Max is Limping - Seizure Related?
 

Max can't seem to get a break. We just got back from the vet. Here's our story:

Last night Max was sleeping in the kitchen. He woke up after about an hour and I called him to me. He limped all the way to me. I got up, alarmed and watched him walk for about 15 minutes. I couldn't tell which leg, but I knew that he was walking unusually. About a 1/2 hour later he seemed normal and continued monitored play with Cooper.

He went to sleep and woke up fine. He and Cooper played for about 1.5 hours this morning. All was well. When I heard quiet, I got up and checked on them. Max limped over to me. I checked his paws and legs and all seemed ok. No whining. I called the vet immediately.

We just got back from the vet. It's not his knees or legs. He appears physically fine. She thinks that he's limping front and back on his right side, which leads her to believe that it's related to nerve damage from his seizures. We just doubled his phenobarbital levels about 2 weeks ago, but 3 days ago I noticed the seizures were coming back.

Yesterday, unrelated to the limping, I emailed my LSU specialist about the seizures returning. She believes it's because Max is growing so quickly that it's difficult to regulate his levels. I just emailed LSU about the limping and waiting for a response.

The local vet gave him a shot if in case it is a sprain or some minor trauma. I should maybe see a difference shortly. If it's trauma it would help. He's sleeping now, so I'm not yet sure if it helped. We also took his pheno levels again. Max doesn't seem to be in any pain, but he doesn't seem to active right now either. Would he feel nerve damage?

Is this familiar to anyone? If your dog has had seizures have you seen limping? Once again, I'm scared to death. I will do anything for Max. Please keep him in your prayers.

Bless your heart! You have had such a difficult row to hoe with this lil guy. Hope it gets better soon.

The amount of joy is still outweighing the number of tears.

Oh sorry to hear this. I hope they can figure it out.

Thanks Jeanie. You've been very supportive throughout everything. I guess we have to wait for the pheno levels to come back. I pray that this is not permanently damaging him. I can't imagine being more proactive than I am. I don't know what else to do.

Sending prayers for little Max.

Lady's had seizures for ten years, but I have never noticed her limping. Nerve/brain damage is always a possibility after seizures, though. I wonder if Max could have pulled a muscle while he was seizing?

It's going to be tricky to find the right dose for a growing puppy. Your vet may add another medication like potassium bromide if pheno alone doesn't control Max's seizures.

I received an email back from the LSU specialist. She says that limping is not commonly associated with epilepsy and she feels that the original diagnosis of idiopathic epiliepsy may not be 100% accurate at this point. This may now be out of her domain. She can refer me to neurologic specialists in other states.

She also stated that she hopes that it's just a minor injury. I am in hysterics and feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Max is still limping. However, he was able to just jump and climb on up on the back of the couch and sit in the windowsill.

What other diseases would these be symptoms for????? As of now, he has seizures and he limps. Everything else is normal.

I'm wondering if he sprained something... Maybe playing too hard? My Shetie would occastionally limp after playing really hard. I hope nothing serious is going on with little Max! Fynn and I are sending best wishes your way!

Yeah, I've never heard of limping with seizures. You don't think he could have pulled or sprained something while playing or have fallen off of something?

I hope he is okay, and that this clears up quickly.

Take a deep breath. Hopefully he was just playing hard with Cooper and pulled a muscle. Give Max a nose kiss from Scarlett and Rhett and tell him they hope he's feeling better soon.

So far the anti-inflammatory did not seem to do much, but my local vet just called and said there is no obvious neuro deficits, which I'm assuming is a good thing. He's completely "with it" and very responsive.

Dr. Sisson at Angell in Boston is a neurologist and can probably can do a phone consult with your LSU specialist...not sure of cost or anything but he is definitely amazing...we just saw him with our Teddy for a consult and I give him the :thumbup:

Did they check his patellas? He could also just simply have a soft tissue injury....our Daisy was unable to walk back in May and in a few days time with a little R&R and some good opiates, she was back to her cricketty old self in no time.

The LSU specialist has not seen Max since his limping. I brought him this morning to my regular vet, at least to check for anything physical. I had no idea that they would say it could be neurological. I just got off the phone with my local vet who suggests that we wait for the pheno levels and monitor the limping for a day. I'll have to figure out what to do after that.

Yes. They thought physically he was fine. He was in good physical shape. We aren't ruling out an injury just yet, but I'm assuming the anti inflammatory shot this morning should have helped. He's still limping.

Sorry to hear that Max is still limping. Give him some hugs from me, Max and Teddy.

I hope it is just a sprain and Max's limping goes away.

I'm so sad to hear this, poor Max. I hope it is something very simple this time. Again, I'm sending prayers and good thoughts to you and Max.:)

sending you & max a hug & will be saying some prayers!!!

Thanks for the support. I don't really have any updates. He's still limping, but seems to be in fine spirits and not complaining. I just wish I knew what was wrong.

I dont know if it was mentioned yet..but have they checked him for Lyme Disease?

No, I don't think so. How is that tested?

Blood test....Britster's dog, Jackson, suddenly starting limping one day out of the blue...and it ended up being Lyme Disease.

I just found this thread....I'm so sorry you and Max have to go through this....my prayers are with you both that this is just a minor injury and will heal quickly. I believe they test for lyme through a blood test, but I'm not 100% sure. Hugs & kisses from me and Trixie :animal-pa

Max has gone through so many tests, but no recently blood tests. The vet didn't even mention Lyme's. She immediately asked about his seizures and it just so happened that they've been worsening again so she automatically assumed the limping was related to the seizures. However, the LSU vet says that seizures don't generally cause limping. Lyme Disease just sounds so far fetched to me.

I just found this, and Max has none of these symptoms except the first. He doesn't have swelling or pain: The most common sign of Lyme disease in dogs is arthritis, which causes sudden lameness, pain ands sometimes swelling in one or more joints. Other signs that may be seen include fever, lack of appetite, dehydration, inactivity, and swollen lymph nodes.

Thank you.

Oh, I hope Max is okay, i hope it's nothing, and that it's just from playing and maybe pulled something....;)

Poor Max has been thorugh so much already, I hope this isn't anything to serious :( I will be keeping him in my thoughts and hoping for the best. Big hugs to Max.

Oh my! Sorry to hear about poor Max.

General: Many times with an injury the affected limb will be noticably warm to the touch, and the dog may hold the limb out away from the body, resting or while mobile. I would check for heat in the leg and shoulder areas.

Lymes disease is detected through a simple blood test and can be done at your regular vets office in about 15 minutes. Lymes is tricky, false results are encountered often, and if he\'s ever been vaccinated for Lymes it may effect the test results.

Nerve damaged in humans results in numbness and some intermittant pain. Nerves can regenerate, again in humans it can take months. I can only assume dogs may have similar effects because we are all mammals.

Did LSU get any results back from anything they sent out on Max\'s spinal tap?

Dr Sisson\'s rates are quite affordable. He is expert in neurology, and has specialized in treating dogs with GME/NME, in addition to his normal caseload. He will do phone consults with you and your vet.

Another option may be to have Dr. Dodds evaluate his blood, also very reasonable.

I\'ll look up more info for you if you\'re considering anything I\'ve mentioned.
Also, a video might be nice....:D

Sending prayers for you, Max and your family. Puppy kisses from Rocco.