Shaken and scared - Anyone experience anything like this?

[Rescuemomma]

I'm afraid I may have discovered why Benjamin was abandoned. In the time he's been with me I just couldn't figure out how someone could just let a seemingly healthy, well cared for dog that they'd spend the money to have the teeth removed on, kept well groomed, and seemed very well loved. It's a very scary realization for me having just lost a very very special dog to epilepsy and heart disease in March. I took him with me on a trip to my mom's. Half an hour away I stopped for gas, Benjamin was his normally happy self, took him for a quick pee break and put him back in his car seat for the short last leg of our trip. I was focusing on my driving and not really watching him, he was secured in his car seat as usual. When I got to my mom's he was totally unresponsive, completely limp! I had a panic attack, rushed to the ER, and of course by the time we got there he'd come around and was acting like his normal self again. Temp was normal, blood work normal, urinalysis normal, vet couldn't find anything wrong and declared him completely healthy, and told me that this was probably the after math of a grand mal seizure that I hadn't seen since I was focused on my driving. It's a very realistic theory since he's debarked, and so tiny I may not have heard a thing He's so tiny that being debarked it has to be darn near silent or you can't hear him, and with the noise of the traffic around me, it probably masked anything. I didn't see or smell any pee on his blanket - but since I'd just walked him the vet said that's not unusual with a dog this tiny, and as I well know from Portia and her horrible seizures, they don't always use bladder/bowel control either.

He seemed fine very quickly afterwards and was happy and perky while we where waiting for the ER vet to see us. He was also happy to eat as soon as they tried to offer him a little something after they drew his blood (just in case it was hypoglycemia they wanted to get some food into him while we waited for the blood to be ran). The ER vet sent a report to my regular vet, and we've talked and came to the decision that the best thing for me to do is watch him and call her if anything like this happens again. I'm going to schedule him for an EKG and an echo with the cardiologist I like just to be 100% sure there's nothing with his heart - we don't think there is, but never hurts to be positiveI'm just heartsick. I went through a horrible ordeal keeping trying to control Portia's epilepsy before it finally took her from me at only 9 year old. I just pray this was a one time freak thing, and it doesn't happen again, I can't handle epilepsy robbing me of another baby!!!! But I bet this is why Benjamin's former owner never went looking for him when he ended up at the shelter...... I hope I'm wrong, but wrong or right, I'll deal with it however I have to, but it's not going to be easy if I have to go through the heartache of Epilepsy again with another very special dog!!! I already deal with it with my princess, Aiyana! Maybe the stress of the trip triggered whatever happened, I don't know - but until we have more answers, I won't be taking any more trips!

[SWHouston]

Rmom,

What a scary experience, I would have just lost it, if either of mine had that happen to them. Needless to say, I'm sure you're keeping a very close eye on him all the time now, but...

Just in case something like that happens again, do you know how to do Doggy CPR ?

I'm sure I've seen a written description and pictures on the Internet, but it's possible there may be a Class through your Vet.

You think that would be advisable to look into ?

[DvlshAngel985]

I'm so sorry that happened to Benjamin. God really did place him in the right home. Sounds like you'd go to the moon and back for him. What a lucky, LUCKY pup.

[lillymae]

Oh No , poor Benji. Was he on the sunny side of the car ?

[Carmeow]

Oh no...I hope this doesn't happen to poor Benjamin again...praying with you that it was a one-time deal. Good job being so proactive as to finding out what is wrong with him. Stay strong, girl. Please keep us updated, let us know about the EKG!!

However, debarked? I find that appalling. Sorry. Did his previous owners do it? They didn't have the time of day for training so they took him in for a quick snip of his vocal cords?? Ugh.

[Rescuemomma]

Originally Posted by SWHouston

Rmom,

What a scary experience, I would have just lost it, if either of mine had that happen to them. Needless to say, I'm sure you're keeping a very close eye on him all the time now, but...

Just in case something like that happens again, do you know how to do Doggy CPR ?

I'm sure I've seen a written description and pictures on the Internet, but it's possible there may be a Class through your Vet.

You think that would be advisable to look into ?

I'm a vet tech, so yes, I'm fully aware of how to do doggy CPR if I ever need to thankfully! But being a vet tech and being able to keep it together when it's YOUR baby are entirely different things, I was an absolute mess - This was about a week and a half ago now, I haven't posted until now because it shook me so bad I just needed to get away for a bit. He's been fine ever since, and my vehicle was in the shop getting repaired. I've got an appt Friday with the cardiologist to have a full cardiac workup done just to be 100% sure there's no chance it's related to his heart, my vet thinks it's unlikely since his heart rate and rhythm are both normal, and there's no hint of a murmur, but still, I know there's several heart problems that everything can appear normal on a general exam. I'll have the cardiologist do a chest x-ray and an echo, where he's a bit older even if everything there is normal, it's probably a good idea to have it as a baseline anyway! Maybe it's over kill, but I'd never forgive myself if I didn't and it does turn out to be his heart!

