A lot has happened in the last day and a half. Since the first episode (I try not to use the "s" word), Boris has had 5 more in a 32-hour period. Most of the subsequent episodes have been about 4 hours apart. All have been equally harsh (grand mal), but fortunately brief (less than a minute).
Yesterday, I took Boris to 2 veterinarians. First, the one right outside my neighborhood, a traditional vet. Then later, to a holistic vet that he has visited before. Yes, that means 2 big bills.
The first vet recommended putting him on meds as soon as the blood tests come back (today) and made it clear that, once on the meds, he would be on them for life!
The second vet also recommended meds, but also recommends several natural supplements that will attempt to naturally treat the condition and lessen the dependence on drugs. In his opinion, Boris might NOT have to be on meds for life. Before leaving, he gave Boris a shot of Valium (helps to calm the dog and reduce the possibility of an episode) plus I got a collection of homeopathic pills and drops to administer.
By the end of the day, I was mentally drained and even feeling somewhat physically exhausted. I realized that it would have been further taxing to try to keep Boris through the night, both watching for the next episode and trying to get a little rest. So, I checked him into a local animal emergency room. Its only about 10 minutes away and the cost was about that of a luxury hotel room, but it was worth it for the peace of mind and the rest that I got. ( Last night, he had 2 episodes while in the ER).
Today I took a sick day, which I needed (feeling pretty sick right now). When I picked him up this morning, he seemed to be in fairly normal spirits, albeit a little subdued and distant. He was ok, but definitely not himself. Understandable, since he has been through a lot. Once we got home, he became energized by his toys and got back into his usual obsessive fetch mode. Suddenly, he seemed to have excessive energy, so I took him on a long walk and then to the park and just let him run around and check things out. He seemed almost back to normal.
After a while, his disposition changed, he laid down in the grass and just rested. It sook a bit of prodding to get him to stand up and walk home with me and I had to almost pull him some of the way. Instead of walking ahead of me as usual, he trailed behind at a slow pace. Very NOT Boris.
I decided to take him back to the vet so that he would be under observation for the afternoon. Also, I needed to get to a pharmacy to pick up the first set of meds, in case I decided to move forward with them. I have left Boris in the car a couple times since this all started, but now I am getting nervous about leaving him alone at this early stage.
So there he currently rests, while I debate the pros and cons of medicating for the eposides and which doctor (and approach) to go with.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Boris Seizure #2
It happened again, not more than 14 hours after the first episode. This one did not seem as violent as the first and seemed to subside sooner, but it was still a horrifying site to see and not be able to do anything.
Boris was in the other room and I heard a strange noise. I rushed in to see him standing, but very stiff and his body contorted. He had just urinated on the floor and his mouth was foaming. I laid him down on his side and spoke softly to him to try to comfort him. Once again, he seemed to stop breathing for a brief period, then his body relaxed and he started breathing again. The worst was over in less than a minute. After that, he was looking around, but very disoriented for another 5 minutes. After that, he was up and walking around, and seemed to be OK, but tired.
I am recording these episodes to keep a running history.
Boris was in the other room and I heard a strange noise. I rushed in to see him standing, but very stiff and his body contorted. He had just urinated on the floor and his mouth was foaming. I laid him down on his side and spoke softly to him to try to comfort him. Once again, he seemed to stop breathing for a brief period, then his body relaxed and he started breathing again. The worst was over in less than a minute. After that, he was looking around, but very disoriented for another 5 minutes. After that, he was up and walking around, and seemed to be OK, but tired.
I am recording these episodes to keep a running history.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Boris suffers a Seizure
This evening, around 8pm, Boris was in the den playing with a toy in usual manner of dropping it on my lap for me to throw. He was as energetic as ever and wanting to play. In the midst of this, I got up to go into the kitchen to get something. From the kitchen, I heard an unfamiliar thumping/thudding sound - definitely not characteristic of Boris at play.
When I looked back into the den, something did not look right. Boris was stumbling around the room, jerking his head, and making a funny kind of noise. There appears to be a little foam forming around his lips. It looked like he was choking. I thought that he swallowed a piece fromt one of his plush toys. I had never seen this before and was not certain to do. I approached him to try to help, but the symptoms appeared to worsen. As the seconds passed he became more agitated and began to thrash violently.
