I know and I understand about the costs and the unexpected. Doesn't help when we're in a recession! I just love the irony that vets are raising prices considerably on services yet tell all the media, pet owners are still spending like crazy (um, no they're not, they can't afford you!). Ughhh!!
I wish I could advise more, but unfortunately, without additional diagnostics, it is difficult to pinpoint an exact problem - it could be a couple of things going on simultaneously, but hope your vet can help narrow down diagnostics and keep costs down for you.
Please update when you know more - in the meantime, make sure you have valium on hand - hopefully the new phenobarb dose will help considerably. Maggie remains in my thoughts and prayers!
Less "time" between seizures
Re: Less "time" between seizures
..........Traci
Good news on the blood work. She had a full blood panel run and esp liver enzymes and checking for phenobarbital levels. Liver enzymes were slightly elevated (but not higher than the last time we checked these) and the other results were normal, and Pb was at the lower range of therapeutic levels.
Since we have increased the Pb, the liquid valium syringes were refilled with half as much as we had before. We had 4 mL in two of them, and now we have 2 mL in two of them. I kinda wonder about that because if it took two of the 4mL syringes to bring her out of her last seizure, and she was still having ictal tics, I'm not sure if 2mL is going to do it. I asked the vet and he said it's because we've upped her Pb, and that the 2 mL for both syringes should be fine. Still, I worry of course!
I've been laid up with a nasty virus or would have posted much sooner. Thank you Traci, for your continued info and holding good thoughts for our girl.
Since we have increased the Pb, the liquid valium syringes were refilled with half as much as we had before. We had 4 mL in two of them, and now we have 2 mL in two of them. I kinda wonder about that because if it took two of the 4mL syringes to bring her out of her last seizure, and she was still having ictal tics, I'm not sure if 2mL is going to do it. I asked the vet and he said it's because we've upped her Pb, and that the 2 mL for both syringes should be fine. Still, I worry of course!
I've been laid up with a nasty virus or would have posted much sooner. Thank you Traci, for your continued info and holding good thoughts for our girl.
Re: Less "time" between seizures
When giving valium, the goal is to "calm" the seizure, and hope it will not progress. But every pet is different and more may be needed (as you experienced last time). However, when too much valium is given and if there is a case ending up in ER, it can slightly hamper additional meds given to control the seizures, and during monitorization. Also, with the increased dose of phenobarb as your vet mentions, this will hopefully reduce the need for additional valium. Many vets would rather reserve the use of valium for known cluster seizure activity, but again, each pet is different, each seizure is different, each need is different.
Valium is not without side effects, mainly that pets might develop an immunity to it, another effect might be agitation rather than intended sedation. Lastly, if Maggie has lost weight in the last few months, the dose would need to be decreased based on her weight.
Try not to worry about the tics, these are a natural occurance post-seizure, but if you are unsure, talk to your vet.
How far away from the vet are you in the event of an emergency? Is he always on call after hours, holidays, etc? At this point, try to heed his advice and take it from there. If you are overly concerned, you can ask for a higher dose particularly if you are quite a distance from his clinic, but he probably has his reasons not to.
I feel your worry and frustration, it isn't easy, and it can be very scary not knowing how or when a seizure might occur or if it will progress. The best thing you can do is try not to panic, remain as calm as possible, and contact your vet at once, regardless of the time or length of any seizure. You're doing great, you're a wonderful mom and doing everything that you can do. At this point, Maggie too, is doing fairly well, she isn't having a great many seizures and you were able to get her recovered from the last one. Just remember to get her liver enzymes tested periodically as your vet advises.
Valium is not without side effects, mainly that pets might develop an immunity to it, another effect might be agitation rather than intended sedation. Lastly, if Maggie has lost weight in the last few months, the dose would need to be decreased based on her weight.
Try not to worry about the tics, these are a natural occurance post-seizure, but if you are unsure, talk to your vet.
How far away from the vet are you in the event of an emergency? Is he always on call after hours, holidays, etc? At this point, try to heed his advice and take it from there. If you are overly concerned, you can ask for a higher dose particularly if you are quite a distance from his clinic, but he probably has his reasons not to.
I feel your worry and frustration, it isn't easy, and it can be very scary not knowing how or when a seizure might occur or if it will progress. The best thing you can do is try not to panic, remain as calm as possible, and contact your vet at once, regardless of the time or length of any seizure. You're doing great, you're a wonderful mom and doing everything that you can do. At this point, Maggie too, is doing fairly well, she isn't having a great many seizures and you were able to get her recovered from the last one. Just remember to get her liver enzymes tested periodically as your vet advises.
