update on Benjamin
 

Well, our trip to the cardiologist has pretty much ruled out heart problems as a reason for his episode. His echo was perfect, EKG was perfect, no signs of any problem what so ever. While I was there my cardiologist called the neuro in town that I was planning to take him to next so we could discuss everything and decide on how to proceed. The neurologist said and MRI would be the next step, but due to his size and age, even though blood work and EKC/Echo where perfect, they both advised me that putting him under for an MRI is probably not the best idea at this point. They told me I should just keep a close eye on him, and see if it happens again. They also did an ultrasound on him while I was there to make sure his lungs and everything else looked good, and that also came back clean. But he does have some sinus trouble probably related to why he has no teeth (his teeth where removed prior to me getting him). So we're not sure what's wrong, but where everything at this point has come back perfectly clean that to get any further answers we'd have to anesthetize him, both specialist are telling me it's best to wait and see if it ever happens again rather then risk anesthesia when there's no other reason to put him under, so I'm going to take a deep breath, take their advice, and keep a close eye on him. The neurologist says it does sound like he likely has epilepsy and the MRI probably won't show anything, but if happens again he's recommending it just to rule out any other possible cause, especially with him being so tiny there's a number of things that could cause these episodes that wouldn't be found by anything short of an MRI.

Well this is good news so far anyway. I kind of suspected there was no heart problem as I think You would have seen some other sign by now. Lots of animals will have 1 seizure for no known reason & never have another so let's Hope this was a 1 time thing & it will never happen again.

That's my hope, it just scared me so bad, especially after I lost Portia to epilepsy that eventually took a tole on her heart, and toward the end they both compounded problems with the other :( It was a horrific battle to try to balance, until she finally just couldn't take it anymore and I knew it was time to let her go.

Poor Portia & you having to see her go through that. Well Benji is NOT going to go there so you tell him that & believe it.;)

You can say that again!!!

The saddest part with Portia is by the time she came to me, she's suffered so many years of neglect there was little we could do but try to keep her comfortable and give her the best life I could - The years of neglect couldn't be reversed, it didn't have to end like it did if only she'd been taken care of YEARS earlier! Benji will never die as Portia did - Because whatever is going on, if it happens again we can figure it out and get him treated EARLY, instead of letting him suffer for years like Portia did :( Portia was only with me 10 months, the best 10 months of her life I'm sure, she may not have had long with me - But she lived well, and died loved, leaving a huge hole in my heart in the process!

I had just posted in your thread with his pictures because he is soooo cute!! However, I din't realize that he was having some health problems. I'm keeping both you and Benjamin in my thoughts, and I hope he continues to keep doing better! I know it has to be scary to watch him go through a seizure...especially with what you have gone through in the past! But that is great news that it's not his heart, and that all of the other tests have come back ok. At the same time, I know that it has to be frustrating not to be able to know the cause! How old is he? He and his brother look too sweet together in the pics in the other post!!

Well, at least those tests are okay & as far as his syncope possibly being epilepsy, all you can do is take it one day at a time & you know what to do if he has another attack, though praying that day never, ever comes.

So this little boy has no teeth and he's been debarked and he was abandoned? What kind of mutant monster owned this poor little baby before?!?!?! Wish my big son could have just 5 minutes alone with them!!!

And of course he was still intact when they found him, so they where probably studding him out :(. So sad! But all that is behind him now - he'll never be a status symbol or money maker here - he'll be my pampered baby boy!

This poor little boy surely has had it bad up until now. I pray his future is a much, much brighter one!!! Hugs to you & Benjamin.

He'll never know neglect again, that's for sure!