Most likely it's epilepsy we're dealing with - And if that's the case and this ever happens again, I'll get have my vet get me a referral to a neurologist and discuss the best way to proceed. I can't play around with something this scary, this little boy has quickly become my heart!!! I love every dog I've ever rescued, both those that live with me and those that I've sent on to new loving forever homes, but there was something the very moment I saw that shelter picture, that I knew this little boy needed to be in my arms, and a part of my life forever! I just pray whatever the reason behind this, that either A: it never happens again, B: We find the answer and can prevent it from ever happening again, or C: If it does happen again, that it leads us to the answer so we can prevent any more episodes!

[Rescuemomma]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

I'm so sorry that happened to Benjamin. God really did place him in the right home. Sounds like you'd go to the moon and back for him. What a lucky, LUCKY pup.

That is a major under statement LOL This little guy has so fully and completely stolen my heart, there is absolutely NOTHING I wouldn't do for him!

Oh No , poor Benji. Was he on the sunny side of the car ?

No, he wasn't, plus I have tinted windows and keep the vents so they blow cool air just above that car seat to keep him cool. I have no idea what happened, but it sure scared the devil out of me!

[Rescuemomma]

Originally Posted by Carmeow

Oh no...I hope this doesn't happen to poor Benjamin again...praying with you that it was a one-time deal. Good job being so proactive as to finding out what is wrong with him. Stay strong, girl. Please keep us updated, let us know about the EKG!!

However, debarked? I find that appalling. Sorry. Did his previous owners do it? They didn't have the time of day for training so they took him in for a quick snip of his vocal cords?? Ugh.

Yes, and I just don't understand it, I think it's one of the most cruel things!!! I've heard arguments many times for it, and honestly, never heard ONE that I felt that putting the time and energy into TRAINING and RECONDITIONING the dog couldn't help, or at the very worst, using a citronella collar or something similar to help retrain them. Debarking is the lazy mans answer to teaching a dog when it is and isn't appropriate to bark, but I don't want this turned into a debate about debarking!!! Not to mention the VERY SERIOUS problem it can cause in a situation like this - If he wasn't debarked maybe I would have heard him having the seizure or whatever happened, and could have pulled over and done something before he became so unresponsive! There is nothing worse then pulling up to your destination and turning to your dog to find it laying there limp and unresponsive, and you never heard a thing or had any hint there was anything wrong!!! I especially don't understand it with Benjamin, he wasn't neutered when AC found him, so I bet he belonged to one of the many BYBs of Las Vegas He very seldom even tries to bark! He's a very happy little guy, he doesn't fuss when he's crated - He's as close to a perfect dog as I've ever seen! Why someone would have debarked him really bothers me

[lillymae]

Well, it scared the devil out of me just reading it , I can't imagine how you are feeling. Also I don't think anything we do for our babies is overkill & I would be seeing the cardio as well if this happened to one of my babies & IF the cardio found nothing then I would head straight to the neuro. I will be Praying this NEVER happens again.

[Rescuemomma]

I've already e-mailed the neurologist that helped me so much with my Portia that I lost to epilepsy in March and told him what happened, and that I work with for my Aiyana, who's also epileptic. I got an automated response saying he was out of the office until this coming Tuesday, so hopefully when he returns to his office he'll get back to me and let me know his thoughts, but I know him well enough to know the first thing he's going to suggest is a full cardiac workup in addition to the lab work we've already done. If that shows nothing, I'll see what he suggests, be it just watch him and see if it happens again, do an MRI, whatever, I don't care. Thankfully he's almost never alone - and now he's never alone, if for whatever reason I can't be with him myself I take him to a very close friends how, even if I'll only be gone an hour or two, I'm to scared to ever leave him alone after that The horror of epilepsy with Portia forever made me paranoid, watching it worsen and progress with her was heart wrenching. It may have been a one time fluke, but I won't chance it!

I'll be sure to update once he sees the cardiologist with what if anything he finds.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Carmeow

Oh no...I hope this doesn't happen to poor Benjamin again...praying with you that it was a one-time deal. Good job being so proactive as to finding out what is wrong with him. Stay strong, girl. Please keep us updated, let us know about the EKG!!

