Anxiety Seizures?

[Crazy Doodle Lady]

One day when  Bear and I stopped in to see his groomer about scheduling his next appointment he started drooling really badly and licking the air.  We both thought maybe he had sniffed the ground and got some hair in his mouth.  He was fine when we left and I didn't think much of it again.

A short time later I took him to the vet for his yearly check up and he started doing it again as we walked in the door.  I looked down to tell him it was ok and he fell to the floor and had his very first seizure.  The vet said maybe it was from anxiety and to keep an eye on him overnight.  If they continued to bring him back for bloodwork and medication.  Well that night he had two more seizures so we went back to the vet the next day.  He didn't have a seizure that time.  They did his bloodworm which was fine, gave him a prescription, a relaxation collar and some relaxation treats.  I was told to monitor his seizures and keep a calendar.  He had a few more seizures over the next few weeks and then they tapered off.  

A few months went by and no seizures.  Things were looking up.  I had to take a short trip for a job interview so I had to board him at his beloved dog park.  When I walked him in the door he once again had a seizure.  I gave the staff his medication and told them if they continued to call my mother and she would come and get him.  The staff kept him up front working the desk with them and he was fine.  No more seizures.  

Bear hasn't had a seizure since and it's been almost 3 years.  I took him off his medication 2 years ago and he has been fine.  I haven't taken him to a groomer ( I groom him myself now) and I've had a vet work with him outside the office.  

My problem is he is now due for his yearly visit and I don't live in Michigan anymore.  I can find a vet who will make house calls however I am more concerned about putting him back on heart worm medication since I have read it can cause seizures in seizure prone dogs.  I need to put him on the medication since we live in mosquito paradise and many dogs get heart worm here (sometimes even on heart worm medication.)  Same with Benadryl.  Poor Bear's seasonal allergies are in full effect and he is licking his paws nonstop and biting his nails.  

Does anyone know of a heart worm and or allergy medication that is safe for seizure prone dogs? And is my dog really an epileptic dog or does he have severe separation issues?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Regarding the allergies, I strongly advise you to consult a veterinary dermatology specialist and get Bear on a treatment plan. Benadryl is not the best choice of antihistamine for allergies in dogs. Most veterinary dermatologists recommend second generation antihistamines that do not cause drowsiness, like Zyrtec or Claritin. JD has Atopic Dermatitis, or Atopy, (which is the technical term for seasonal allergies) and has been greatly helped by immunotherapy treatment, otherwise known as desensitization. It is very safe and doesn't involve drugs, but rather a serum made up of the antigens. But only a dermatology specialist can diagnose and treat allergies this way. 

Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil supplements also help greatly with Atopy. 

Atopic Dermatitis gets worse as a dog gets older, unless you have a long-term treatment plan. A specialist may also be able to advise you on HW medication. 

I will let those with more experience in seizure disorders answer your last question. My personal feeling is that Bear had some type of seizure disorder, this is much more than just severe separation anxiety. It does seem that anxiety triggers his seizures, but that doesn't happen in dogs who do not have some type of seizure disorder, no matter how anxious they get. 

There does seem to be some link between allergies and seizures, going solely by the number of dogs who have both conditions.