Corgis having seizures

[bear99]

My welsh corgi Bear had another seizure last night. He started having them in August of 2007 and has one about once a month . He is just 7 years old, he went through some test at the vet nothing showed up. The vet would like to put him on Phenobarbital I don't like the idea because I was reading up on it and it could damage his liver.

I was wondering if anybody has a idea of anything else I can do for Bear beside putting him on Phenobarbital


Thanks Kathy and Bear

[MyPemCharlie]

Hi Kathy,

I'm sorry I don't know, but I sure hope that your Bear will recover and feel better soon. Please keep posting on his progress.

[Celtic Crone]

The cause of the seizures needs to be determined and Phenobarbital may be necessary for a period of time. You could also look for an alternative/holistic type vet practice as I know some epileptic dogs are being treated with Chinese herbal compounds.

For better answers to your questions, you need to join Corgi-L <http://www.corgi-l.org> . Search the archives there and you'll learn, a) you aren't alone and b) a lot of good information to help you along. Ask questions on the list, there are several who have a lot of experience with epileptic dogs. There is also a K-9 epilepsy list on Yahoo. Those will be the places to find your answers.

Viv

[glencorgi]

That's the best advice and recommendations I could give too.

Debbie

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by bear99

My welsh corgi Bear had another seizure last night. He started having them in August of 2007 and has one about once a month . He is just 7 years old, he went through some test at the vet nothing showed up. The vet would like to put him on Phenobarbital I don't like the idea because I was reading up on it and it could damage his liver.

I was wondering if anybody has a idea of anything else I can do for Bear beside putting him on Phenobarbital

I lost a dog to a seizure. He had one, it wasn't real bad, we took him to the vet. Nothing conclusive. The vet thought it could be idiopathic epilepsy but since they were mild he took a wait and see attitude. The next seizure was a big one and killed Patriot at age 6. So IMO, put him on the phenobarbital and then look for alternatives.

I'd go to the epilepsy list on yahoo for information.

Peggy

[Chip's Mom]

Peggy - that is so sad, I am sorry for your loss.

My daughter's chow has mild seizures but I don't think she is on medication. Good luck in making your decision.

[Michael Romanos]

Certainly toxic poisoning can be a cause of seizures. It could very well be that your poor Corgi has had something real serious or is getting poisoned on a continuing basis without your knowledge.
I will check witl some vets in New Zealand for their opinion on the drug given to Bear and report back to you.

[glencorgi]

Canine epilepsy and diseases that cause seizures in dogs
These folks will be up on the latest treatment plans and options.

A tribute page by a Corgi-L member to her GSD which had epilepsy.
Angel's Epilepsy Page Welcome to Angel's Home Page!

Debbie

[bear99]

Sorry to hear about your dog, I called the vet Bear will be going on medications on Saturday, The vet told me he might not have to stay on it forever, will be doing more blood work in 3 weeks to see how he is doing

Thanks again Bear and Kathy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Chip's Mom

Peggy - that is so sad, I am sorry for your loss.

Thank you, it was some time ago (1988), but I still miss him.

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Certainly toxic poisoning can be a cause of seizures. It could very well be that your poor Corgi has had something real serious or is getting poisoned on a continuing basis without your knowledge.

Michael we did blood work, there were no toxins or poision in his system. It was diagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy. Because the seizures were so mild the vet wanted to wait and see. It was a poor choice and one I would not repeat.

For those that don't know, idiopathic means unknown cause.

Peggy

[Kris L. Christine]

Significant calcium deficiency can cause seizure-like episodes, have you had a blood test to check calcium and phosphorous levels? High phosphorous foods (meat, eggs, nuts) bind with calcium, as do high oxalate foods (oatmeal) and may deplete your dog's levels to a point where it will cause problems. Poison will also cause seizures.

If you have chickens, you should be aware that their droppings are extremely high in phosphorous and can cause a problem if your dog eats too many of them.

One of our dogs developed severe seizures after the second of his puppy rabies shots -- his head shook so hard we thought his eyes would pop out, it was terrifying.

Personally, I would have a complete blood count done to check for mineral levels if you don't think vaccines or something your dog is eating is causing the seizures. PLUS, I would consult a Homeopathic/Holistic veterinarian for an alternative treatment.