[Sunny_01]

My little Dinky has epilepsy it is awful and pretty scary when they have their first siezure in front of you. Dinky has grand mal seizures which are not a pretty sight at all.

Siezures can start in dogs of any age. If it starts before they are 2-3 years old it is generally epilepsy, or something simple like the dog having a temperature. After that age it generally (if it continues) needs more investigation.

Dinky is 12 and the diagnosis was a small brain tumor just over a year ago, she is fine and dandy and her siezures are now well managed with phenobarbitone. She used to take another medication but it ended up making her very ill and she now has liver damage from it, so do discuss the pros and cons of any medication with a vet before agreeing to start them.

If your dog has another siezure remember it will be as scared as you are so things you can do to help are:

use a cool (not cold) damp cloth and either rub its tummy or head with it while it is having the fit, this is because their temp rises dramatically while they are having a fit.

Talk gently to the dog letting it know you are there, stroke its back only as they can bite out either during or straight after a fit as they are unaware of what is happening

If a fit lasts longer than 10 mins the dog seriously needs to be taken to the vets, they may seem to last forever but time them, this is important they usually only last 2 -4 mins but it seems like a life time.

When Dinky has had a siezure I give her a spoonfull of hagan dazz vanilla ice cream with 2 drops of Dr Bachs rescue rememdy mixed in, it helps to settle them after a siezure and brings blood sugar levels back to normal. they can seem a bit off their game for a few days after a fit so lots of TLC is needed and a calm environment for them to recover in is important as well.

If you have anything else you want to ask Jono either U2U me or pop it on here