 Barked: Tue Jan 27, '09 11:42pm PST | |
 | |  | | Hi everyone,
My beloved shiba, Kujo, recently started having seizures. He is a
little over three years old. His first seizure occurred on Jan. 19th
(MLK holiday) and it was considered a petit mal seizure (little
seizure - he basically was cramped out and his legs were sticking
straight up and out and his hind legs were shaking and he was trying
to stand up but couldn't). Needless to say, it was a very scary
experience for me to watch. It lasted for probably less than a
minute. Afterwards, it took him another 10-15 minutes to recover and
get back to his normal self. I took him to the vet the next
afternoon. The vet did a full panel blood work and said his
metabolics came back normal (except a bit high for kidney - but that's
another story). She said if he has another seizure within the next
few days or within this month, to let her know because she may then
recommend starting him on anti-seizure medication.
Then Kujo had another incident on Wednesday, two days after his first
seizure. But this time, it was very small. In fact, I wasn't sure it
was a seizure. He didn't tense up and he was actually capable of
moving about. But every few seconds, he would shake, or tremble - it
was like his muscles were twitching. This lasted for a few minutes.
And the tremors/shakes/twitch would then get further and further apart
until they stop. I ended up calling the vet and she said it's still
considered a seizure. She said it was small and so would wait and if
another one occurs, then she would really start him on meds.
Then yesterday, he had another similar twitching/shake incident. And
then 2 more today. (morning and night). The vet now wants to start
him on anti-seizure meds in low dosage. The medication is a common
one known as phenobarbital. The key is these are medication that you
have to be prepared to give them for life. It's not something that
they can stop easily (supposedly when you stop too suddenly, or stop -
it can actually trigger seizures). So basically if I start Kujo on
these medication, it's for life. Side effects can be liver damage but
not majority of the time. But in case, the vet said regularly liver
test has to be done (every 6 mths) to monitor.
The vet also said that it's not likely to be brain lesion or tumor
just b/c of this age - they usually occur at a much older age.
Now, I'm debating if I should wait some more and see what happens. Or
if I should just start him on this medication that he may have to take
for life. I want what's best for him - but are meds the answer? How
much would the little tremor seizures hurt him if that's all he's
having as oppose to taking anti-seizure medications?
Does anyone has experience with shibas or other dogs that have
epilepsy, any suggestion or recommendations or advice? Is epilepsy
even common with shibas? Anything would be helpful. Thanks.
Winnie and Kujo |  |  | |  |
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