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...

[Adina P]

Oh Sherri, how super scary and bizarre!  I'm hoping the vets figure it out soon. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I swear I had seen my old dog do this once or twice but he did not soil himself.  Wishing and waiting with you to hear the best news

[Becka]

Hi Sherri, I hope Winston feels better soon and that you can get to the bottom of this. And I do think that perhaps at a time when you're calmer you can speak to whomever is in charge of the ER about the way they (mis)treated Winston. I agree that you should be able to negotiate the bill, at least, but it's hard to do when you're in the midst of worrying about your pup.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

If the thyroid test you had taken before these events started is elevated, and it is possible that his episodes were from too much thyroid, AND THEY DOUBLED HIS DOSE (because their computers were down, OMG) I would call it bad medical care.  Is there such a thing as malpractice in the canine world? For thyroid storm you either stop the thyroid all together or you cut the dose in half if you don't want to abruptly withdraw it and then monitor the levels.  I think the pricey emergency Vet might be worth a try if you ever need one in a hurry.  I think, and hope, my Vet would come into the office if my dogs had an emergency.  Their back up ER is NC State University Vet school.  Thank God I haven't needed their help. Please let us know Winston is OK.  Have them give you some Valium to take home with you in the event you need it ever again.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

yea, maybe they can slip in an extra dose for me too lol.

[Chelsea and Bailey]

What an awful thing to experience at the beginning of this new year! Hopefully they will figure out if it is the thyroid pills... and as for the vets office, my blood would boil too! You dont just give medications without writing it down in the file. Absolutely ridiculous. Thinking about you guys. Will be checking back for updates!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Oh Sherri - I'm just now reading this and want to say to hang in there - we are praying for both of you!!!!  I am just SHOCKED at the care at the ER Hospital - what the heck?  I have never heard of such bad treatment.  I've had to use an animal ER here before and it was like going to a high tech human ER, very impressive with prices to match.  This place - you should certainly spread the word and   I'd make sure that they know.  Please let us know if there is any more updates!!!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Sherri, just coming on here and reading your updates.  The sooner you get Winston to a vet where he will receive proper care the better.  I wouldn't pay whatever bill the ER facility produce as they have been lax in their care.  Tell them you will negotiate with them when you have time but that right now you need to get Winston to your own Vet.   I am seriously hoping this is all about the thyroid meds dosage and nothing more but first step is to get Winston to a more thorough Veterinary facility that will diligently seek the right answers and as quickly as possible.  I don't know what time it is where you are but will check in here later and really hoping for better news. 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

They called back. Winston's Thyroid levels were NORMAL. they have no other ideas, and are reverting back to the fireworks theory. They said he's been calm all morning. I told them I'm coming to get him right now. I don't know what to do about the bill but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

[Chelsea and Bailey]

My only question to this is. Is this the results from the blood taken before the episodes occured? Or is this from what has been taken recently at the ER vet? I know our T4 levels have to go to prov lab and can take up to a week to come back.  If this is so I would maybe check to see what they are again when you go to see your regular vet. A lot can change in a week, especially if hes been over dosed now...

[Chelsea and Bailey]

Also I should add that I looked up hyperthyroidism and the symptoms were like you described, extreme hypersensitve reactions, diarhea, etc. I dont know if it would be advisable to do this from a vet perspective but what if you halfed the dose of the pills for a little bit and see if he goes back to normal? (I realize this also brings him low again and lethargic but then maybe it may be the pills interacting with something?)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would not do this. I am assuming the levels you spoke of were from before the overdose. At any rate talk to your regular vet before fooling with the dosage. But I would advise you to give him no additional thyroid til tomorrow.