GameBirdMeg 21 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 A couple of months ago my 4/5yo Terrier bitch woke me up to her scrapping around in her kennel. I leapt outside to she that it looked like she was ''stuck''. There wasn't anything she could get stuck on as her box part of her kennel is literally a wooden box. So I picked her up and put her on the concrete and she kept falling over and was scrapping with her back legs to get up. She was breathing really heavy too. I spoke to a good terrierman friend of mine and he said she's prob dehydrated as was a really hot day. So I gave her electrolytes and put a fan on for her to keep her cool. Since then she has been fine until Saturday. We took the terriers for a walk down the track opposite our house and unfortunately our to boys decided to have crossed words so my other half stepped in and she stepped in for good measures and bit my other halfs leg. Okay so he flipped at her at the time and she knew she was in the dog house all the way home but as we was back in our garden she started falling over again and scrapping as though what looked like her trying to get up. It was so scary as I picked her up to take her inside away from the other dogs and it was as though her back legs were rigid and out and her front legs wern't on co ordination with her backs at all. She was drewling and breath SOOO heavy. I honestly thought she was about to die on my lap! I spoke to a customer of mine who are big breeders of Cockers and they were the ones who said that what she'd had was a seizure. They said that they had a dog which used to have them and that it would cost loads of money into finding out the cause and just to monitor how frequently they happen. Their ones got more frequent and they had to do the right thing for the dog in the end. I also spoke to a friend who is a nurse at our vets and she said that their patterdale has the odd seizure too. Apparently terriers have a low seizure threshold and that I should worry unless they become close together and/or prolonged. Has anyone had experience of this and have any sensible advice please? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
events co-ordinator 353 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Utrecht uni in Holland are doing research into this type of Seizure CECS I think they call it. Just keep the terrier calm and reassure it sometimes rubbing glucose into the gums helps bring them out. :kiss: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
farlap 19 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) its very possibly an epileptic fit. this is often hereditary or can be caused by a trauma or inbalance, or many other reasons. If they are a long way apart like yours have been so far then I wouldnt medicate. however if it happens in kennels amongst other dogs theres a good chance it will be ikilled by the others. You may want to consider individually housing when unsupervised. if the seizures get worse, more often, stronger then you may have to consider an epilepsy treatme, a daily medication but its not expensive. unfortunately sometimes they cant be stabilised and grand mal fits can lead to euthanasia for the dogs sake...but you are a long way from that stage yet Unless it can be guaranteed the resuly of a head trauma or poisoning, then the dog should never be bred from. might be woth some investigations of parents and siblings, as this may throw up another case Unfortunatley there are some very irresponsible people breeding out there Edited September 22, 2009 by farlap Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ferret15 0 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) i had a lab that had epileptic fits like yours not close enough together to medicate she would collapse then her head would shake and eyes roll and staggering about trying to stand. just make sure there is nothing in her way to hurt herself on and reassure her as much as possible talking and stroking helps, mine didn't know where she was or what she was doing during and for a Short while after then would wants lots of attention afterwords. if she got stressed out it would trigger it. sounds like this might be whats happening with yours. as farlap said if in with other dogs seprate when they are alone it can scare and confuse them and prevoke an attack. edit to say she never had an attack untill she was stolen and thrown out on the M25 when they realised she was micro chipped along with her mother and sister who were both killed by traffic. Edited September 22, 2009 by ferret15 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big bald beautiful 1,231 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 yep had it with terriers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MADRA DUBH Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Probably epiliptic fit id say ,which can be inherited due to intensive in breeding ,however there is a bigger chance it may be caused by yearly vacinations ?/booster jabs apparently its caused by inflammation of the brain caused by a reaction to proteins and organisms in the jabs .If you feed meat and bones try not to feed liver an kidneys as these will be full up of pestisides ect which may trigger it of ,add vitamin b to the diet as this is important to nerve tissue ,and some fits are causes by a worm that attacks the brain try plenty garlic in the food as this should help with that particular problem . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
farlap 19 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Probably epiliptic fit id say ,which can be inherited due to intensive in breeding ,however there is a bigger chance it may be caused by yearly vacinations ?/booster jabs apparently its caused by inflammation of the brain caused by a reaction to proteins and organisms in the jabs .If you feed meat and bones try not to feed liver an kidneys as these will be full up of pestisides ect which may trigger it of ,add vitamin b to the diet as this is important to nerve tissue ,and some fits are causes by a worm that attacks the brain try plenty garlic in the food as this should help with that particular problem . :icon_eek: inherited epilepsy has nothing to do with inbreeding....if a parent has it then chances are it will carry....regardless of how closely bred they are. Dont know what part of the world you are in but pesticides and brain worms????? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sussexpoacher 45 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 sounds like epilepsy, i had a terrier that had it, tried the medication but the dog just seemed stoned whilst on it, she didnt have any interest in anything so i took her off it, discovered that if i kept her weight at a certain level she rarely had any fits, shes now living quite happily with the ex mother in law! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MADRA DUBH Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 :icon_eek: inherited epilepsy has nothing to do with inbreeding....if a parent has it then chances are it will carry....regardless of how closely bred they are. Dont know what part of the world you are in but pesticides and brain worms????? YOU OBVIOUSLY AN EXPERT THEN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dog fox 16 Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 iv,e seen a border have a simerlar thing ,looked like it had had a stroke on the day but turned out to be cramp down its back ,had to have an injection from a vet to relax the muscles .it could be a number of things best let the vet diagnose that one . not saying it couldnt be eperlepsy though as it could well be .hope you get it sorted Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GameBirdMeg 21 Posted September 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 She's also had a problem the past few months with eating dry food. It kind of balls in the back of her mouth and she'll pause halfway through then throw up a balled clump of claggy dog food then re eat it and so forth. Someone said maybe she could have a growth or something in her throat which could MAYBE be pressing on a vein or artery and maybe decrease the blood flow to her brain. But spoke to my vets about it and they didn't seem so convinced. They said I coulld get a X Ray done for £40! Would anything show up on it though?? Also about the eating thing I have tried larger size biscuits annd smaller size...she doesn't struggle with raw meats or anything.... She has it soaked though now and is fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cold Ethyl 63 Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 Do you give her any toys or things.Dye can sometimes set it off i had a grey who took fits and keeping things peaceful and not handling the dog whatsoever is the safest way to ensure her wellbeing and yours.You can buy stuff for fits without prescription of vio vet online.Potassium something or other and some herbal alternatives.Personally i would make sure no dyes in food or elsewhere and see how it goes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GameBirdMeg 21 Posted September 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 Do you give her any toys or things.Dye can sometimes set it off i had a grey who took fits and keeping things peaceful and not handling the dog whatsoever is the safest way to ensure her wellbeing and yours.You can buy stuff for fits without prescription of vio vet online.Potassium something or other and some herbal alternatives.Personally i would make sure no dyes in food or elsewhere and see how it goes No she doesn't get no toys or nothing...only the live variety. lol. We are trying now to do everything possible not to let her stress. As we have an animal feed shop we get sponsored by Pro Plan which is a pukka food. She's always on Salmon & Rice of theirs and we don't change it because she has an allergy to chicken. Thanks for the advice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
higgins 75 Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 A friend of mine had a Border terrier that had fits,it's common apparently in some Borders,seen it once in a patterdale which also had some Border in it's breeding,hope things turn out, Higgins. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big bald beautiful 1,231 Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 i know of several plummers that have fitted, more common then folks let on Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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