Seizures

[BethFRG]

My 17 year old Yorkie had a few seizures about 6 months ago. We started medication and she never had another one. We quit the medication about 2 months ago and last night she had a seizure, barely got out of that and had another one. She paced around for awhile, settled down for about 5-10 min., got up and started circling, jerking her head to the side a couple of times like something was behind her, then went into another seizure. I thought this was going to be it. She finally came out of it & settled down. My husband & I don't know what todo or expect. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. At her age do we keep wasting $$$ & time going to the vet? It's a difficult decision. Any suggestions?

[my2boyz]

How is her quality of life and overall health? She may be 17 but if she is happy and healthy outside of a few seizures I would keep getting the medicine for her...she'll let you know when it's time to give up.

[Susan78]

Originally Posted by BethFRG

My 17 year old Yorkie had a few seizures about 6 months ago. We started medication and she never had another one. We quit the medication about 2 months ago and last night she had a seizure, barely got out of that and had another one. She paced around for awhile, settled down for about 5-10 min., got up and started circling, jerking her head to the side a couple of times like something was behind her, then went into another seizure. I thought this was going to be it. She finally came out of it & settled down. My husband & I don't know what todo or expect. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. At her age do we keep wasting $$$ & time going to the vet? It's a difficult decision. Any suggestions?

You are so... fortunate to have your yorkie for 17 years. Just think of all those years she gave you so much unconditional love. I don't know if your vet told you to stop the seizure medication but how awful this poor baby goes back into seizures. I can not believe you are asking YT members if you should keep wasting your time and money on her. Maybe you should bring her in and let her die in dignity.

[BethFRG]

She is happy & well. Eyesight is a little off (but so is mine!), hearing is just about gone, accident here & there but doing well for a 17 yo.

Originally Posted by my2boyz

How is her quality of life and overall health? She may be 17 but if she is happy and healthy outside of a few seizures I would keep getting the medicine for her...she'll let you know when it's time to give up.

[BethFRG]

I think you misunderstood me. We take excellent care of this dog from vet visits, making her food to making sure her beds are orthopedically correct for her. (Just ask our vet.) It's just difficult to know what to do when they get to this stage at this age. We have no intention of putting her down until she is in pain. She is happy and comfortable at this time. I'm just asking for advice from people who have experienced the seizure thing as we haven't.

Originally Posted by Susan78

You are so... fortunate to have your yorkie for 17 years. Just think of all those years she gave you so much unconditional love. I don't know if your vet told you to stop the seizure medication but how awful this poor baby goes back into seizures. I can not believe you are asking YT members if you should keep wasting your time and money on her. Maybe you should bring her in and let her die in dignity.

[jencar98]

One of my surrendered foster dogs was 13. A collar accident when she was a year old resulted in her having seizures. She was kept on phenobarbital for all of those years and did just fine, was a happy healthy girl....until her owners surrendered her (it was a convenience thing for the owner to give her and her sister up). She didn't do well being taken from the only home she ever knew, and did die a few months after going into rescue. Had the owners kept her, who knows how many more happy years she could have had.

You are a very blessed yorkie owner to have had her happy, healthy this many years.

Why did you stop her medication, was it causing problems? If not, I would consider getting her back on the meds.

[ARCHIE]

If she was on meds for seizures and you took her off, why?
Put her back on her meds, immediately. If the meds were working
I can't imagine ever thinking of stopping them and putting her at risk.
Did you think because she did not have a seizure in years it was ok
then to stop the meds? Crazy, IMO
I wish her well and hope it's not too late to get her back on the meds.

At 17yrs old no way would I take a chance of her having seizures again.
Your very fortunate to have your girl for so long.

[BethFRG]

We took her off after a number of months without seizures as she had only had 2 very mild ones and then no more. As of today she is back on medication.

[ARCHIE]

Originally Posted by BethFRG

We took her off after a number of months without seizures as she had only had 2 very mild ones and then no more. As of today she is back on medication.

Oh wonderful, I hope and pray she will have no more.
Phenobarbitol is a heavy drug and one has to be weaned off it slowly.
It should never be just stopped.

[jencar98]

Originally Posted by BethFRG

We took her off after a number of months without seizures as she had only had 2 very mild ones and then no more. As of today she is back on medication.

That's good she is getting back on her meds. Hopefully you'll have many more happy years together.

Btw, I just realized this is your first post here - Welcome to YT - I'm glad you found us!

[BethFRG]

You're right. (I'm very aware of this as I also had a son who was on phenebarb. for petit mal.)

