Skip to content

Possible seizures????

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Hi David,
    sorry to hear about Moki, wonder if its an alergy or cramp? It may be an idea to video him to show the vet.
    Our elderly Basenji had seizures, these were full blown falling to the floor type. He had a liver problem and with treatment did ok.
    He did have a few episodes of screaming when getting down from the setee, very occasional . Also he twitched if we opened a crisp packet near him. This was quite a time before the proper seizures started.
    Please keep us posted

  • Thanks, Shelley. Agree it is a good idea to video an episode but never seem to have the videocam close by when it happens. Will keep trying though. He was quiet all night and so far so good this morning!

    David

  • Hi David, hope Moki is doing all right. Just a thought my parents Papillon recently started to lick franticaly at his front paws. After bathing his paws with no sucess they took him to the vets. The vet found a minute cut that was actualy healing.

  • Humm, David, why don't you suggest to the next vet to have his thyroid checked. I would also suggest some lavendar oil for massage and helping him relax after an eposide, This will mentally calm him down too.
    Keep in touch.

  • We just happen to meet a lady yesterday who has had 6 basenjis and one of there's when it was older had seizurers. They found out it had fanconi.

    Rita Jean

  • Best way to eliminate Fanconi is to strip test. If sugar in the urine, a Vet follow up for blood work is needed asap. If no sugar in the blood, then blood gases are needed.

    Fanconi dogs typically die of something other than Fanconi (if treated early and on the protocol)… but it is the Fanconi that leads the other organs of the body to begin having problems.

  • I would talk to your vet again - and if no satisfaction then try another. Maybe some one on the forum who lives near you can suggest another.

  • I think we can rule out Fanconi and any kind of actual injury to the paw based symptoms and timing of episodes. We are trying to get one of the episodes recorded to show the vet next time we take him in. The seizures, if that is what they are, are relatively minor compared to what I have read about. He seems very out of it while it is happening but snaps back to normal very quickly, with the exception of following my partner around obsessively (more than usual). One friend suggested it might be caused by diet (preservatives and trace metals). Yesterday, we switched him to all natural dry and wet food so we will see if that helps – although preservatives and metals can build up in the body over time so it may take a while. Thanks again for all the posts. He has has a few episodes over the past few days but they have been relatively minor.

    David (MokiDad)

  • David, That sounds like a good idea, to record him while having a seizure. The diet change is good as well, I am a firm believer in diet related illnesses, in humans or pets..feeding him a nmore natural diet is better for him regardless of whether it solves the seizure thing or not. Keep us updated..he is in our thoughts.

  • David, That sounds like a good idea, to record him while having a seizure. The diet change is good as well, I am a firm believer in diet related illnesses excisting, in humans or pets..feeding him a more natural diet is better for him regardless of whether it solves the seizure thing or not. Keep us updated..he is in our thoughts.

  • Keep us all up to date on how your doing. My best to you both and hopes the food will take care of it. Good Luck

    Rita Jean

  • I only just realized where you live, has he been tested for Valley Fever?

    Here are some of the symptoms of disseminated Valley Fever:
    ? lameness or swelling of limbs
    ? back or neck pain
    ? seizures and other manifestations of central nervous system swelling
    ? soft swellings under the skin that resemble abscesses
    ? swollen lymph nodes under the chin, in front of the shoulder blades, or behind
    the stifles
    ? non-healing skin ulcerations or draining tracts that ooze fluid
    ? eye inflammation with pain or cloudiness

    Here is a link to a full article on Valley Fever, http://www.vfce.arizona.edu/Content/Documents/Valley%20Fever%20in%20Dogs%20for%20PDF.pdf

    I know there is at least one person on the forums that had a dog with disseminated Valley Fever.

