were all the values well within in the normal range or were they toward the low side of normal? If they were toward the low side you may want to submit the panel to Dr Dodds since she works with many basenji clients and get her opinion.

they did urinalysis, glucose level was high the first day, 134 on august 5th the day of the seizures, the next day it was down to 92.

i have all the numbers for the tests, which abrevation is the thyroid #s im lookin thru and cant find them, there are all kinds of numbers and abreviations just not sure which one is thyroid, thx for the help all. amber is the best just tryin to make sure shes gonna be ok and thx to u guys for helping me make sure the vets did all the tests and the correct ones.

[lvoss]

If a full thyroid panel was run there should be values for, T3, T4, Free T3, Free T4, T3 AA, and T4 AA. If they only ran total T4, that is not enough to rule out a thyroid issue.

If she tested positive for glucose in her urine and her blood values are normal then she may have Fanconi and blood gases would be needed to determine the course of treatment. http://www.basenji.org/PUBLIC/HealthInfo.htm

[tanza]

And it is critical that you find out if it is Fanconi as there no cure, only treatment and the earlier that you get her on the treatment the better chance that you have that she will response well to it.

As lvoss said, if you don't see anything other then total T4 for Thyroid (and that is 99% of the time only what is run for Thyroid) then you really need to get the full panel done.. and especially if she turns out to have Fanconi.

[Patty]

I've just read this posting and obviously you are getting good advice from everybody. I can't add anything as I've had no firsthand experience of fits but did want you to know that I'm praying for Amber's recovery and my Basenis send loving, healing yodels to her

[wubanga]

well i still dont see those numbers, just emailed the neurologist and asked many questions the full panel thyroid test and the glucose, faconi, thx lvoss for the info. i will make sure all tests were done and i will find out the thyriod numbers and get back to u on that.

[tanza]

@wubanga:

well i still dont see those numbers, just emailed the neurologist and asked many questions the full panel thyroid test and the glucose, faconi, thx lvoss for the info. i will make sure all tests were done and i will find out the thyriod numbers and get back to u on that.

Many Vets do not know about Fanconi, it is best for you to download the Protocol and give it to them…

[lvoss]

Was she tested for lead poisoning? If you live in an older home that may have lead based paint in the lower layers, it can cause the household dust to be high in lead.

[wubanga]

no i live in a newer apt complex here in arlington va. and the neurologist knew all about fanconi. pretty sure they ruled it out but not positive, my fiance has also been speaking with the vet so i will ask her about this. not sure if she was tested for lead poisining i will find out though and get back to u on that too.

[tanza]

You can not rule out Fanconi if there is sugar in the urine and not in the blood…

[Basenjimamma]

Otis and I are sending prayers to Amber and you…

[wubanga]

thx shes been doin ok, once in a while after being out on our balcony in the sun she starts doin head bobs (involuntary movements). only lasts a 30 secs or so. tryin to keep a record of everything i notice. have a follow up apt with vet in about a week.

still tryin to find out answers to your Q's tanza. i emailed the neurologist on fri and no response i think i should get a response by monday if not im calling.

[wubanga]

vet just called with distemper results and those came back negative as well.

[wubanga]

@tanza:

You can not rule out Fanconi if there is sugar in the urine and not in the blood…

my fiance just got off phone with the neurologist and our regular vet, they ruled out fanconi. and no thyroid problems , amber has had a full thyroid panel done at the neurologist, she forgot to ask how we can see the thyroid #s cuz i wanted to post them. i will get them at some point and post.

[wubanga]

update on amber, its been almost a year and a half since amber had a seizure, which is awesome!!! shes on zonisamide and kepra, she gets a pill of kepra every 8 hrs and the zonisamide twice a day and the amt was just reduced from 2 pills every 12 hours to 1 pill every 12 hours. she occasionally has tremors, but she just had a neurologist appt last week and they say shes in great health at this point. she turned 8 yrs old in sept. just wanted to give an update on her and thx for all your help in the past, zaar my black B is 3 yrs old now and doin great as well! i want a brindle one too now !

http://oi55.tinypic.com/rvzjaq.jpg