..........Traci
Re: Less "time" between seizures
Update: Maggie had three more grand mal seizures--one on March 10 at 4:16 a.m., and another on the same day at 7:48 pm, and a third the next morning at 6:57 a.m. Thankfully, they only lasted a bit over 2 minutes.
We brought her to the vet's to get another check on her PB levels (our PB tabs were not a part of the recall) and she is within normal limits.
The vet suggested upping her 11:00 pm meds from 2 tabs to 2 1/2 tabs, since most of her seizures happen in the wee or early hours, and keeping her 11:00 a.m. meds the same (2 tablets).
I went out of town on March 11 to attend a wedding. When I returned on March 14, I noticed what looked like petit mal seizures, occurring frequently -- every few minutes--but lasting only 2 to 3 seconds, sometimes followed by her front legs collapsing. When she is napping, I don't notice any petit mal head movements. I don't know how long she's been having petit mals, because when I left on Friday, she was not having them. You might recall my DH has a couple of disabilities, and he never even noticed this, the petit mals I saw when I returned on Monday.
Anyway, off we went to the vet's again. Yes, he confirmed that these are petit mal seizures. Maggie is still "with us" and curious about the neighborhood goings on, still able to go outside to do her business, and still able to walk around the yard and out to the fence, and she continues to love meal times.
It feels as if we are losing her by inches. I try to keep a positive thought because she is still with us and a part of our family, but I weep anyway. Please hold a good thought for us all. Perhaps we'll have many more months and months with our girl being as "stable" as she is now.
We brought her to the vet's to get another check on her PB levels (our PB tabs were not a part of the recall) and she is within normal limits.
The vet suggested upping her 11:00 pm meds from 2 tabs to 2 1/2 tabs, since most of her seizures happen in the wee or early hours, and keeping her 11:00 a.m. meds the same (2 tablets).
I went out of town on March 11 to attend a wedding. When I returned on March 14, I noticed what looked like petit mal seizures, occurring frequently -- every few minutes--but lasting only 2 to 3 seconds, sometimes followed by her front legs collapsing. When she is napping, I don't notice any petit mal head movements. I don't know how long she's been having petit mals, because when I left on Friday, she was not having them. You might recall my DH has a couple of disabilities, and he never even noticed this, the petit mals I saw when I returned on Monday.
Anyway, off we went to the vet's again. Yes, he confirmed that these are petit mal seizures. Maggie is still "with us" and curious about the neighborhood goings on, still able to go outside to do her business, and still able to walk around the yard and out to the fence, and she continues to love meal times.
It feels as if we are losing her by inches. I try to keep a positive thought because she is still with us and a part of our family, but I weep anyway. Please hold a good thought for us all. Perhaps we'll have many more months and months with our girl being as "stable" as she is now.
Re: Less "time" between seizures
Sparkly, unfortunately, as we keep coming back to this, the only way to know what might be causing these seizures is additional testing. At least to confirm whether or not it might be something missed and perhaps treatable.
I'm confused how the vet has confirmed petit seizures, usually they last up to three or more minutes, and then in succession, with only minutes or 1-4 hours apart. Of course, all seizures are different for all dogs.
Please ask your vet about the potential of adding KBr to Maggie's treatment. If he isn't experienced with this, ask him to consult a specialist on your behalf. It might help control the frequency of seizures and might be worth a try.
I'm confused how the vet has confirmed petit seizures, usually they last up to three or more minutes, and then in succession, with only minutes or 1-4 hours apart. Of course, all seizures are different for all dogs.
Please ask your vet about the potential of adding KBr to Maggie's treatment. If he isn't experienced with this, ask him to consult a specialist on your behalf. It might help control the frequency of seizures and might be worth a try.
..........Traci
Re: Less "time" between seizures
Thanks again, Traci, for your kind words. We did check into the possibility of doing a scan (CT is $750 and MRI is $1500). I used to work with students who had petit mal seizures (they lasted seconds), and that's how I first thought Maggie was having them. The vet saw her during an episode and determined it was a petit mal, but cautioned that there are more than one kind of petit mal seizures in dogs, or that they sometimes were petit mal but could look different. We'll ask our vet to consult with a specialist. Again, thank you for your kindnesses.
Re: Less "time" between seizures
I completely understand the costs involved, so for this reason, perhaps just a consult with a specialist on your behalf, and to see if adding KBr might be more feasible to at least gauge a favorable response.
Maggie remains in my thoughts and prayers, please hang in there!
Maggie remains in my thoughts and prayers, please hang in there!
..........Traci