Update: Kai'a, seizures, test results and phenobarbital

Katniss

Forums Enthusiast
At 7:45 pm, on the dot last night, Kia'a once again started another one of her seizures. Since the medication to help stop them once they start was still on order, we sat down with her to wait it out ... to work through it. Our vet said that unless she wasn't coming out of a seizure, to just stay with her at home and notifiy them in the morning. It was agony.

The main part of it lasted about 40 minutes and then it took her about a hour to start coming around. We just held her with us on the bed the whole time. And, for the first time ever last night, she slept on the bed with us, curled up in the crook of my arm. Scared, confussed and exhausted. Steve and I were up all night; we emotionally and physically exhausted as well. One thing we have now noted, out of the 4 seizures we have know her to have, all of them have happened at about the same time (between 7:35 pm and 7:50 pm). Maybe there is something to that?

Called the vet this morning ... reported her seizure. She asked us to bring her in. More labs. More test, she is there for the day and possibly night.

When we got there, however, some good news. The bile acid test came back negative. No problems there, and it looks like we can positively rule out a liver shunt. But that does open a much bigger door ... and neurological one that will take us out of our normal vets hands and into the specialists.

Just filled a perscriprtion for phenobarbital. They want to start her on that until I can get into the neuro-clinic (which is not until next Friday :uhoh:). Not sure how I am feeling. A little numb ... after over a week and a half of gripping fear and worry. Maybe the news about the shunt has softened some of the pain, or the fact that we took her through a seizure last night and we all came out ok (for the most part). She didn't die in my arms and I had been so worried that she would.

Again, she awoke this morning mostly her old self (even ate a little) and the only noticable problem was the slow reaction to no reaction on the basic commands: sit, down, stay, come ... etc. Like I said before, we are letting manners slide a little today.

Question - have any of your babies been on phenobarbital? What are the side effects? What should I watch for or expect? Are there any long term concerns that I need to be aware of?

Again, your support means so much to me. It has been the only confort I have foudn these past few days and I think that I might have gone crazy without it.
 
Jenny, I'm so sorry. You described what I imagine was an excruciatingly difficult situation. Kai'a is so lucky to have you and your husband there for her.

I am happy to hear that it's not a liver shunt. Hopefully that's a good thing. I have no experience with phenobarbital, but I know that there are several on the forum who have used it before.

You may want to even do a search for it, because I remember reading about it not too long ago.
 
Jenny, I'm glad to hear that the liver doesn't seem to be the problem. I've never had a dog with epilepsy but have a close family member who has had epilepsy since childhood and is now in their 50s. I'm neither a vet nor a physician, but 40 minutes seems like a long time for a seizure, so I hope that the meds arrive soon and work for Kai'a. Still holding you all up in my prayers.
 
Jenny, I'm glad to hear that the liver doesn't seem to be the problem. I've never had a dog with epilepsy but have a close family member who has had epilepsy since childhood and is now in their 50s. I'm neither a vet nor a physician, but 40 minutes seems like a long time for a seizure, so I hope that the meds arrive soon and work for Kai'a. Still holding you all up in my prayers.

Thank you. They are not seizures like one would think - no violent shaking and convulsing, It's more like she goes kind limp - is unaware of what is going on - eye roll back into her head, she has tremors when she tried to lift her head or move her body, she can't control her back legs at all and the front ones can't hold her. It's a gradual going into it and then it takes some time to come out. But the overall time frame for what I have marked as the seizure (based on what my vet has said) can be 20 - 40 minutes and then up to 2 hours to fully come back to us ... respond to her name, look around, walk, etc. But I too feel that the duration is quiet long. :(
 
I'm glad that its not a liver shunt but so sorry that you had to go through that last night, I can't imagine what it must have been like.

I hope you get the meds soon and that she show some improvement.

I don't know much about epilepsy in dogs but I was just reading about the drug Kai was prescribed. It looks like its commonly prescribed for dogs with epilepsy, so it must have fairly good results and I'd hope the side effects aren't too bad.

Thinking of you and your family.
 
I'm glad she doesn't have a liver shunt, but I am sorry to hear she had another seizure. :cry:

Kai'a is very lucky to have your love and support. I hope the neuro-clinic can find out what is causing her seizures and your baby can get some relief. I know how scared you must have been. Bailey was really sick two weekends ago. I stayed up with her all night with her. At some point, i was afraid she might take her last breathe. It was terrifying.

I'll keep you and Kai'a in my thoughts. I hope the phenobarbital helps her.
 
Jenny-
I am so sorry to hear that this is happening with your dog. I will keep you all in my thoughts. Watching a dog go through a seizure is absolutely devastating and difficult. My heart goes out to you and your husband.
Danielle
 
Hi Jenny

It's a good news/bad news story for sure. But of all the outcomes, the liver shunt would have been the worse, I think - even though you don't know the extent of the neuro problems as yet.

I'm still waiting for the day when I bring Bacca in for his 6 month testing and find out that the diet isn't cutting it anymore, and we'll be looking at more aggressive treatment.

Best wishes to both of you.
 
I am so very sorry about Kai and what you had to go through last night and that does seem like a long time for a seizure. I have a very good friend who has had lots of experiance with seizures with I think 2 of her shelties. My parents poodle was on pheno most all her life due to epilepsy, and she did fine.
I hope tonight you get some rest.
 
Hi Jenny~

I am so very very sorry you and your family are going through this mess with Kai'a. We have not been through seizures with our pets but we have been through other difficult painful things with them and it's just awful :(.

I am praying the medicine will give Kai'a some much needed relief and for you and your family too :sadsmile:
 
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