However, debarked? I find that appalling. Sorry. Did his previous owners do it? They didn't have the time of day for training so they took him in for a quick snip of his vocal cords?? Ugh.

Doesn't it just make your blood boil?!?! It's just plain EVIL if you ask me.

[Rescuemomma]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

Doesn't it just make your blood boil?!?! It's just plain EVIL if you ask me.

I couldn't agree more - The first time I heard him trying to bark I thought he was coughing until I realized what was really going on and literally broke into tears I was so upset someone would do that to him! I grew up with Collies and Shelties - both breeds it's common practice among breeders and owners alike (and, sadly, even some rescuers!) to debark them, but my family refused to ever debark our collies or shelties (we never bred or showed them, they where always part of our family, and always rescues). Some where more prone to nuisance barking then others but NOT ONCE did we debark one of them, or have one that with consistency and patience we couldn't redirect into more appropriate behaviors.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I can't imagine how horrible this is for you after losing a special one to this horrible disease so recently - and now have another probably with it.

Whoever had that little angel before robbed him of his dog voice - one of the most self-identifying, necessary, elemental faculties the canine possesses - and then possibly just gave up on him when he got really sick. He was truly a castoff, a throwaway, disposable life. Until you. You are his lifesaver & his only hope, it sounds like. Boy was he blessed to find you who knows so well how to deal with something this awful, however racking it has been & would be on you again. But with his disease and possible prognosis, he probably wouldn't stand a chance with anyone else in this world. I know you probably don't think you can stand it all over again but boy, this little fellow is right where he should be. Living as healthy & protected a life as he needs would probably just not be possible elsewhere. I don't envy you what you could be facing but it sounds like only someone just like you is how he'll have a chance to make it as long as possible, if he does have epilepsy.

All I can do is praise & thank you for your quick appropriate response when you did realize he was so ill, for your willingness to both seek excellent vet- & give excellent home-care for him & further, support you with prayer & encouraging words for the battle you may be facing with little Benjamin. You must be really in love with this baby to open yourself up to this again. Ben is a blessed little boy to have you, despite his many troubles. I hope, though, somehow his testing shows it was only a single syncopal episode & never recurs, as Pollyanna as that sounds. God bless you both.

[lillymae]

And, maybe that debark has something to do with it ? scare tissue & breathing problem ? Maybe, IDK. But will be Praying for him.

[Rescuemomma]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I can't imagine how horrible this is for you after losing a special one to this horrible disease so recently - and now have another probably with it.

Whoever had that little angel before robbed him of his dog voice - one of the most self-identifying, necessary, elemental faculties the canine possesses - and then possibly just gave up on him when he got really sick. He was truly a castoff, a throwaway, disposable life. Until you. You are his lifesaver & his only hope, it sounds like. Boy was he blessed to find you who knows so well how to deal with something this awful, however racking it has been & would be on you again. But with his disease and possible prognosis, he probably wouldn't stand a chance with anyone else in this world. I know you probably don't think you can stand it all over again but boy, this little fellow is right where he should be. Living as healthy & protected a life as he needs would probably just not be possible elsewhere. I don't envy you what you could be facing but it sounds like only someone just like you is how he'll have a chance to make it as long as possible, if he does have epilepsy.

All I can do is praise & thank you for your quick appropriate response when you did realize he was so ill, for your willingness to both seek excellent vet- & give excellent home-care for him & further, support you with prayer & encouraging words for the battle you may be facing with little Benjamin. You must be really in love with this baby to open yourself up to this again. Ben is a blessed little boy to have you, despite his many troubles. I hope, though, somehow his testing shows it was only a single syncopal episode & never recurs, as Pollyanna as that sounds. God bless you both.

I appreciate you saying that! No, I don't ever want to have to face the epilepsy monster again! My little Aiyana, my IG that owns my heart and soul has epilepsy, but thankfully hers has, so far, not been that severe or needed medication - But she's also never completely been unresponsive like this, my Portia was on several occasions after particularly bad seizures

I know when I spoke with the cardiologist he said that if the EKG and echo we do show nothing, he's going to see if he can get a holter monitor small enough for Benjamin so we can get a good idea over 24-48 hrs if there's any abnormalities going on with his heart. It's a good place to start anyway! Pollyanna or not - I'd love to spend all the money to get all the workups needed done and find out that there's nothing wrong with Benjamin then just hope it never happens again and then have him die of something we could have treated or managed if I'd pursued it! This little gut means the world to me, I'm not a believer in coincidences, there's a reason I felt so drawn to Benjamin, there's a reason he became a part of my life and my heart forever, and this could easily be why! I love this little guy more then words will ever be able to describe!