Possible Yorkie Illness - Need Advice / Help * A * S * A* P *

[shireyak]

If this is not a blood sugar issue, you really should have a bile-acid test to rule out liver shunt. Gracie had a cluster seizure at 3 months of age and we had the bile-acid test as well as CT scan to rule out liver or brain anamoly.

All her tests were negative, however epilepsy cannot be ruled out unless she doesn't have another seizure in about another year.

All the vets concluded she probable ate something(such as a scrap of moldy food or ant bait)

She is fine , whew, hasn't had another seizure to date.....(9 months old)

Hope you find out the source of your baby's problem soon

[Lauri]

I'm new here, so waving to everyone :wave: but this interested me and I thought I would post. I'm in a rescue, a Yorkie rescue and I've heard others talk about this.
I thought I would send you a few links as this could be very serious. Sorry to meet you under these circumstances.

http://www.yorkies.ws/poisons.htm

http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/Why.html


Just a few more thoughts on the subject:
Dogs with recurring episodes of shaking, muscle twitches, cramping, or other "atypical" seizure-like activity may have liver malformations - porto-systemic vascular anomalies (PVSA); these include porto-hepatic shunts [blood by-passes the liver] or hepatic microvascular dysplasia (HMVD)[abnormal or no blood flow within the liver]. An episode may present as if the dog has intestinal cramps or is uncoordinated for a brief period. This may progress to what appears to be leg cramps or incoordination, or such dogs may present with typical seizures. Episodes may vary in duration. Episodes may be associated with eating high protein diets. Most episodes from PSVA do not occur in the regular pattern that is often associated with epilepsy. Some of these dogs may drink and urinate excessively as they try to flush "toxins" from their body. Liver biopsies taken from all lobes of the liver, can be done to confirm HMVD in symptomatic dogs, where obvious shunts are not apparent. Invasive surgery for biopsies is NOT recommended in asymptomatic dogs that have abnormally elevated liver function tests (paired bile acids). Affected dogs do not respond to normal seizure drugs, but may do well on specialized vegetable source protein diets (Hills K/D or L/D, the Iams Liver diet, or a home-cooked Tofu and rice diet.).

A single seizure or cramping episode in a dog of any age does not mean the dog is epileptic or has PVSA. Trauma, exposure to toxins that cause liver or kidney damage, hypocalcemia (in a whelping or nursing bitch), hypoglycemia in a severely stressed working animal, fever, or immature liver function have all been implicated in seizure activity. A dog that has one seizure should not be instantly placed on phenobarbital or other anticonvulsants. Most veterinarians wait to see if there is another episode, and meanwhile try to rule out other causes. Many epileptic (regularly recurring) seizures can be controlled with phenobarbital. Where there are recurring episodes some neurologists put the dog on an anticonvulsant to help block the "learning of seizure pathways in the brain." Epileptic seizures that do not respond to phenobarbital can sometimes be controlled with potassium bromide or a combination of potassium bromide and phenobarbital. However, long term use of anticonvulsant therapy is not without risk. Dogs on any medication must be monitored to be sure the medication is at therapeutic levels (different dogs have different metabolisms), as well as to monitor liver and kidney function.

[coopersunshine]

I really don't know much about dog illness, but from the sound of the symptoms; i am wondering if it might be diabetes or something sugar related. Because when you think about symptoms for humans with diabetes they are quite similar. I'm sorry if i am way off on this one but it might be worth mentioning to your vet. Hopefully your baby can be diagnosed soon and have a healthy life. Please keep us posted !!!!

[MAG]

I have been on line looking for answers to my yorkie's "seizures". I have come across a post from Nickster about her/his pets condition but it is dated in Feb. 2005. Being new to this, I can not seem to find any additional posts and am not sure where to look. If Nickster is out there, please let me know what your vet found out and how it is now. We are going through what seems like the same thing.

My Chloe is a rescue dog and is approx. 6 yrs. old. We know nothing about her past but are concerned about her future. We have had her for two years and have fallen in love. She has had these attacks a few times but has had two in the last 3 days. She will be fine one minute and then seem to lose control of her legs and starts shaking. You can tell she is scared. I put her on the bed or couch and sit with her, petting her and talking quietly until the episode passes. Then she jumps down and is fine.

Any help would be appreciated

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by MAG

I have been on line looking for answers to my yorkie's "seizures". I have come across a post from Nickster about her/his pets condition but it is dated in Feb. 2005. Being new to this, I can not seem to find any additional posts and am not sure where to look. If Nickster is out there, please let me know what your vet found out and how it is now. We are going through what seems like the same thing.

My Chloe is a rescue dog and is approx. 6 yrs. old. We know nothing about her past but are concerned about her future. We have had her for two years and have fallen in love. She has had these attacks a few times but has had two in the last 3 days. She will be fine one minute and then seem to lose control of her legs and starts shaking. You can tell she is scared. I put her on the bed or couch and sit with her, petting her and talking quietly until the episode passes. Then she jumps down and is fine.

Any help would be appreciated

Chloe may have epilepsy. It does tend to get worse so that may be why you are seeing more frequent seizures.

When was the last time she had complete bloodwork including a thyroid panel? You need to rule out other causes for her seizures.

My Lady is also a rescue and started having seizures soon after I adopted her at age 4.5. This website has been my "bible":

Canine epilepsy and diseases that cause seizures in dogs

[bedfordmarkus]

my yorkie seems to have those same problems but theyre more permantent, and the poor little guy is blind