Lab Seizures

[drewbop]

I don't think I've read much about this on here before and was wondering if anyone else has had experience with it?

I have a 3 yr old chocolate lab that we got from the local shelter at 8 months. Last winter I had one experience of a seizure. It occurred after I got done running him after I got off work (throwing a tennis ball in the yard 15-20 mins). We came inside and he had a clinched jaw, shaking uncontrollably, and stiff legs, no motor skills, etc. It lasted around 10 mins. I'm presuming it was a seizure from what I've read and discussions with my vet after that occasion. We didn't do anything to "treat" it, and it didn't happen again the rest of the year.

Till this recent winter on Christmas, we went for a hike in the woods (say 3-4 miles) and on the way back home he had the exact same occurrence. After talking with a relative that has had the same sort of experience with a golden lab, she began feeding him bananas every morning and it hasn't had any seizures since. So we began to feed him bananas every morning and haven't seen anything happen until last week, where after I had run him after work (this time it was only 10-15 mins or so), he seized up again.

Just wondering if anyone else has had experiences with their dogs seizing and wondering if there really is anything I can do about it.

[Heartman]

Our 5 yr old yellow had her first seizure at 2.5 yrs or so. Scary - into vet for evaluative tests and they determined it was related to Epilepsy. We give her a mild tranquilizer morning and night now, and although the frequency has dropped considerably, seizures still occur. Would have thought spending $500 on a 2yr guaranteed pup with pedigree would do to keep us away from these sorts of things, but of course anything is possible.

Nice dog - you can tell she's trying to figure out what happens when it happens as well - symtoms at our house are exactly as you describe.

[#fishhunt#]

Sounds like it could be EIC(Exercise Induced Collapse) Only happens after dogs have been exrcising and seemss to happen to high energy/stressed dogs. My lab has the same thing. I have not found anything that works (maybe in this post)except controlling the exercise and making sure you do not over do it. It only happens to mine after exrensive excercise. They last about 5 minutes. I am very careful on how much exercise is done in water also.

[LABS4ME]

If it is epilepsy, generally very easy to control in dogs if they are infrequent. It will need to go a med, most likely phenobarb twice a day. This quiets the brain and usually stops any mis-firing or cross fires from happening.

I have dealt with a child with severe epilepsy for 19 years... the first 10 were filled with 100-150 siezures a day. Rest well knowing that infrequent siezures are NOT life threating and do almost zero to the brain in terms of damage. Long siezures or very frequent siezres will have an effect on the mental condition of the dog. Stay calm and cool. Do NOT ever put your hand or fingers in a dogs mouth when siezing. Even If they are biting their toungue. You can try and manipulate it so it is back in the mouth but do not put you fingers between their teeth. Keep the dog calm during the siezure and let him rest after a siezure. They are hard on the individual mentally. They will be dazed and confused after wards. Surprisingly, some siezures they can hear you talk to them through the siezure... so talk to the dog reassuringly and say they their name often through it. There are many many types of siezures... some they will be 'out' during it and aside from being wiped out afterwards, will have no knowledge that it happened.

Hope this helps...

good Luck!

Ken

Other things that you can do to minimize siezures... limit a lot of stimulation. Over stimualtion can cause the brain to begin to mis-fire. Limit carbs... if you give a lot of treats stop. A good well balanced diet is important. Keep well hydrated, even a small amount of dehydration can trigger siezures.

[Todd Caswell]

Really doesn't sound like EIC ( go to you tube and google it) .. Sounds to me like a siezure. We had a Cocker that started having them at a year old and tried alot of different stuff diet, accu puncture, ect. and labs is right he would almost always have one when someone new would come over he loved people and would get really excited when company came, to off set it we would put him in a crate within sight untill he settled down and it helped alot. But we did end up putting him on phenobarb. around 4 years old, and had to increase dossage as he aged, at it's worst point he was having them daily untill we started the meds and then it was a monthy thing after that. He lived a healthy life and died at 9, organs started to shut down possibly from the meds and had a really bad 30 minute one that took it's tole. Like labs said some I think they know whats going on and some they don't.

Also around the age of 3 my 13 year old female started to have them, every 6 monthes or so till the age of 6, never did give her any meds

but hasn't had one in 7 years, have heard of them " growing" out of them, basically something changed in her chemistry. Good luck, as far as I know there is no test for epilepsy they just rule every thing else out.

[Todd Caswell]

Would have thought spending $500 on a 2yr guaranteed pup with pedigree would do to keep us away from these sorts of things, but of course anything is possible.

There are some things we can predict and there are somethings we cannot no matter how many test and clearences we do, doesn't matter if it's a $100 pup or a $5000 pup. Sometimes it's just how there wired.

[drewbop]

I'm not sure what qualifies them as short or long, but my wife has timed 2 out of the 4 and they have each been about 10 mins. We just talk to him and lay him down because it always seems he is trying to fight it. We can tell he is coming out when all of a sudden his tail starts whacking the floor as we are petting him.

And within another 10 mins after, he is his normal self. We typically do as you guys suggest, take it easy for the next day or so. I've heard the same from the vet recently as well. We can do some tests, or put him on a medication. But since he has them randomly and has only had a few here and there, we are keeping a log of when/if it happens and see if a pattern develops. Everything else checked out great, so we'll just keep going from there-