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Possible seizures????

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • BasenjimammaB

    David, Iam sorry to hear about Moki, I do not know, but it sure does sound like seizures. How many of theses episodes does he have? Are they often, how does he behave afterwards? Is he sore/stiff?

    I know its a lot of questions, but maybe it will help in figuring it out..and I would go have a second opinion done, from a different vet. You've seen the seizures so you know they are happening.

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • M

    Hi Basenjimamma:

    When they started several months ago, there was a period over a couple of weeks where he did it 10 times a day and then it stopped for a few months and then started again. Very odd. He seems to be completely fine in between episodes. We will probably take him to another vet. One thing that does seem to help is if we give him half a tranquilizer or a Benadryl. Any other comments are appreciated.

    David

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  • thunderbird8588T

    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

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

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  • M

    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

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  • thunderbird8588T

    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.

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

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  • C

    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.

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  • Rita JeanR

    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

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  • tanzaT

    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.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • wizardW

    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.

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  • M

    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)

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  • BasenjimammaB

    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.

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • BasenjimammaB

    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.

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • Rita JeanR

    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

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  • lvossL

    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.

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  • D

    Seizures-Older Basenji

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    Thanks for posting this update @Derek-Groves , our Chance is 16 and he has had seizures most of his life. It just started out of nowhere when he was a few years old and for a number of years, we tried all kinds of natural and non-natural medications. We tried Chinese herbs, CBD, diet changes then the typical meds like phenobarbitol, all somewhat helped, but he would still have recurring seizures several times a month, or sometimes a week. All in all, he probably had 100 seizures in his lifetime, but luckily no major damage other than he is a bit wobbly and has head tremors once in a while. It does not seem to bother him though and he is otherwise healthy and active for a 16 yr old. Once I found Keppra through trial and error we stuck with it and that seemed to have been the best way to curb the seizures. We went from monthly to maybe once in a few years, during major events like a house move. Today he is on 250mg of Keppra + Zonisomide every 12 hours and that does the trick, if he does have a sezure (we also have concentrated CBD tincture, which we keep bedside, injecting it into his mouth gets him out of it pretty quickly and speeds up recover. We ended up sticking a particular manufacturer for Keppra (Lupin labs), just to make sure no formula variation is introduced.
  • nobarkusN

    Cluster seizures

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    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.
  • AoibheannA

    Cairo had a seizure this morning

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    DebraDownSouthD
    Nope, any dog any age can be trained and desensitized. In fact it hit me, Kathy Diamond Davis has had dogs with seizures. You can email her, tell her I sent you, if you need help. Kathy is great with sensitive dogs. KDiamondD@aol.com Noise Phobia (web page makes half the script black unless you highlight), can use same method for all loud noises including the motor cycle. I'd actually go out and TAPE it, start playing really low. http://companionanimalsolutions.com/blogs/tips-for-dog-owners-noise-phobia/ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+1551&aid=2545 http://dogbuilders.com/articles/2009/01/noise-phobias.html Counterconditioning: Using counterconditioning, the animal is taught to display an acceptable behavior rather than an unacceptable one as a response to a certain stimulus. In this way, a negative stimulus can become associated with a positive event. For instance, the only time the pet gets his most favorite treat, game, or toy, is just prior to and during a thunderstorm. Dogs who enjoy traveling may be taken for a car ride, or cats who love catnip, may be given their favorite catnip mouse. (Dogs who enjoy swimming will need to wait inside until the storm is over!) After a time, the pet will start associating an oncoming storm with getting to have his favorite thing. Desensitization: Using desensitization, the animal's response is decreased while he is exposed to increasing levels of the fear-producing stimulus. For noise phobias, the animal is taught to be calm when the noise level is low, and then the noise level is gradually increased. This process is generally more successful in dogs than cats. To desensitize a pet to thunderstorms: 1. Obtain a commercial tape or CD of a storm, or tape record one yourself (commercial products generally work better). Play the recording at normal volume to determine if it will induce the fear response. If it does, continue with the desensitization; if not, you will need to obtain a different recording. For some animals, a recording alone may not work, since there may be a combination of occurrences that provokes fear, e.g.; thunder plus lightning or changes in barometric pressure. For these animals, darkening the room and adding strobe lights may more closely mimic the storm, and may need to be included in the desensitization process. 2. Play the recording at a volume low enough that the pet is aware of the sound, but it does not induce a fear response. For instance, the ears may be ****ed towards the source of the sound, but you still have the pet's attention. In some instances, that may mean the pet needs to be in a different room from where the recording is playing. While the recording is playing at the low level, engage the pet in an activity in which you give the commands, such as obedience training or performing tricks. Give food or other rewards during the activity when the pet accomplishes what he is supposed to. If the animal shows signs of fear, stop and try again the next day, playing the recording at an even lower level. It is important that the pet not be rewarded while he is fearful or anxious. Sessions should last about 20 minutes. 3. If the animal does not respond fearfully, during the next session, increase the volume slightly. Again, involve the pet in an activity and reward it for obeying commands. Continue increasing the volume gradually for each session. If the pet starts to show fear, decrease the volume. Repeat the sessions in various rooms of the house and with various family members present. 4. When the pet does not show fear when the recording is played at a loud volume, you may want to try playing the recording for a short time while you are absent. Gradually increase the time you are gone while the recording is playing. 5. When the pet appears to have lost his fear, the sessions can be reduced to one per week. In most instances, these sessions will need to be repeated weekly for the life of the pet. 6. During an actual storm, use the same activities and rewards you used in the training sessions. To increase the chances of successful desensitization, the training process should take place during a time of the year when the actual noise will not be encountered: if the pet is afraid of thunder or fireworks, try desensitization during the winter; if afraid of gunshots, the training should take place outside of the hunting season. In most instances, it is best to discontinue any behavior-modifying medications during the desensitization process. Consult with your veterinarian before discontinuing any medications.
  • ?

    Possible Thyroid Problem

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    nomrbddgsN
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  • S

    Help…my old girl is having seizures...

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    tanzaT
    As our Basenjis age we are all confronted with their care… there are tough decisions to be made for sure.. we can all only do what we can to make the remaining time they have with us the best possible.. and not going to extreme measures is many times the most kindest thing we can do... and just make sure they are comfortable .... been there, done that... not easy... but I know that the best care that was in my opinion was given....