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    10 Posts
    2k Views
    J
    Just shared a chicken nugget snack with both boys. Meds for the B- we split a 20mg tablet of Predinisone, for a morning/night dose,he's about 32 # now, gaining weight, eating and drinking lots. The other dog has been on regular meds- potassium bromide, gabapentin, and phenobarbitol. That regimen has yielded good results, but predictable- he'll still have 1 or 2 episodes a month. I've already worked out tentative plans for an endgame. Known a mobile vet doc and friend for years, I'll call on her when the time comes- she's helped in the past with a GF's kitteh. Planning a nice fish/bacon whatever dinner, and a heavy dose of probably gabapentin to sedate him. Then the euthanasia procedure. Then a large rock for me to crawl under. Allow me to share a quote. "And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. And you may not be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm is all about." Haruki Hurakami
  • 0 Votes
    1 Posts
    933 Views
    No one has replied
  • Cluster seizures

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    9k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Okay not to alarm you, but please make sure that what you are seeing is in fact cluster seizures (where there is a definite recovery between seizures) and status seizures, where there is no recovery but continues seizures. Status are the most dangerous… they can and do die from them. So getting this under control fast is critical. A side note, I worked in the UTnK Brain Research and Neuropsychology Lab with Dr Joel Lubar on his epilepsy program. QUOTE:>> The massive muscle activity of the seizures leads to hyperthermia with temperatures as high as 106 degrees Fahrenheit or more, which if sustained, causes irreversible damage to neurons. Hypoxia from inadequate pulmonary ventilation also causes brain damage. Severe lactic acidosis from shock and tissue hypoxia, amplified by excessive muscle activity, probably contributes to neuron deterioration. Death is usually not from brain dysfunction directly, but from overtaxation of cardiopulmonary reserve by the combination of massive continuous exercise, hypoxia, lactic acidosis, shock, and possibly also hyperthermia.<< Below are notes from Feb with a vet friend regarding another friend's chow. He was having seizures and they could not get control. (he mostly likely, however, had a brain tumor, and due to age and advancing loss of quality of life was put down.) NOTES: Hey, yell when you see this: OK, friends - I guess I posted too soon that xxx was doing so well. He had another seizure this morning about 4:00am. ...talked to the vet again and I think I would at least like to TRY some antiseizure medication. The vet talked about phenobarbitol and something called Zonisamide. She said that usually Zonisamide is given if the phenobarbitol isn't working - but that they have started giving it as the first drug some. It does not have the side effects of phenobarbitol because it isn't metabolized in the liver. But she also said it is a fairly new drug and hasn't been widely used. I also read online about Potassium Bromide. BR response:::: KBr is a good option and we have been using Kepra with good results too. I have no experience with Zonisamide Seizures do need to be controlled we have had 3 dogs in the practice in the last year that went into status and cooked themselves.... body temperature skyrockets during the seizure and causes brain damage Zonisamide is in the same class of drugs as Kepra.....we have used it as a first option but most often along with pheno when the pheno isn't working by itself Debra Levey So would you say start with pheno and add kepra if necessary? BR: Depends on liver function.... if ALT is normal then that's what we usually do, mostly because it works quickly (KBR & kepra take a little longer to build a "blood level") If ALT is elevated or borderline then start with kepra or KBR. Milk thistle is a good idea to support liver also<<< That's all I can give you as I have never had a dog with seizures. But if you don't get things under control in a couple of weeks, you might consider a specialist at a university since there could be other issues causing it. I am assuming your vet already did blood work and ruled out any toxins or medication issues.
  • Chance had a seizure

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    20
    0 Votes
    20 Posts
    7k Views
    AlexA
    Hers or his? Chance had a full panel done just now.
  • URGENT ADVICE - Possible insect sting

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    52
    0 Votes
    52 Posts
    14k Views
    soulmateS
    super they are better now. Sorry, I just have read it now. In case of any stings you can use raw onion. Cut it in half and put it on the sting for a while. It pulls the poison out of the wound. We here in our area have lots of adders around http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipera_berus for this reason I bought a "snake-bite-kit" which is always in the car, just in case. If you think of any allergic reaction maybe to plants, check if you have any of the Ambrosia artemisiifolia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosia_artemisiifolia in your direct area. They can cause massive allergic reactions and the seeds are used in bird food blends. Washing with Vinegar (preferably made out of apples) can help to stop the itching. Regards, Esther
  • Thyroid problems and Seizures

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    wizardW
    My previous beastie developed thyroid problems (and it took the vet a long time to figure it out too) but he wasn't put on soloxine. I can't remember the name of the meds but it started with a b. He never had any siezures and he was on the meds for probably five years or so.