07
Nov
Lastly a medical. To help your dog relax keep the room quiet.
Dont move your dog during the actual seizure.
How to live with an epileptic dog. When the tests have been run and the diagnosis is idiopathic epilepsy the catch-all term for seizures of undetermined origin there are questions many questions about life with an epileptic dog. Here are some things you need to know. Epilepsy is not a death sentence.
Dogs rarely die from the seizures themselves. Depending on the dosage and type of medication complications can develop. Hes gone from a dog I trained with daily to one I can train with once a fortnight and then I can only do very very short sessions as training has triggered seizures.
He shows enthusiasm for walks but as soon as he gets out of the gate he is close to having a seizure. Kevin is currently sleeping on the sofa in my office with him at night as hes up and down all the time. Its mentally and physically.
Nothing here is meant to be medical advice – these are only things that other people with epileptic dogs have done to make their dogs life and their lives easier and safer. Not every idea will work for every dog these are just suggestions you may want to try should the particular situation arise. Credit for this list is be given to the members of Epil-K9 which was started in the spring of.
Medical care is a reality of living with an epileptic dog. One size does not fit all when it comes to determining the ultimate cost of caring for a dog with epilepsy. If Pal has idiopathic epilepsy hell likely be given an anticonvulsant to control seizures.
Potassium bromide and phenobarbital are the two most common drugs used to treat the condition and are easy to administer. Pal will also need periodic. Continue soothing your dog and stay close for a while after the episode.
To help your dog relax keep the room quiet. Turn off the radio and TV and dont allow more than one or two people in the room. Take other pets out of the room as well.
If you live in an area where your dog could easily run to a large body of water consider building a fence around a portion of your backyard to prevent your dog from reaching the water. Alternately purchase a canine life vest for your dog and put it on the dog each time its in or near water. Monitor your dogs weight.
Most dogs who are on long-term antiepileptic medications gain. With treatment your dogs epilepsy hopefully will not progress and his life expectancy should be near normal. Without treatment I worry that things could get worse leading to more frequent.
Holistic care of epileptic dogs is very effective for those dogs whose seizures occur infrequently or to augment conventional medical treatment. With complementary care many dogs are able to maintain a lower incidence of seizures on a reduced or in some cases an eliminated dosage of conventional drugs. Complementary treatments however should never be considered a substitute for conventional medical care and seizures.
Stairs and furniture could be very dangerous to a dog having a seizure. Just gently slide your dog away from these objects to protect them. It is also important that you stay away from your dogs mouth.
Unlike humans dogs cant swallow their own tongues but they can bite you. I have a friend who clears all her epileptic dogs toys away at times in the day to limit stimulation and help him relax. Another has a dimly-lit house and wont use air fresheners or scented candles.
Raised voices are a no-no in our home as dogs can assume any anger is aimed at them and this can be the worst kind of stress for your dog. We keep tranquilizer medication all over the house. Filmed during the Spring and early Summer of 2017 this video captures life with our adorable epileptic dog Qualey.
A retired Assistance Dog Qualey develop. Dogs with epilepsy will generally lead a perfectly normal healthy life in between seizures and other than the seizure presentation of the condition epilepsy does not usually have any other negative or otherwise dangerous effect on the body of the dog. However the seizures that epileptic dogs suffer from on occasion are not without risk.
Dont move your dog during the actual seizure. If possible place newspapers or towels around or underneath him in case he has uncontrollable bowel movements or urination. Comfort your pup by putting your hands on him but stay away from his mouth.
Keep your hands away from his mouth he might convulse and accidentally bite. Epileptic dogs should be kept in a kennel or clutter-free room to keep the pet from injuring itself during a seizure. Additionally epileptic dogs should be separated from their canine siblings as dogs might instinctually attack the dog during a seizure.
Epileptic dogs that frequently swim should be fitted for a life vest as a seizure while swimming can result in drowning. Lastly a medical. This includes giving your dog the right diet and giving him plenty of exercise.
If you feel you can help your dog by giving him the correct treatment taking him for ongoing checkups with your vet and your dog shows no adverse signs of living with epilepsy then you dont have to put him down.