bassetbrigade

Hi Everyone,

It has been a very long time since I posted. Our basset Mickey was diagnosed with epilepsy a year ago. We have been struggling to keep his seizures under control with very minimal success. We have been working with a Neurologist for 5 months but, we feel we are losing the battle. We feel very alone in this situation. Can anyone share their stories or experiences with me?

Thanks

__________________
Love slave to Toby, Sadie, Zoey & Jake

misspigie_07

[COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"]( aaaawwww poor Mickey!!!.....im sorry 2 hear dat....I do not have any experience on the disease but I will dig in to the internet 2 share some gd info!!!

Be strong on the journey!!
xoxo[/COLOR]

Mikey T

then you probably do not want to hear from me. Basset diagnosed with epilepsy at 1 1/2 yrs old longest time between siezures 67 days (second and third) mean was 2 weeks. On both KBr and Phenobarbitol max pheno dose almost destroyed the liver even with monthly tests. Died a few months later at 2 1/2 with her first and only status siezure on a Sunday morning before we could get to an emergency vet.

The first thing I would do differently, would be insist on liquid vallium for rectal adminstration in case of an emergency even though there was no history of custer or status siezures. If the vet was unwilling to provide the prescription I would be vet shopping It only takes one to kill

possible look at a couple of human drug though they have a short half life in dogs have proven helpful in cases where pheno of Kbr can not control it

Adjunctive therapy for refractory canine idiopathic epilepsy
Zonisamide trial
refractory epilepsy.
Two general web sites on Canine Epilepsy that may help

Canine Epilepsy UK

Epi Guardian Angels

bassetbrigade

Thank you for your information and I'm sorry for your loss. We currently have him on Bromide, zonisamide and and new drug Levetrisetam. We do have Diazapam in suppository form because he does have cluster seizures. We have had him on both Pheno and gabapentin. But, had to take him off after he was almost overdosed. They keep changing the doses and drugs and none have been effective. He has only gone 35days with no seizure then had 7 in 72hrs. All his seizures are short (1min or less) but, are all Grand Mal seizures. He is then post ictal for 3 hrs.

This is why we feel we are losing the battle, Even when he was so doped up that he could not move, he still had a seizure.

We don't want to give up on him but, how much more can either of us take?

__________________
Love slave to Toby, Sadie, Zoey & Jake

Mikey T

My experience is now more than 15 years ago so the newer drugs were not available, It is only just know getting easier to talk about the experience.

FWIW seizures average 1 1/2 minutes except the status siezure. When being withrawn from pheno because of liver she was hospitalized because of fear of custer siezures but had no siezures of any kind during those two weeks.

Post ictal 24 hrs, siezures occured early morning or at night, general while sleeping. Only dog I ever owned that showed no sign of dreaming i.e. legs moving, vocalization while sleeping, alway thought they were related.


Sorry I could not offer anything new it is a helpless feeling when the siezure are not under control. We came to dread thursdays because for whatever reason 70% of her siezures occured on thursday.

Fortunately we did not have to make that decision. No clusters and slight more under control than Mickey's. I can sympathize it is not an easy disease to live with for the owner or the pet when not under control becuase each subsequent seizure lowers the threshold for the next so over time they become more frequent. There are no rules for making the ultimate decision you just have to weigh the future and posible alternative therapies, quality of life for both Mickey and yourself and use your best judgement. There are no right or wrong answers. The only thing that is for sure is whatever you chose It will be the right answer.

tygrrrl

I'm so sorry to hear you and Mickey are going thru this. The dog we had when I was growing up had epilepsy, although it sounds like hers was milder. I do remember a time when she had seizures daily, and other times when it would be months in between. I was young enough at the time not to pay attention to what meds she took and it was long enough ago that it would be outdated info if I knew. I know her quality of life was good most of the time, and she lived to the ripe old age of 13.

I hope you're able to find the right therapy soon. My thoughts will be with you.

slbj.mouse

I had a beagle who had mild epilepsy for many years. I can only imagine what you are dealing with however.
Somethings to add (maybe) to what you are doing with medications.
1. Search ingredients in your dog food for links to epilepsy. My quick check of a natural healing book notes Sodium Nitrate and Red dye No 40.
2. Check for lead sources like: paint, cheap plastic dog toys
3. Ask your vet about vitamine suppliments. My quick check of a natural healing book notes one as effecting epilepsy.
4. See if there is a qualified veterinary accupuncturist in your area.
(Personal note here. I had a mini doxie with serious back issues improved by chiropractic care. I had considerable experience with chiropractic and alternative care for myself by the time I was dealing with this. A good/excellent alternative care provider will usually be found working happily often closely with a traditional practice. My veterinary chiropractor/accupuncturist works in a multi-vet traditional practice of an old style farm vet)

Fight the good fight for Mickey, love him lots, do what you need to for him to have a quality life if not length of life. Its not easy all owners would agree, but it is always worth it to have them in our lives for however long they are with us.

slbj.mouse foster mom to B.Basset

bassetbrigade

Hi Slbj.mouse,

1.) We have tried switching to all natural dog food for over 6 mo. (no change)
2.) He is not on any vitamins
3.) We have moved to a new house and his seizures are not worse or better - we use non toxic cleaning supplies.
4.) We are working with a Neurologist who specializes in idiopathic epilepsy. His epilepsy is not the cause of any food for chemical. We have checked it all.

He had another seizure today. This makes 5 within 8 days. We are finally seeing his personality come back after being almost comatose from too high of doses of this meds (Neurologists doing). So now his seizures are getting more frequent. Nothing seems to be working.

Thank you to everyone for all your comments.

__________________
Love slave to Toby, Sadie, Zoey & Jake

lvnMattie

Dear bassetbrigade, I don't have any experience in epilepsy, but my heart does go out to you and Mickey. All I can say is love Mickey with all of your heart and do what's best for him always whatever they may be.

pamela buckingham

Hi all new here. I have a 3yr old basset boy who wa dianosed with epilepsy just 3 weeks ago we had very bad couble of days with sizures he is now on phenebratl 2 times a day no more sizures yet he has gained weight but side effects have pretty much left. Hi blood levels are doing better but still watching.