1st Seizure in Puppy, HELP - YorkieTalk.com Forums

JamesonF · 07-05-2014, 09:42 AM

Last night, my 18 week old yorkie-poo puppy had a seizure. Immediately, I called the emergency vet (it was 4th of July holiday), and brought him to the hospital an hour away. His seizure only lasted about a minute. By the time we got there, he wasn't showing any symptoms. They checked his vitals and did a glucose blood test and everything checked out okay and sent me home. This is my first experience ever being around an animal who has had a seizure and do not know much about them. He has an open fontanelle, I am wondering if this is the cause of the seizure (perhaps having fluid on the brain). Could it be anything else, since he's so young? Does anyone have a lot of experience with this? The emergency vet left me with very little answers. I'm so very scared for him.

107barney · 07-05-2014, 10:13 AM

Yes, and you should consult with a veterinary neurologist.

yorkiemom76 · 07-05-2014, 10:15 AM

I'd get a second opinion if I were you. I would imagine the open fontanelle could be an issue. Somebody else on here may know more about that than me. Epilepsy is also a good possibility and is a lot more common in dogs than you might think. I have a Standard Poodle with epilepsy but it's well controlled on medication. I work in a vet clinic and we see a lot of epileptic dogs. As long as your puppy is doing okay, I would call your regular vet on Monday and get another opinion. Good luck.

JamesonF · 07-06-2014, 10:17 AM

Jameson acted fine the next morning/afternoon like nothing had ever happened. However, last night he was acting very strange. He was restless and kept getting up and sitting down, getting up and sitting down... He was almost lethargic-like. He usually will take any opportunity to kiss your face if you allow him to. He would not give kisses or even hardly look at you. He just sat there, staring. It was so sad. I didn't know what to do. I would have brought him into the emergency again, but they said if he's not having seizure there, there's really nothing they can do. I'm going to bring him into my normal vet tomorrow and have him receive a full blood panel test. Is there anything else I should ask the vet, or any testing I should ask for? I have a card for a neurologist, too. It was given to me by the ER vet, I will make an appt for that as well. I just want to know if anyone has any other recommendations or suggestions.

JamesonF · 07-07-2014, 03:55 PM

I brought my pup to the vet today and had a full blood analysis. Now it's the waiting game. Should find out the results tomorrow. It's between having a liver shunt or hydrocephalus.

Either way, it doesn't look very well. :'(

LCaster · 07-07-2014, 04:16 PM

Have you done a bile acid test? I just went through the same thing and my 2 yr old Maxwell has liver shunt/hepatic encephalopathy. My yorkie has three genetic conditions and based upon his results, the vet recommended medical management. Maxwell has been on Hills k/d food for a week and is improved. He is not completely himself but the vomiting, pacing/restlessness and lethargy have subsided. There is a great you tube video about Gracie the yorkie with this condition that describes the symptoms - all of which my yorkie had. Wish I had known about it 2 mos. ago. My yorkie's personality has changed and I'm not sure that he will be back to his former self. Good luck and keep me updated.

JamesonF · 07-08-2014, 03:06 PM

I don't think a bile acid test was one. His blood results came back today. Good news and bad news. Good news is that all of his levels are normal and do not indicate any organ failure. Bad news is that it is neurological. He has an open fontanelle so he likely has hydrocephalus. Does anyone have an success stories on this? Or what was done personally to treat it.

07-05-2014, 09:42 AM	#1
JamesonF Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2014 Location: Muskegon Posts: 10	1st Seizure in Puppy, HELP Last night, my 18 week old yorkie-poo puppy had a seizure. Immediately, I called the emergency vet (it was 4th of July holiday), and brought him to the hospital an hour away. His seizure only lasted about a minute. By the time we got there, he wasn't showing any symptoms. They checked his vitals and did a glucose blood test and everything checked out okay and sent me home. This is my first experience ever being around an animal who has had a seizure and do not know much about them. He has an open fontanelle, I am wondering if this is the cause of the seizure (perhaps having fluid on the brain). Could it be anything else, since he's so young? Does anyone have a lot of experience with this? The emergency vet left me with very little answers. I'm so very scared for him.

07-05-2014, 10:13 AM	#2
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	Yes, and you should consult with a veterinary neurologist. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

07-05-2014, 10:15 AM	#3
yorkiemom76 YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 364	I'd get a second opinion if I were you. I would imagine the open fontanelle could be an issue. Somebody else on here may know more about that than me. Epilepsy is also a good possibility and is a lot more common in dogs than you might think. I have a Standard Poodle with epilepsy but it's well controlled on medication. I work in a vet clinic and we see a lot of epileptic dogs. As long as your puppy is doing okay, I would call your regular vet on Monday and get another opinion. Good luck.

07-06-2014, 10:17 AM	#4
JamesonF Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2014 Location: Muskegon Posts: 10	Jameson acted fine the next morning/afternoon like nothing had ever happened. However, last night he was acting very strange. He was restless and kept getting up and sitting down, getting up and sitting down... He was almost lethargic-like. He usually will take any opportunity to kiss your face if you allow him to. He would not give kisses or even hardly look at you. He just sat there, staring. It was so sad. I didn't know what to do. I would have brought him into the emergency again, but they said if he's not having seizure there, there's really nothing they can do. I'm going to bring him into my normal vet tomorrow and have him receive a full blood panel test. Is there anything else I should ask the vet, or any testing I should ask for? I have a card for a neurologist, too. It was given to me by the ER vet, I will make an appt for that as well. I just want to know if anyone has any other recommendations or suggestions.

07-07-2014, 03:55 PM	#5
JamesonF Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2014 Location: Muskegon Posts: 10	I brought my pup to the vet today and had a full blood analysis. Now it's the waiting game. Should find out the results tomorrow. It's between having a liver shunt or hydrocephalus. Either way, it doesn't look very well. :'(

07-07-2014, 04:16 PM	#6
LCaster Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Avon Lake, OH USA Posts: 38	Have you done a bile acid test? I just went through the same thing and my 2 yr old Maxwell has liver shunt/hepatic encephalopathy. My yorkie has three genetic conditions and based upon his results, the vet recommended medical management. Maxwell has been on Hills k/d food for a week and is improved. He is not completely himself but the vomiting, pacing/restlessness and lethargy have subsided. There is a great you tube video about Gracie the yorkie with this condition that describes the symptoms - all of which my yorkie had. Wish I had known about it 2 mos. ago. My yorkie's personality has changed and I'm not sure that he will be back to his former self. Good luck and keep me updated.

07-08-2014, 03:06 PM	#7
JamesonF Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2014 Location: Muskegon Posts: 10	I don't think a bile acid test was one. His blood results came back today. Good news and bad news. Good news is that all of his levels are normal and do not indicate any organ failure. Bad news is that it is neurological. He has an open fontanelle so he likely has hydrocephalus. Does anyone have an success stories on this? Or what was done personally to treat it.