Spencer had a GM seizure this morning, 15 days after the last one. He was "napping" and suddenly started to seizure(or is it seize?). I went to him immediately, grabbed the Rescue Remedy and applied it to the top of his head, ear flap and onto his gums. When he came out of the seizure, he was much more "with it" than with his previous seizures. I gave him a spoonful of vanilla ice cream and then hand fed him some of his regular food and I brought one of the water bowls over to him. After the last seizure, he paced non-stop for 90 minutes. After this one, he only paced for maybe five minutes and then he pretty much was himself. I'd like to know: Do you think this was a fluke? Were we just lucky this time with the Rescue Remedy? Have any of you had luck using Rescue Remedy?
Rescue Remedy
- Thread starter Jan244
- Start date
Spencer had a GM seizure this morning, 15 days after the last one. He was "napping" and suddenly started to seizure(or is it seize?). I went to him immediately, grabbed the Rescue Remedy and applied it to the top of his head, ear flap and onto his gums. When he came out of the seizure, he was much more "with it" than with his previous seizures. I gave him a spoonful of vanilla ice cream and then hand fed him some of his regular food and I brought one of the water bowls over to him. After the last seizure, he paced non-stop for 90 minutes. After this one, he only paced for maybe five minutes and then he pretty much was himself. I'd like to know: Do you think this was a fluke? Were we just lucky this time with the Rescue Remedy? Have any of you had luck using Rescue Remedy?sheltiemom
Forums Enthusiast
jenet, please forgive me if you mentioned this in the past, but has Spencer been diagnosed with epilepsy or a seizure disorder? Is he on meds of any type for it. My Marcus had cluster seizures and was first prescribed Phenobarb then later switched to Nuerontin. The Phenobarb helped him somewhat. When Marcus had seizures he would start licking his nose then would just cry and look at me then seize. He always wanted to be held during the seizure and once it was over he wanted water only.
I hope your baby is going to be ok
I hope your baby is going to be ok
Nothing to forgive. Spencer had his first seizure on July 26th. After his second seizure (Aug. 10th) the Vet had me start him on Kbr. Yesterday's was the fourth. I've down loaded lots of info from the Epi Guardian Angels site and other epi sites. So - I've got an ice bag in the freezer, Rescue Remedy in a cabinet (and in my pocket when we're out and about) and I've practiced ocular compressions on myself
). We go for his first blood work on 9/8/08. So that's the story so far. It's just that the post-seizure behavior was so much better after using the RR that I wondered what reactions other epi pups might be having or did have.
). We go for his first blood work on 9/8/08. So that's the story so far. It's just that the post-seizure behavior was so much better after using the RR that I wondered what reactions other epi pups might be having or did have.I use RR with Gio's seizures. He normally has quite apparent pre-ictal activity, so I start giving the RR when I notice the pre-ictal stages, every 15 minutes or so. Then again after the seizure with a tiny bit of food or ice cream. I also give myself a couple of drops along the way 
His post-ictal stage is usually quite dramatic, pacing and restless for hours afterwards. I find with the RR, he settles down much quicker and becomes coherent much sooner. He will still be clingy and restless, but more mentally "with it".
His post-ictal stage is usually quite dramatic, pacing and restless for hours afterwards. I find with the RR, he settles down much quicker and becomes coherent much sooner. He will still be clingy and restless, but more mentally "with it".
Ann
Moderator
Hi Janet...how wonderful that you had such good results with Rescue Remedy. Pixie doesn't have GM seizures--hers are petit mal, but I've also used RR with good results. She also takes other prescription homeopathics daily which have limited the number, length and severity of her seizures from one a week to one every six months or so. It's made me a believer of this type of medication and Rescue Remedy is at the top of the list. 
mcguiregirl2248
Forums Enthusiast
Hey Janet, just wanted to check and see how your little Spencer is doing. Hope everything is going well.
After Spencer's bloodwork came back, the Vet had me increase Spencer's Kbr from 0.5 ml to 0.7 ml which I started the morning of 9/10/08. 
That night, he had a GM seizure and, by the way, I did the RR treatment again. This time, his post behavior was to pace for maybe five minutes and then he was restless for about 90 more minutes. But during this restless period, he managed to bring me toys and to chase a few of the cats around, so I don't think he was feeling too bad!! We need to just hang in to see what effect the increase in the Kbr has. If he does have another seizure within the next week or two, I'll call the Vet since he says we can increase the Kbr more.
That night, he had a GM seizure and, by the way, I did the RR treatment again. This time, his post behavior was to pace for maybe five minutes and then he was restless for about 90 more minutes. But during this restless period, he managed to bring me toys and to chase a few of the cats around, so I don't think he was feeling too bad!! We need to just hang in to see what effect the increase in the Kbr has. If he does have another seizure within the next week or two, I'll call the Vet since he says we can increase the Kbr more.Sorry to hear that he is having more seizures. 
Remember that with KBr, the half life is somewhere between 4-6 weeks. So one week won't be enough time to really notice a difference in the change in levels. You could discuss a loading dose with your vet, so you would give something like double the required dose of KBr for a week just to bump it up quickly, then reduce down to the normal dose after a week's time. You would likely see an increase in side effects during that time, but it would get the blood levels up to therapeutic range quicker, and the side effects would decrease after you get back on the regular dose.
Have you had his thyroid tested and sent off to Hemopet? Even if the thyroid comes back "within range" it can still be too low for an epi-pup. Epileptic dogs need to have their thyroid levels in the higher end of normal, or they may not get adequate control even with antiseizure meds. Check out http://hemopet.org for info on testing. You can either send the blood there, or have your vet do a 6-panel (4-panel is not sufficient) and fax the results over to them. Very often a combo of Soloxine and a low dose of KBr will yield better results than KBr or Phenobarb alone.
After that, your next course of action would likely be a combo of phenobarb and KBr.
Good luck! I hope you get this sorted out soon.
Remember that with KBr, the half life is somewhere between 4-6 weeks. So one week won't be enough time to really notice a difference in the change in levels. You could discuss a loading dose with your vet, so you would give something like double the required dose of KBr for a week just to bump it up quickly, then reduce down to the normal dose after a week's time. You would likely see an increase in side effects during that time, but it would get the blood levels up to therapeutic range quicker, and the side effects would decrease after you get back on the regular dose.
Have you had his thyroid tested and sent off to Hemopet? Even if the thyroid comes back "within range" it can still be too low for an epi-pup. Epileptic dogs need to have their thyroid levels in the higher end of normal, or they may not get adequate control even with antiseizure meds. Check out http://hemopet.org for info on testing. You can either send the blood there, or have your vet do a 6-panel (4-panel is not sufficient) and fax the results over to them. Very often a combo of Soloxine and a low dose of KBr will yield better results than KBr or Phenobarb alone.
After that, your next course of action would likely be a combo of phenobarb and KBr.
Good luck! I hope you get this sorted out soon.
Hi, sorry to hear about the seizures. We too, had a sheltie that began having seizures when he was 10 years old. It was such a shock because he had never had any health issues his entire life.
We did the pheno and I wish I had thought about using Rescue Remedy, I have used it for years on our dogs with much success.
Good luck and best wishes.
We did the pheno and I wish I had thought about using Rescue Remedy, I have used it for years on our dogs with much success.
Good luck and best wishes.
L
liz08
So sorry to hear about the seizures. I would definitely keep using the Rescue Remedy, and see how it works. You'll know after using it on a few different occasions if it seems to be helping. If you can tell before your dog is about to seize, then I would give it then since it can take just a little bit to kick in. Poor baby. I hope you're able to work things out to decrease the number of occurrences.