Help please!!!

[Katiemccain2011]

I have a yorkie named Sophia. She is 3 years old and about a year ago she began to have seizures. They have been every four months. She acts weird for a few days meaning that she doesn't play as much or just lays around a lot. She crave attention for me to just rub her and lay next to her. During the seizure she does respond to my voice by looking at me. I calmly tell her that everything is going to be okay and that I love her. During the seizure she loses functioning in her legs and kicks to try to get up. This is why I hold her. She also shakes but more of like a scared shake. She does not use the bathroom during the seizure. Afterwards she is off for the next two days and just sleeps a lot and lays around a lot. Then she is fine until after four months we repeat the cycle. I have taken her to two vets both which are not concerned about putting her on medication (not that I am as well) but I want to know what is causing the seizure. The first vet mentioned liver failure. She did blood work on her and everything was fine. The second vet mentioned liver shunt disease and thought it was no big deal. However now I have watched all these videos and done a bunch of googling and I am so worried. Today Sophia is acting weird like she is going to have a seizure. Please anyone can you please help me help her. I can't stand here with only a monitor her and reassure her when she does have a seizure. I want answers and I want to help her. Please help!!

[My lil friend]

Bumping for you. There are several members that have had to deal with liver shunt. It is a big deal.
My only advice would be to find a vet school in your area or ask a vet for specialist in your area.

[crystalsmom]

Very good advise

[Maximo]

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. I am sorry Sophia is suffering seizures.

Which blood tests have been done? Did she have bile acid tests (BATs)? Everything was in normal range?

Is she on a heartworm preventative, flea and tick meds, or anything else?

[margaritaville]

Welcome to YT. If you have a cell phone that has video capabilities, I would video the seizure to show to the vet.

[crystalsmom]

Welcome and a bump for others to see.

[yorkiemom76]

I'm sorry you and your baby are going through this. I know how horrible it is to watch them go through this. If she does have a liver shunt, I'm not sure why your vet wouldn't be concerned about this. They can be treated. I believe there is a surgery that can help or I know they can at least be treated with meds and a special diet. One of the vets I work with has a Westie with a liver shunt that she only expected to live for a couple of years and she's going to be 9 years old soon and she has only treated her with Lactulose, Denamarin and a special diet that she makes herself (she wouldn't eat the dog food). I know you've already had 2 but I think I would get another opinion if I were you. If all of her bloodwork is okay, it may just be that she is epileptic. That won't show up on any bloodwork. I have a 6 year old Standard Poodle that is epileptic and he's been on medication for about 2 1/2 years and hasn't had any seizures since. The medication can cause liver damage so you really have to keep up with the bloodwork though. I have a CBC/CHEM done on him every 6 months and Phenobarb level once a year and there are other options for medication if they start to have issues. I hope you get it figured out.

[Katiemccain2011]

Sophia is currently on no flea guard as it is the winter (I wanted to see if this would help) and no heart worm. I have to be really careful about the heartworm medication that I put her on because she is allergic to an ingredient in some of them that causes her to throw up four or five times after taking it. The vet mentioned the liver shunt but does not think that she has it. I am not sure why he even said it if he did not believe that she did not have it? There have been blood test done. I do not know what they actually tested but told me that they were afraid of liver failure so it prompted a blood test a day after a seizure. Everything came back normal except something in the blood that was just a few number elevated showing a little bit of stress. The vet stated that more than likely this came from the seizure and her being scared from that. I refuse to leave Sophia alone at any point and she does attend doggy daycare (with my mother in law). Today she is at home with my hubby and still is acting very strange. I woke up numerous times last night to check on her and she was sleeping away. This is much harder on me than her I know but I cannot help but to worry about what is causing this and if this is causing damage to her brain. Its really taking everything I can do not to cry at work

[Katiemccain2011]

Thank you for this advice. The vet keeps telling me that they do not want her on any medications until the seizure become closer together and more severe due to causing liver damage.

[Katiemccain2011]

Originally Posted by margaritaville

Welcome to YT. If you have a cell phone that has video capabilities, I would video the seizure to show to the vet.

This is what we are going to do the next time that it happens. Everyone has been warned that is even around her to be sure to be ready when something happens. I do let them know that her safety is the most important though.

[Cherie6446]

I don't know about the advise the vet is giving you. My Gina started having seizures about five years of age. It is very scary and you feel so helpless. If she became very upset she would have a seizure. It only happened every year or two. The vet told me if the episodes happened more than once per year then he would put her on meds. That never happened. If your baby is having seizures every four months I would think she should be on medication IMO. My heart goes out to you and Sophia to find a solution.

[crystalsmom]

Exploring the Mysteries of Liver Shunts - the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Foundation

[yorkiemom76]

Taking a video of the seizures was a really good idea. I would also keep a journal. Write down the dates of her seizures and how long each one lasts. I'm sure all vets have different opinions on when medication should be started. The vets I work with usually tell people if they're having one every few months, they should be on medication. My Riley started having seizures at about 1 year old but they were far enough between that we didn't start him on meds until he was almost 4. The meds can definitely have bad side effects but it's not good for them to continue to have seizures either. Something else you could ask your vet about is if they will give you some Diazepam to keep on hand. Our vets will prescribe the injectable Diazepam but instead of injecting it, you give it rectally. It'll stop them from seizing very quickly. I always keep this on hand as a just in case.

[Juliealfies mum]

My little Alfie has seizures and we started on medication once they were more frequent.
We were seen by the top vet school here and the diagnosed epilepsy.
He is on phenobarbitone and has regular blood checks.
Taking the video and keeping a diary are great ideas.
At first my own vet was reluctant to treat him for the seizures but once I noted down exch seizure date time if anything seemed to trigger it , that seemed to do the trick to make him take it seriously.
Good luck with your little one.

[lillymae]

If this were my pup she would be seeing a specialist ASAP. This may or may not have anything to do with her liver. There are other causes of seizures & most are life threatening without Prompt & Proper treatment. AAI, Chiari, & GME can all cause seizures & all can cause liver enzymes to be slightly off in blood results. Chiari is most often diagnosed between the ages of 2 & 6 yrs with the majority between 2 & 3 yrs & causes liver enzymes to be off. I would say a visit to a vet school is in order ASAP. I would NOT wait for one more seizure, I would be calling ASAP for the next available appt. Also, I don't believe ANY meds should be started without a Proper diagnosis.