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...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I've been following this thread and I'm so thankful to hear that he's not had more episodes.  I hope last night was another "good night" for both of you.  Please continue to keep us posted....we're all worried about this sweet boy.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

He seems completely back to normal. He's even eating and pooping now.

I postponed the neurology appointment as I wanted to do it at the same time as the dermatology appointment, and well that's where it gets complicated as I couldn't get one in Guelph until April (??). Basically I found a clinic in Montreal (2 hour drive) that does both specialties (no thanks to my vet) and can take us right away for back to back appointments. They have fabulous reviews on google so I'm hopeful. But first, Winnie needs to "detox" for 3 weeks from the venectyl-p (steroid and anti-histimine combo pill leftovers from a previous prescription that I cut short) for the skin scratch test, which i was giving him over Christmas because he was so uncomfortable, and the fish oil tablets. I made an appointment for the 12th, and am in watchful waiting mode for the 'attacks'. If another one happens again, I will buckle him in with his new seatbelt and we will head straight to Montreal.

I'm starting to doubt my instincts about this not being about fear. I don't know what to think. After 9 of these episodes why would it suddenly stop? I'm really confused. If I change my mind about waiting they will take me tomorrow if I want to make the seperate trip. I'm just waiting to hear back from my vet on what she thinks I should do.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If you look at the discussions in the Seizure disorders group, you'll see lots of cases where a dog is fine for a period of time and then a seizure (or a cluster of them) occurs out of the blue; no rhyme or reason, no trigger that the owner can see. I'm not saying that Winnie has a seizure disorder, but this is the way these things happen sometimes.

Second guessing, questioning, doubting your instincts...ah, now we're in my territory! I wish I knew how to stop doing that, so I could tell you how to stop, too. But I don't. You have to keep moving forward. It's just like I'm continuously told about JD's illness...it's two steps forward, one step back. Take it day by day.

Hugs to you.

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

How is JD this week? Is he eating and evacuating okay? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm avoiding updating on him because it's a day by day (sometimes hour by hour) thing. He's eating like a horse, but it's questionable whether he's absorbing his food. I appreciate everyone's having asked about him very much. :)

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm sorry, Karen. This must have you holding your breath all day long hoping for the best and fearing the worst. Blessings. bonnie

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

For what it is worth I don't think that these episodes are from "fear". 

 

There are times when "seizures" just go away as quickly as they came.  I would ask the Montreal clinic for instructions as what to do if Winson has another "episode" before he is seen.

 

You mention fish oil - that is good and has no "seizure" side effects.  Do not give him EPO (evening primrose) as this can lower the seizure threshold in dogs that are seizure prone.

 

Hugs

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thank you for this. Apparantly the fish oil has to be out of his system for 3 weeks for the skin scratch test for his allergy condition. Then I will go back to giving it to him.

Good to know about the EPO, and that you too suspect seizures. Maybe I'm not losing my mind. I'll see what my vet thinks about us going to Montreal tomorrow.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Sherri, I've been a little out of touch but I have been taking a quick look every day to see how Winston is doing. I sincerely hope he continues to do better with no more episodes. This sounds like a very scary and stressful time for all of you. Our thoughts are with you.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

UPDATE FROM SHERRI:

I'm at the neurologist in Montreal. They are taking some xrays, checking his lymph nodes (a bit swollen) and his blood pressure (a bit high). She wants to rule out cancer or infection first. Her best guess so far is "Complex partial seizure". Depending on how things go, I might do an MRI next week when I return for the dermatologist. She's given me a list of anti-seizure meds that I could consider but suggests waiting to see if he has any more episodes to make sure it's not an isolated event. It's been 4 days withut another episode... I will do an update this evening when I get home.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you for posting this, Karen. Between JD and Winston, I've been busy praying for these sweet doodles. I'm glad to hear that she is able to have Winston seen and getting some expert advice. It sounds from this brief note that the vet there is neither passing it off as nothing nor assuming anything specific until tests are in. That's a relief. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, it sounds like he's in good hands.