Still thinking he was choking, I panicked and my only thought was to try a heimlich-like maneuver to dislodge whatever it was. I tried a few times, but everything just got worse. At this point, his body was severely convulsing with all four legs thrashing, he was foaming profusely at the mouth, and appeared to have completely stopped breathing. I was "yelling" at him in an attempt to "comfort" him (in my state of panic) and I tried to perform chest compressions to get him breathing (if that is even possible on a dog).
After what seemed to be several minutes (but was probably less than a minute), his body began to relax and he began to breathe again, panting heavily and just laying there on my lap in a stupor. After another couple of minutes, he lifted his head and looked up at me, but his eyes seemed hollow and distant. He was still pretty disoriented.
A few minutes later, he was able to stand and started to walk around tentatively, seemingly shaking off the fog from the episode that he had just endured. He still seemed a little confused, so I put him on leash and slowly walked around with him, inside the house, then outside for some cool fresh air. This seemed to help him shake it off. About 10-15 minutes latet, he seemed good again, but looked a little tired. I geave him some food, then took him for an evening walk and he seemed back to his usual self.
Later, I did some online research on dog seizures. Based on what he experienced, it seems to me that he suffered a grand mal seizure.
Here is one of many references to grand mal seizures in dogs:
http://www.essortment.com/causes-seizures-dogs-23156.html
When I looked back into the den, something did not look right. Boris was stumbling around the room, jerking his head, and making a funny kind of noise. There appears to be a little foam forming around his lips. It looked like he was choking. I thought that he swallowed a piece fromt one of his plush toys. I had never seen this before and was not certain to do. I approached him to try to help, but the symptoms appeared to worsen. As the seconds passed he became more agitated and began to thrash violently.
Still thinking he was choking, I panicked and my only thought was to try a heimlich-like maneuver to dislodge whatever it was. I tried a few times, but everything just got worse. At this point, his body was severely convulsing with all four legs thrashing, he was foaming profusely at the mouth, and appeared to have completely stopped breathing. I was "yelling" at him in an attempt to "comfort" him (in my state of panic) and I tried to perform chest compressions to get him breathing (if that is even possible on a dog).
After what seemed to be several minutes (but was probably less than a minute), his body began to relax and he began to breathe again, panting heavily and just laying there on my lap in a stupor. After another couple of minutes, he lifted his head and looked up at me, but his eyes seemed hollow and distant. He was still pretty disoriented.
A few minutes later, he was able to stand and started to walk around tentatively, seemingly shaking off the fog from the episode that he had just endured. He still seemed a little confused, so I put him on leash and slowly walked around with him, inside the house, then outside for some cool fresh air. This seemed to help him shake it off. About 10-15 minutes latet, he seemed good again, but looked a little tired. I geave him some food, then took him for an evening walk and he seemed back to his usual self.
Later, I did some online research on dog seizures. Based on what he experienced, it seems to me that he suffered a grand mal seizure.
Here is one of many references to grand mal seizures in dogs:
http://www.essortment.com/causes-seizures-dogs-23156.html
At this point, I am not certain what to do but to wait and watch. I have a call into the vet, but I am not certain what can be done at this point. He just had a full checkup ($$$) and was pronounced in good health.
In hindsight, I learned that everything I did during the episode was wrong. Everything I read indicates that there is not much to be done other than to protect the dog from injury and let him ride out the seizure until the symptoms subside. Hopefully, I will never have to be tested on that again!
In hindsight, I learned that everything I did during the episode was wrong. Everything I read indicates that there is not much to be done other than to protect the dog from injury and let him ride out the seizure until the symptoms subside. Hopefully, I will never have to be tested on that again!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Boris and Natasha
Boris has a new "sibling". Meet Natasha.
A stray that I was convinced to adopt.
She is an interesting creature. Very vocal and very needy of affection.
She has been here for about a month now.
A stray that I was convinced to adopt.
She is an interesting creature. Very vocal and very needy of affection.
She has been here for about a month now.
Friday, February 18, 2011
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