Siezures or fits in dogs

Does anyone on this forum have a dog which takes fits??
Our four year old Cocker Spaniel has bee taking fits now for about nine months. He usually has one about every three weeks but sometimes will have 2 in the same day. Have had heaps of tests done at the vets but they say it's something we'll have to live with. He is taking Phenobarbitone at present but it hasn't lessened the frequency any.

BazzaB

 

Is it epilepsy? Thats usually diagnosed by eliminating everything else....your left with all the bloodwork coming back normal but the seizures continue so its generally put down as epileptic siezures, they also go approximately 4-8 week intervals (but theres a definite pattern with 3 weeks apart). Hes also at the 'right' age for the onset, between 2-4 years old. There are other things that will cause intermittent seizures, sometimes its eating (or the food), somtimes theres a 'trigger'. But what you describe sounds like epilepsy. In most cases the phenobarb will get it under control, have you talked to your vet to see if its possible to try and up the dose?? There are some cases were nothing works and the outlook is not always good...then again some dogs live with it for years without meds.
You really need to follow this up with your vet, dont ever up the dose of the meds without talking to the vet first though, it can be fatal if not done correctly...there are also serious long term effects with phenobarb, especially with higher dosing. If your not happy with the results your getting from your vet you could always get a second opinion from another vet, maybe a specialist. There are other drugs available also, I know of a couple of people whos dogs cycle abotu every 6 weeks, the seizures are mild and they just give a small dose of valium when they see the signs...every dog is different though, its a matter of finding out what will work for you and your dog.

Good luck.

 

I had a cocker as a child and she was an epileptic. It started happening when she was around 3. We got her meds and if she happened to have a siezure I could usually get her to stop just by saying "lets go for a ride" she would snap right out of the siezures like nothing happened and head for the door. Us just coming home could sometimes set her off on a fit. But after the meds she only had one or 2 and she lived on to about 12.

 

brain tumor needs to be ruled out

has the vet performed a CAT scan. If there is a brain tumor present than general testing will not show this and Pheno will not solve the problem in most cases.

 

Hi people
Thanks for the replies. Actually the vet we have been going to called it idiopathic fits. The idio for idiots for not knowing the causes and pathic for being pathetic that they couldn't do much about it. :lol: :lol: or should that be
Anyway I have been to another vet this week and he is bringing me a different medication to try tomorrow. I'll keep you posted on results. Once again thanks for your responses

BazzaB