Winston's panic episodes (or seizures?)

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Starting a new discussion to make it clear that the mouse is no longer the prime suspect in Winston's saga. He's at the ER where he's been since early this afternoon, being observed for what I can only believe is some sort of neurological issue.

His 'fits' start with with him suddenly bolting upright, a bit of drool falls out of his mouth, and then he starts wailing and flailing around, jumps on something (couch, bed, etc) pees and poops, and then sits there shaking and crying. Then suddenly, it clears up and it's as if it never happened. For the one he had first thing this morning we were heading out the door for a walk and it started. He ran down the hall, down the stairs and outside to the car, and begged me to let him in the car where I guess he feels safe (that's when I took off to my friends place, thinking if it was a mouse it wouldn't happen there, but sure enough, it did, and so off the the ER we went).  I am just so thankful it didn't happen while I was driving!

I think I will go pick him up in the morning and bring him to my vet's office which opens at 7am. They are not looking after him very well there, nobody knows what's going on, nobody is sharing information with each other. They didn't know about his food trial even though I told them when I admitted him and again over the phone. They didn't know he needed his thyroid medicine. Nobody in the back knew I was in the visitor room waiting to see Winston. I had to go knock on doors.  When I finally saw him he was still covered in his pee and poop and nobody had cleaned him or treated him yet. No blood tests were taken.

They told me the reason they haven't cleaned him yet is because he was nervous around them. That is impossible because there isn't a living, breathing, thing on earth that Winston doesn't adore. They didn't understand the seriousness at all. They just chalked it up to a nervous dog and a nervous owner. I explained, again, that he is not a nervous dog, and has never shown fear before, ever. Nothing startles him, bothers him or upsets him in any way, ever. I think they finally got it but how frustrating??? So in total I waited three hours, and maybe got about 20 minutes with him before he had another episode and they took him back to give him some valium. I waited for the vet to come talk to me and finally had to go knocking on doors again and it seemed nobody knew I was still there. Meanwhile the whole time I was sitting in that room, it turned out Winston was right on the other side of the wall. All someone had to do was bring him through the door. They promised a real live vet would call with a full update first thing in the morning.

Unfortunately the saddest news is that they have no idea what it is, and said they have never seen anything like this before. I asked them what the point was of me leaving him there if nobody was going to tend to him or treat him in any way. They reassured me they were watching him closely and that it was the only way for them to get a sense of what is wrong.

I'm thinking I will get him out of there in the morning and for now, at least he's spending the night with a doctor, so if something bad happens then he will be looked after. But if the issue is fear and fear only I sure wish I could be there with him. I hate the thought of him having these episodes with nobody there to comfort him. :(

I'm sure there's a gazillion spelling errors here, sorry but I'm so tired...

[Carol and Banjo]

Sherri,   You may be more comfortable (and all safer) if you have him harnessed in....especially since the drive is so long.    Good luck to you!!!!!    I keep checking in to see what's new.....we're sending all good thoughts and prayers your way!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I hear you. The seatbelt I had ordered for him on line didn't really fit well. I'll pop into the pet store tomorrow and get another one. This time I'll measure him proprerly.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I guess you need to make sure he is well restrained to at least give you time to pull over safely.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Could this possibly be related to his ear infection? I know ear infections in humans can cause all sorts of problems.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I don't think so, but did consider this. But the vet checked and the ear infection isn't inside the ear. it is the skin right at the top part. He keeps scratching all the time and it is all red, sore and infected. So it is more of a skin infected. It just sort of sprung up right around when the episodes started. His scratching got a lot worse at that time.

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

I've been following along and so sorry to hear about what you've been going through with dear Winston.

I have had to take my doodle to a neurologist so I know a little about what you may be experiencing.  It did have something to do with his ears like what Nancy said above.  My own vet kept telling me his ear infection was cleared up but I did not agree.

Some head tremors later on and the neurologist discovering a burst ear drum.....:o(  thankfully he is much better!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Colleen, I am so glad the specialist resolved Jake's problem.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

What exactly is a head tremor? Winston had something like what I am imagining was a head tremor yesterday and again this morning. Sometimes twitches his ears, which is odd as he never did before. I wonder...

On the other hand, he is a bit edgy, and when I brought him home from the hospital he was checking the place out like he was looking for something and when he has his panic episodes he acts like he is trying to get away from something. I started to wonder if he was seeing things...

[shelly]

Oh no, sherri!  I am so sorry!  You have been so wonderful to winnie!  He is one lucky dood.  I think it is good that at least he IS with a doctor, and perhaps you may be able to rest a bit more than if her were home and you stayed awake watching him all night.  I think it is smart to call your vet in the morning!  Tori is a very 'fearful' dog and she has never really acted that way.  Trust your instincts... I think you are right.  Hopefully your own vet will have more for you tomorrow.   I will check in in the morning.  Sending you good thoughts.  Hope all is better tomorrow.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

oh Shelly, thank you so much for your comments and concern. This post is a few days old now so he is already home and feeling a bit better. He hasn't had another episode since I brought him home, but he's a bit jumpy and not eating much. I still have no idea what caused all this to happen.

[shelly]

I'm so glad... I was so upset while I was reading and had to search through the many pages to see if there was an update... guess I missed it!  So glad he is home.  How strange!  What did your vet say?  Could he have gotten bit by something?  a spider? Tick? mouse?  Crazy how things happen!   Can't be a certain smell of something... since it happened in the car.  You must be so beside yourself!   I AM so glad to hear he is home!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Glad to hear he is feeling better!

Hopefully it won't happen again.