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11-24-2012, 01:05 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Posts: 1
| Yorkie shakes and legs go limp? Could this be a seizure? Hello, all. First time poster here. I have a 12-year-old yorkie who, this week, had for the first time what I think may have been a seizure. However, I've seen dogs having seizures before and this doesn't really look like one. She's not shaking too much, she doesn't roll around, she doesn't vomit, nor soil herself in any way. What happens is, her whole body shakes only when she draws breath, her front legs go almost completely limp, her neck goes stiff and she becomes virtually unable to look anywhere but forward. Also, at apparently random moments, she will yelp loudly if touched on her neck, ears and head, but at other times she will show no reaction. The first time this happened, she stopped breathing and we rushed her to the vet as fast as we could. He detected water in her lungs and said that had been the cause, that she had choked while having a drink of her water. He kept her overnight on a breather and when she came back to us the next day, she seemed groggy and slightly dazed. She would still respond to our stimuli, look in our direction when called, come to us for attention, eat and drink, and walk around; however, she is usually a very, very lively dog, and after the episode and having been kept at the vet she became quiet and slow. Her neck was also stiffer than usual. We put this down to side effects of having had a tube down her throat and having been sedated, but we kept an eye out for any other abnormalities. Early this morning, I woke up to a tiny yelp coming from her, lying on the floor by my bed. Upon picking her up, I noticed the symptoms I described above. Her hind legs worked fine, but if she tried to stand, her front legs would give way and she would tip forwards. If I arranged her legs so that she could remain in a sitting position, she would sometimes remain completely still, with her ears tucked back, or lean to the side and fall over (I kept my hands hovering on either side of her so as not to let her hit the ground). We took her to the vet again (same clinic, different doctor) and he said that yes, she'd had a seizure, and he found it likely that the first episode had been a seizure as well, not choking. He prescribed phenobarbital (0,5mg every 12 hours) and recommended that we order a CT scan, but we honestly can't afford that right now. He says the causes may be numerous, ranging from head trauma to a stroke to plain old age. We think maybe she really did choke at first and the lack of oxygen to her brain left her with brain damage, which might be what is causing these episodes. Obviously I'm not as well-versed in this as the vet, but as far as I know, seizures last a few minutes and go away leaving the animal perhaps dazed afterwards. Well, that is not the case here. The limpness of her legs and the stiffness or her neck, as well as a generalized groggy, half-awake demeanor, persist for upwards of 45 minutes. That was the first episode; roughly an hour after taking her first dose of medication, she had another episode and has remained in this state since (that was hours ago). She's not shaking or making any sounds, she is breathing normally and her heart rate is fine, but she is groggy and her legs are unresponsive. It took her about 2 or 3 hours to regain use of her legs after the episode earlier this morning. I don't know what this could be. The vet says seizures, but we are clueless as to what's causing them. I would greatly appreciate any help. She is currently lying on my lap, and all I can do is lull her to sleep. I don't know what else there is to be done. |
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11-24-2012, 03:27 PM | #2 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland
Posts: 2,224
| There are a lot of different forms of seizures. My dog has epileptic seizures and he just suddenly freezes and his legs stiffen , he is also on phenobarbitone . The fact that your dog is remaining like this for a few hours is worrying it would be worth taking him to the vet. I hope you get some answers.
__________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie |
11-24-2012, 04:12 PM | #3 |
www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County
Posts: 17,408
| I"m sorry to hear this. I don't really have any advice, but wanted to give you well wishes.
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11-25-2012, 10:08 PM | #4 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Idaho
Posts: 4,544
| These can all be symptoms of heart trouble & given her age that's where I would start testing. |
11-26-2012, 12:13 AM | #5 |
Between♥Suspensions Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vaissades
Posts: 7,979
| Elvis is epileptic, he has cluster seizures. He almost never falls over or shakes around like I thought all seizures were. I even tried to argue at first when the vets said it was seizures. Seizures take many forms, Elvis moreso walks drunk like or starts in a dead bolt run and then wonders around until his legs go completely straight and his stomach arches up like a cat does when hissing frightened. His muscles all contract to rock hard, then he moves his head slowly side to side like he is saying "no" He'll come around to normal...and will go back in... Elvis is on pheno now. It took months to get up to the correct dosage to control them after almost anever year of no meds as his seizure pattern is about every 3 months most. The most important things I can pass on in advice is 1. Do a full bloodwork panel 3 times a week apart each. Not just but definately checking liver levels. 2. Never restrain as some recommend-wrap in a towel they may say, instead provide a safe cushioned area and watch airways. 3. Get a needleless syringe from your vet, pet store even Ace etc in the paint department and give Karo found atin any groceryand immediately after. A single small seizure is like running a marathon in hyperdrive, yorkies are already predisposed to hypoglycemia blood sugar drops so fast it must be gotten back up equally as fast. Use the syringe to give the Karo ask your vet for the proper amount based on weight. Most dogs (anything or anyone after a seizure) can be excessively thirsty hungry, provide food water they need it! 4. Recovery to normality is critical if it takes more than 30 minutes you are in an emergency and need yo seek veterinary help immediately...a pheno or vallium injection may be needed. Ask you cet for a seizure recovery check list (I can provide one too if you need). 5. Stay calm. I know its hard, have a plan, vet # ready, emergency items handy. 6. Ensure there are no environmental causes possible for both causing seizures by ingestion or epileptic irritants (ie rosemary triggers seizures in epileptics). I hope this is an isolated issue. Why a ct scan is suggested without bloodwork done immediately and then rechecked just isn't right. Insist on it. While I beleive neurologist are great further testing is needed, unfortunately I have been through the experience of paying for repeating every possible test, seeking second third and specialist opinions...the end result is ehat the first vet at our first seizure er apointmebt said...pheno and we just don't know why this happens sometimes, there is nothibg shirt if lifelong meds to aid in it. I hope you experience a better outcome. Hugs, remember seizures scare them more than us.
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11-26-2012, 01:33 PM | #6 |
♥Momma's Bambino♥ Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ca
Posts: 10,026
| I'm sorry, I don't have any advice for you- Just wanted to send you some ((HUGS)) and prayers you get some answers- praying your little baby gets better!!
__________________ "People with nothing to hide don't usually feel the need to say so." |
11-26-2012, 01:43 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: FtWorth,TX,USA
Posts: 3,269
| My little poodle acted like this,he was experiencing toxins in his system due to REALLY high liver levels. This happened at age 9yrs. |
11-26-2012, 01:57 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toluca Lake, CA
Posts: 5,491
| I am sorry that you poor Yorkie is having these episodes. I can not offer any advice as I have no experience with these symptoms. I would recommend that you post this is the Sick Yorkie forum and you might get more information from people who have experienced similar problems. I would recommend further testing. Best wishes.
__________________ CarolynBuster Brown "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything." |
11-27-2012, 06:54 AM | #10 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member | Good thoughts and blessing for your little one
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