seizure in labs (or any dog????) updated

we think our 4 year old yellow lab had a seizure last night. he was in bed and then got up and fell on his side, his legs/paws/nails were all outstretched, he couldn't move and he pee'd himself..this lasted 3-4minutes. it was so scary. after he seemed alittle out of it but he seemed sad that he did something wrong (he's sensitive and i think he knew he pee'd on the rug).
he's never had anything like this happen before. he's eating and playing normallly and this morning seems fine. i am taking him to the vet today after work.

does anyone have any experience with dog seizures. i'm so concerned. he is my "1st" baby.

the only think i can think of that is different is that about 4 weeks ago we changed his food...went from Nutro to Iams. i made him chicken and rice this morning because i think it could be related.


Update: the vet said a seizure can be caused by hundreds of things so he cannot be sure what caused my dogs. he is going to do bloodwork to check things out and then we will wait and see if it happens again. he said it might or it may have just been a one time thing. my dog has been great all day and seems good. i hope it was just a one time thing

Message edited 4/28/2010 6:02:27 PM.

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????)

That definitely sounds like a seizure and I would get to the vet as soon as possible. Although people may have insight on their dogs, the experts should be getting to the cause of your dog's seizures.

Certain dog food can raise the temperature of a dog's body and contribute to the cause of seizures. But I think the vet should be giving you their opinion on that. I'd print out the nutritional information on both foods from the websites and bring it with you to the office.

Good luck, I hope your pup is ok.

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????)

Thanks. he has an appointment today at 3pm but I was wondering what experiences others have had.

Obviously I will take my doctors professional advice and I would never not have him checked out.

I am definitely going back to his other food. It was a "better" food and we should have never switched i'm thinking it was that or i gave him advantix this month for the first time since winter (he doesnt' go to any parks during the winter or see many other dogs so we stop it since i dont believe it's the healthiest thing)

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????)

How soon after you gave him the Advantix did he have the seizure? That was one of the things the FDA is investigating for the "spot-on" treatments like that and Frontline.

I'm sorry I assumed you were looking for medical advice from us; it's something I see a lot and I thought since you didn't mention it that you might not have made an appt. I'm glad you're going and definitely should tell them about the Advantix too.

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????)

Posted by greenfreak

How soon after you gave him the Advantix did he have the seizure? That was one of the things the FDA is investigating for the "spot-on" treatments like that and Frontline.

I'm sorry I assumed you were looking for medical advice from us; it's something I see a lot and I thought since you didn't mention it that you might not have made an appt. I'm glad you're going and definitely should tell them about the Advantix too.

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????)

Don't beat yourself up! I don't think dog food alone causes seizures. It just might aggravate the condition.

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????) updated

I pray it was just a one time thing! Poor little guy

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????) updated

my husky had "fits" all the time when we had him. He lived to be 19 and had not other health problems

we would sit with him and comfort him during a fit and then a few minutes later, he was fine

it is scary though

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????) updated

I have a Golden and he was diagnosed in August 2009 with Idiopathic Epilepsy. Idiopathic Epilepsy is the form of Epilepsy where there is no known cause and it is possibly just a genetic disorder. (I did a lot of research online even before his diagnosis because I wanted to be educated before talking to the doctor)

Morgan first had a seizure in April 2009. I took him to the vet and they did blood work and told me the same thing your vet told you....that it could just be a one time thing or it could happen again. At this point you just have to wait and see.

Fast forward to August 2009 and Morgan had a seizure on a Sunday night. This seizure lasted a lot longer than the first one. So I planned to call the vet the next day to see what I should do. The next day as I was getting ready for work he came into the bathroom where I was and started having another seizure. As soon as he was stable I brought him to the vet. They wanted to check him out and take more tests. Once they took him in the back to draw blood he started to have another seizure....that was 3 in less than 24 hours...actually less than about 15 hours. They kept him there all day to monitor him. He didn't have another one.

The vet prescribed Phenobarbytol which is the drug that is prescribed to humans who have epilepsy. The vet warned us that for the next few weeks while his body was getting adjusted to the medicine he would look like he was wobbly but not to worry because he will be back to his old self.

I was soo scared and nervous. I didn't want him to have to be on medicine for the rest of his life but I also didn't want him to have any seizures. The vet said that he can and will live a long and healthy life. They check the levels of the Pheno every 6 months to make sure his dose is accurate. It did take about 2-3 weeks for his body to get used to the medicine and I felt so bad for him because he was very very wobbly. I also started him on Glucosamine and Chondroytin because I wanted to make sure that his joints and muscles stayed strong because Goldens are prone to Hip Displasia.

Morgan is doing great and has not had a seizure since that day in August (knock on wood!).

Just make sure to monitor your doggie. He may never have a seizure again in his life but if he does be prepared for the vet to suggest he go on medicine.

If you have any questions, please feel free to FM me.

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????) updated

Posted by nraboni

I have a Golden and he was diagnosed in August 2009 with Idiopathic Epilepsy. Idiopathic Epilepsy is the form of Epilepsy where there is no known cause and it is possibly just a genetic disorder. (I did a lot of research online even before his diagnosis because I wanted to be educated before talking to the doctor)

Morgan first had a seizure in April 2009. I took him to the vet and they did blood work and told me the same thing your vet told you....that it could just be a one time thing or it could happen again. At this point you just have to wait and see.

Fast forward to August 2009 and Morgan had a seizure on a Sunday night. This seizure lasted a lot longer than the first one. So I planned to call the vet the next day to see what I should do. The next day as I was getting ready for work he came into the bathroom where I was and started having another seizure. As soon as he was stable I brought him to the vet. They wanted to check him out and take more tests. Once they took him in the back to draw blood he started to have another seizure....that was 3 in less than 24 hours...actually less than about 15 hours. They kept him there all day to monitor him. He didn't have another one.

The vet prescribed Phenobarbytol which is the drug that is prescribed to humans who have epilepsy. The vet warned us that for the next few weeks while his body was getting adjusted to the medicine he would look like he was wobbly but not to worry because he will be back to his old self.

I was soo scared and nervous. I didn't want him to have to be on medicine for the rest of his life but I also didn't want him to have any seizures. The vet said that he can and will live a long and healthy life. They check the levels of the Pheno every 6 months to make sure his dose is accurate. It did take about 2-3 weeks for his body to get used to the medicine and I felt so bad for him because he was very very wobbly. I also started him on Glucosamine and Chondroytin because I wanted to make sure that his joints and muscles stayed strong because Goldens are prone to Hip Displasia.

Morgan is doing great and has not had a seizure since that day in August (knock on wood!).

Just make sure to monitor your doggie. He may never have a seizure again in his life but if he does be prepared for the vet to suggest he go on medicine.

If you have any questions, please feel free to FM me.

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????) updated

Buddy too was diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy.They couldnt pin point what was causing the seizure but be was on a whole bunch of medication, phenobarb, kepra, valium.

If you have any questions please feel free to FM me.

dont beat yourself up. seizures could be caused by anything and lots of dogs get them once and never again.

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????) updated

I would get to a Vet right away!!!! I had a Shnauzer? (i know I misspelled that) and she had seizures. It ended up being really bad if unattended. I am glad you got to witness it versus it happening when you werent home. Act fast!!

Re: seizure in labs (or any dog????) updated