We have a two-year-old purebred lab, neutered male. In the past year, he has seemed to have three seizures of some kind. Briefly, he seems to have full-body spasms. He curls up, usually to his right side. He is fully conscious, and scared when it happens. He can move if he forces himself hard enough. The episodes are few and far between, but we're getting concerned. The first one happened about a year ago. He was in the car, lying on the seat, and just suddenly curled up and started trembling. It lasted about 30 seconds. The second one was about 7 months ago. He was lying on the couch and the same thing happened. It lasted around 30 seconds as well. The third one happened today, again in the car. This one went on for close to a minute. My daughter was with him and pulled into a parking lot, where she opened the door and he was able, with difficulty, to crawl out of the car.

We know we need to take him to a vet and try to find out what's going on; the problem is $$ (big surprise). I need to have some idea what sorts of tests might be done. I would also like to know what the odds are that these tests will actually find something. I know things vary from region to region so I'm not going to try and ask about cost estimates, but I'd like to know what's possible and how effective it is.

Thanks.

Seizures are usually neurologically based. I know this must be difficult for you for many reasons. I couldn't even start to advise you on this issue, I don't think anyone here could tell you what kind of tests they would do and what they would find.

From your description, and you do seem to have a good awareness of your pup, it appears that he still has some sort of control over the situation. If it was a grand mal seizure he would not, so assuming these are petit mal seizures.

What you could do is go back to the breeder, ask for any history of this happening in previous litters of the sire and dam and pinpoint the problem there, therefore eliminating one step for the vet, and I do urge you to find the money somehow to take him in; there is a chance he could do physical damage to himself while in one of these seizures.

One thing that occurs to me is that he could be diabetic and is having a low blood sugar episode. It is not unheard of for dogs to be diabetics as well. In this case it would not be neurological, but would reflect on his pancreas, kidneys, etc.

I wish you luck, and please stick around for input from our excellent people here who may have more insight then myself.

Of course, you being a long time member know we can't possibly diagnose here on AMHD, and I know you didn't ask us to; these are entirely my own opinions and input which is exactly what you requested. :)

Tick

I wholeheartedly agree here. Region/cost, what testing needs to be done could vary also. Testing would most likely be done according to your vets physical findings. In the meantime, While some vets accept payment upon discharge only, given the situation some may accept some sort of payment arrangement. Ask around. In the meantime if you have a cellphone or digital camera with video capabilities, keep it handy and try to capture one of these episodes, this could be very helpful to your vet to see what you are describing for him/herself.
Best of Luck

Tickle,
Unfortunately we don't know anything about where he came from. I'm in the Seattle area, but we got him from a young couple in southwestern Idaho who knew very little about him. They told us both his parents were purebreds, one a black lab and the other a chocolate, and that he was afraid of water because he fell into a stream and got washed over a small dam when he was just a couple of weeks old. In fact, he has scars on his lip from this event. We got him when he was 8 weeks. That's as much as we know about him.

Part of the weirdness is, we've had him for just about all of his two years, and this only started within the past 8-12 months. I intend to try and get him to a vet as soon as possible. He seems thoroughly healthy otherwise, and like all labs, he's just too lovable for words.

*afterthought* he's not afraid of water any more, by the way. Like a good lab, he's as happy in the water as out.

Hi dwash, fortunately your reply was good news, and hopefully this affliction of your lovely dog could be temporary and explainable, I am hoping for low blood sugar episodes and nothing neurological; sometimes these conditions crop up when the dog has become an adult and two years is probably that hallmark.

Please let us know how this goes when you finally get him to the vet. LadySam had a good suggestion of getting a video of one his episodes which could help the vet diagnose. I amm sure that the vet will do a lot of blood work.

Tick

Hi dwash,

Yes, seizures would be a good general term to start with. No, we can't be specific when it comes to the exact type of seizure, since they are caused by several things and have several degrees of seriousness. For example, epileptic seizures are the most common seizures of dogs, seizures are not uncommon as a result of a sufficiently hard blow to the head, and brain tumors can also cause seizures, or additional upsets in behavior.

Generally, seizures in the dog are called epilepsy, until the testing done afterward is capable of causing a more accurate name to be applied to it/them. Testing? Epilepsy is more accurately diagnosed, but seldom accomplished, by having an electroencephalogram (EEG) done while in the seizure. Absent this, initial tests done are: a complete history of the dog, and of the seizures that have occurred. This includes the duration of each seizure (about), the time span between, and the nature of the seizures i.e. what did the dog do, how did he act, especially as he came out of it. A complete physical exam, including a complete blood chemistry panel and blood cell exam. The vet is looking for a direction in which to proceed with future exams in a search for the accurate cause of the seizures.

Here is a link to epileptic seizure information. http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/basics/basics_main.html

And here to a link about seizures in general http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_seizure_disorder.html

Many times, in the interest of finances for one, further tests may be postponed until the vet sees how the animal does on medication. This will take at least the span of at least one seizure interval to see if the medicine is sufficient to stop future seizures. If it is, and unless something additional occurs, many owners elect to stay with the medicine. There are many presumably epileptic dogs like this living an uncomplicated, normal life, on daily medicine.

As has been said before, even though epilepsy seems to be the main topic, this is not to be construed as a diagnosis... just the summation of my past experiences, just a guess as to what to expect. As it is also a guess as to what your vet will "assume", if what you have told us is also what you repeat to your vet. I have no experience in what your vet will do however, and won't hazard a guess about that.

It sounds similar to the seizures my female poodle has.
She convulses (looks more like shaking) and she tries to get up and run but falls sideways.
She in conscious and terrified when they happen, but after a few minutes everything returns to normal.
She has mild epilepsy. The seizures only happen every few months, sometimes she can go 6 months without one, then have 2 in a week.

I'm not saying that is what it is, but it does sound similar.
There are medications to help with epilepsy, and also some natural alternatives.
One member of this forum had a dog who was having seizures which medication wasn't helping.
She started feeding green beans and the dog hasn't had a seizure since.
Obviously I wouldn't recommend any natural remedies until you have seen your vet first, but it's just something to consider.

Dwash, you have received some excellent advice so far, not much more I can add here. I was wondering if you would consider feeding your dog green beans (frozen or fresh) on a regular basis? They have been proven to lessen the seizure occurrences. Also some vets recommend a low protein diet. Certain foods and how they are prepared can also trigger seizures, my aunt had a GSD that would get a seizure after eating canned vegetables.

Hope your pooch is doing better. Please keep us posted.