Senior canine has seizures

Well skilled senior Poodle Mix Breed Dog sitting. from Thinkstock

Dear Dr. John,

Last evening, my almost 15-year-old Retriever X began having a form of seizure with twitching within the eyes. He had an analogous episode a couple of month and has had a head tilt ever since. He has excessive kidney values, excessive calcium, and excessive phosphorous. He is on a number of medicines.

I couldn’t transport him so simply, so I referred to as my vet who was going to return over to manage a sedative. I knowledgeable the vet that I had some Diazepam, and I used to be instructed to offer the canine 10 mg. When the vet arrived, I used to be instructed to offer 10 mg extra after which go to the native pharmacy for Meclizine. I gave 25 mg as instructed. Early this morning I gave one other 20 mg of Diazepam, and my canine is now calm. He additionally ate quite a lot of meals! What is likely to be happening and is the tip close to? L.N.

Dear L.N.,

Given the knowledge you will have shared, I believe that your old canine has a number of issues happening. The head tilt suggests vestibular illness or an issue together with his interior ear. It may be the reason for the attention actions you noticed. The bloodwork suggests persistent renal failure and a excessive calcium degree might counsel the opportunity of a tumor of some type in his physique. I’m certain that your veterinarian has been advising you correctly all alongside.

If your canine has had a seizure, a stroke, or something triggering the acute nystagmus of the eyes, there nonetheless could also be an underlying situation that has not been addressed or any of his a number of points or a mix of them might have triggered what you noticed final evening. Full neurological analysis together with a CT or MRI could also be worthwhile however, at a sophisticated age, there’s in all probability little that may be finished if a extra severe situation is discovered.

Diazepam was in all probability one of the best drug that your canine might have been given based mostly on what you shared. The Meclizine helped with the nystagmus and the movement illness and nausea that happens in consequence. The medicine given final evening stopped the irregular muscular points whereas additionally serving to his urge for food. You might want to see how issues evolve over the following few days to know what steps will likely be subsequent. Stay in contact along with your veterinarian to decide on the proper time. Good luck!

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He may be reached at 781-899-9994.