I would welcome input, Dublin had a seizure about an hour ago....UPDATE

[Sue and Cash]

Dub has epilepsy. He has had 3 more seizures since last night. We started him on the pheno this morning and so far not so great but we are hoping. The vet is concerned because he is clustering but he is settled now and we will take him to the hospital overnight if things get bad. Such a gorgous dog, such a tragic turn of events the past two weeks. I wish things were how there were before but I can't go back now. I didn't think it would progress this fast.

[Astrid Landsaat]

Susan,

I think that you have to put Dublin on medication right now, he had already 2 or 3 seizures. That means that he is clustering and needs medication. You don't have to worry about liver damage, that can only happen if the dog is on a very high dose Pb for a long time. Using Valium in stressful situations is not a good idea. This drug is meant to break clusters.

My Ginger's grandma was also an epileptic and I don't know if she is still alive. Ginger is, she is on medication for 3 1/2 years now and she is doing most of the time fine. She is not seizure free, but we can live with that.

Astrid.

[Sue and Cash]

It was uplifting to get out to our dog park. He is sleeping peacefully on the bed and I can relax for a minute. I checked and the meds are only 40 for three months. Cheap indeed if they work for us. I know he had three in a week but both times were five minutes after a bath. Two in one night can happen with large breeds I had read, like left over activity not finished yet. Again why after a bath? He is way more freaked out about nail clippings! I am afraid to start them and afraid to not start. My brain will explode before Dublin ever gets to see that doctor. My friend at the park said her last dog had them for his whole life. And he was on pheno also. And she said hemming and hawing about starting this is normal. That many go through denial at the beginning, blaming other things like I am doing. In my breeders defense, she has been very kind. I think she meant, don't go broke on a dog that she felt wasn't healthy by her standards. She felt I should start the meds also but to not go overboard with what my family can manage as far as tests etc. The offer of the pup was a litter she had of a mix of gordon and irish. I asked why she had bred a mix and she said it was for some of her hunting people. It wasn't a regular thing of hers. She told me a very funny story about Dub's grandfather who she didn't know had seizures until she walked up to the kennel and he was having one with a new prospective buyer coming to see the dogs. The people ran for the hills of course and she was shocked to see her dog this way. I don't think she lied when she told me he was her only one with this issue. She was honest that she was disappointed in the health of the litter dub is from. Several have bad guts. Anyway, I pray I can sleep tonight and get back to work on Monday and get some normalness to my life again. I feel upside down. The dog park friends have called everyday with support and treated him like the prince that he is when we went. He romped and played for an hour and it was bliss to see him happy. I kept it shorter than normal and hope that after he gets on the meds and gets settled he will romp again.

[Cheryl Gorey]

I'm so pleased you had an enjoyable time at the park with Dublin. My very best wishes for your family and Dublin for a good health management plan for his health problems.
regards

[lyn hathaway]

hi susan, glad you enjoyed your trip to park with dublin and its nice that people at the park are supporting you. it sounds like dublin enjoyed it as well.
hope once the medication starts working you and your family and dublin can get back to leading a pretty normal life .please keep us all informed and try not to worry too much.i know its easier said than done cos im in a similar situation with layla and you do worry.

[Jo Fisher]

Hi Susan

Still reading the messages about Dublin and I am as concerned about you as about him! I know you're 'freaked out' at the moment, but may I suggest something to help YOU and thereby help Dublin? Buy the book 'Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway' by Susan Jeffers. It's really well known. She's an American psychologist and has written this truly helpful book, which is easy to read and can be picked up and put down quite easily. It gives lots of real examples and usefuI, easy ways to help yourself. I know you must be concerned about all the money you're spending at the moment, so you could always borrow it from a library.

Take care - Jo

[lyn hathaway]

please read update on dublin for some reason it has not come on main page blog.i think susan would appreciate all the help and support that people on this site can offer her during this difficult time

[melissa mcclure]

Hi, I am new to the group. I had a Golden that all of the sudden began with seizures and she was put on phenobarb. She was highly stoned for about 2 weeks until her system got used to the drug. She was good for a year then all of the sudden she started again and I took her into the vets office. She had 5 more in the truck on the way tot he vets, it was only a 20 mintue drive. Anyway I left her there as she was so bad. She was in the hospital for 5 days and when I came to take her home my vet told me that they through blood work found that she had brain cancer. She gave her about 2 weeks. She lasted 6 weeks until she no longer wanted her strawberries in the morning and I knew that was her way of telling me she was done. I dont know how old your dog is but if your pup is not a pup then there is an outside reason for the seizures and not due to lack of oxygen during birth. Good luck with your pup. I know it is a horror to watch a seizure and know that there is nothing you can do to stop it right then and there. From a friend of mine who has them she says they dont hurt. But I know it hurts to watch somone you love be in that condition

[Astrid Landsaat]

Hello Melissa,

I am very sorry to hear about your dog. How old was she when she had her first seizure?

Because of his age it is more likely that Dublin has idiopathic epilepsy. He is to young to develop brain cancer.

[melissa mcclure]

Hi Astrid,
My Golden, Amber she was 9 when she had her first seizure and was just over 10 when she passed away. I had only had her for just under 2 years.

[Julie Brown]

I know that is so hard to watch them and be so helpless. My Irish is 8 yrs Maggie she's has had several seizures for the last 5 yrs. but in the last year I think they finally gotten her medication right! I think that is key!
PS I have another setter named Dublin. God bless.

[melissa mcclure]

yep the correct dosage is the key for epilepsy

[Sue and Cash]

Thanks everyone. Your responses are so appreciated. He is only 2 years old. And yes they said idiopathic. He just started his seizures three weeks ago. Nothing before that. I am keeping him a little less active due to the start of meds has him just a wee bit off kilter. He is really doing very well on the dose. Not what I had expected. Sleepy yes, but he always slept thru the day and waited for his time after I get home from work for our couple of hours outdoors. He chased butterflies today and I felt like things were normal again. Did a little frizbee and then I called in a day. I have to see how this goes before I feel safe doing our normal routine again.