[Susan78]

Originally Posted by BethFRG

I think you misunderstood me. We take excellent care of this dog from vet visits, making her food to making sure her beds are orthopedically correct for her. (Just ask our vet.) It's just difficult to know what to do when they get to this stage at this age. We have no intention of putting her down until she is in pain. She is happy and comfortable at this time. I'm just asking for advice from people who have experienced the seizure thing as we haven't.

I am glad you have your yorkie back on the medicine. It just bothered me in your thread about wasting $$$$. Your baby is worth every penny for all the love she gives you. She is happy to have a great mom like you and bless you for taking good care of her. Seizures are no fun we lost our beloved yorkie of 12 1/2 years old due to a grand mal seizure. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor and it just tore us apart to have to put her done. She showed it in her eyes and let us know she couldn't go on. Anyways I am sorry if I offended you but I pray you can have your yorkie for a longer time. In time you will know when it is time to let her go on to the Rainbow Bridge. Also welcome to YT.

[maryeverett1]

Originally Posted by BethFRG

I think you misunderstood me. We take excellent care of this dog from vet visits, making her food to making sure her beds are orthopedically correct for her. (Just ask our vet.) It's just difficult to know what to do when they get to this stage at this age. We have no intention of putting her down until she is in pain. She is happy and comfortable at this time. I'm just asking for advice from people who have experienced the seizure thing as we haven't.

I so feel your pain. A year ago in March my 17 year old cocker whose vision was gone but was still happy started to have seizures out of nowhere. We took her to the vet of course and they just said it is either old age or somethings really wrong. Either way she is on her way out. I took her home in complete denial of what was coming and told myself if she had another seizure I would start thinking of what to do. A week went by and she had a violent seizure in the middle of the night. I knew then that she was telling me it was time. We spent the next week giving her all her favorite yummies, took her to the groomer and had her pampered, bought her a new shirt and collar and showered her with as many kisses as she would tolerate. I asked friends and family what I should do and even my husband all of them said it was a decision that Marley and I had to make together and I would know when she was ready because she would tell me. She had another seizure and it became very clear to me that I was holding onto her when she was clearly ready for selfish reasons. I didn't want to say good-bye. My husband said something to me that helped me have the courage to do what was right for her...not me. He said that throughout her life she had been my best friend, my companion and many times a comforter. She had stood in the gap licking away tears in some of the darkest moments of my life and now I had the choice to honor her and let her go without a serious and violent incident, peacefully and in my arms instead of on an ER table. The morning of her passing was one of the hardest moments of my life (Ive lost 4 human babies and it is right up there with that) we got into the car to go to the vet and she laid on my lap. I rolled down the window and she sat up to have the breeze blowing through her hair. We went in and they gave her a sedative because she was very anxious and she relaxed in my arms. The doctor left and said he would come back when we were ready. We held her, kissed her, told her how much she had meant to us (sorry lots of tears as I write this, need a break...) how she would never be forgotten and no one would take her place she looked up at me and relaxed. They came in to give the final shot and as her heart stopped beating and she left this world having done right by me so many times, I knew I had done right by her.

I tell you all of this to say, no one can make this decision but you and your precious little baby. Don't wait until things become violent or she is suffering. Honor her life and service to you by letting her go when she tells you it's time and you will know when that is. It was truly the hardest decision I have ever had to make but when you have loved a dog for 17 years and know them inside out you will know when she is ready to go! I am glad I was able to be as selfless for her in those final moments as she had been for me her entire life. I had friends ask me how I could stay in the room as she passed (and this is a personal choice and don't feel bad if you can't when it's time) but I said how could I not be there for her when she had selfless given her life to me and needed me in that moment to give her strength to move on knowing my love was there to support her? It was a precious moment and one I will never forget!

If there is anything I can do to be a support to you during this time please do not hesitate to ask! It would be my privilege. I know you love your baby and you will do what's best for her! She has lived a full and wonderful life with you as her owner and your memories and the bond you share with her will help you make the right choices for her! Praying for you and here if you need anything!

[BethFRG]

Thank you and I'm so sorry to hear about your Yorkie and her brain tumor. I've researched some about the connection of seizures & brain tumors. Did she have any other signs, other than the seizures, before the tumor diagnosis?

[Susan78]

Originally Posted by BethFRG

Thank you and I'm so sorry to hear about your Yorkie and her brain tumor. I've researched some about the connection of seizures & brain tumors. Did she have any other signs, other than the seizures, before the tumor diagnosis?

Yes Keally had tremors on her front legs and then weakness on her back legs. It got where she had a hard time with her little back legs. This went very fast. Two weeks before she passed she was running and doing great. It was a shock to us. We did everything with her and for her it was a great loss. Still cry but we know Keally would want us to get another yorkie and love her like we loved her. We are waiting for a breeder to call us on puppies. Hope everything goes well for you and thanks for asking about our baby.