Scary Morning

BearGator56 · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:55 am Post subject: Scary Morning

Everything was as usual this morning when I got up. Payton was nudging me to get up, I let him outside, and then he came back in and I jumped in the shower.

About 5-10 minutes later when I was in the shower, my girlfriend was screaming for my help. Payton was lying on the floor near my side of the bed, and was panting heavily. He would not get up when I called his name. As I got closer, I noticed that he was drooling excessively, and that he had a discharge coming out of his penis. His anal glands had also popped.

I feared bloat, so I reached in to feel his abdomen for swelling. As soon as I touched him, he growled and bit me. He has NEVER exhibited any aggressive behavior before this.

I wrapped a shirt around my hand to try and calm him so I could get closer to help. He was still laying on his side, and his back fur was raised in fear. He let me get close this time, and did not growl or try to snap at me.

He seemed to snap out of it, but it took him a while to act normal again. He was acting very confused for about 5 minutes or so. He stumbled a little as well.

I checked around the house to see if he had gotten into anything. He wasn't outside very long, and he acted normal when he came in. His food was untouched from the night before. But I did find a discharge in the living room. Payton hasn't been fixed, so we've had the "wet dreams" a couple of times. I'm pretty sure that's what this was since it had that "smell" to it. But, that's all I found.

My girlfriend said when she first saw him on the side of the bed, he was laying on his back with his paws straight up in the air like he does when he stretches. She called the vet this morning, and they are of the opinion that he's had a seizure, and will see him this morning.

This is a scary thing, as it would be for any of us. Payton has never been anything but loving and gentle. To see him freaked out and thinking we could lose him to bloat or something else is unthinkable. He's almost 2, and we've had him since he was only a couple months old.

Any thought or comments are appreciated. If anyone has had this happen before, I'd be interested to hear about for sure. I've never had a dog that had a seizure before, or anything even similar to this experience.

weim2mom · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:57 am Post subject:

I have no advice to offer... sorry.

But, I am so worried! Please keep us updated.
I'll keep you guys in my prayers today.

weimdawgs · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:00 am Post subject:

Poor baby, I don't have any advice other to get him into the vet as soon as possible and please keep us posted.

That must have been terrible for you and him. Crying or Very sad

iris · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:09 am Post subject:

I have a coworker that has a 4 yrs old chocolate lab that has epilepsy and the last 6 month he has been having seizures very similar to what you were explaining. I think the vet should be able to test and i would get a full blood panel to see where his levels stand.
Please keep us posted and i hope its nothing serious.

kamfam · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:13 am Post subject:

Ugh, as soon as I started reading I thought "seizure". Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think a "wait and see if it happens again" type approach is generally taken at first. Then tests are done and meds may be given. Just know what to do if it happens again. You want to keep them safe (and yourself) during an episode. I think there are a few members here that dealt with seizing weimies and could give you some pointers.

Good luck - please keep us posted.

momofZaneandWyatt · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:32 am Post subject:

Seizures are terrible to watch in our dogs. Zane our 2.5 year old had his first seizure almost a year ago or so. He has had 3 total. They don't last very long, but as you sit there with them it seems to last forever. The best advice I can give you is if he has one again grab a blanket or towels and make sure to hold him down with those. We try and cover every part of Zane except his head. That way he can't hurt himself. Talk gentle to them, try and be calm. I tried to put a pillow under Zanes head on the last seizure he had and he bit me on the arm. Still have scares on my forearm. But it reminds me that they are not in control when this happens. I know Zane was sorry he bit me, after the seizure he was constantly by me, and licking my hand. Make sure to document the day it happens, what the seizure was like, and how long it was. Our vet said this helps them in a way to see what goes on, and the duration of the seizure..since they can't be there. Make sure the vet documents it also on his health record. Zane had blood test and some other test the day of his first seizure. All checked out fine. He is not on any meds. They won't give meds here unless he is having seizures every week or on a constant basis.

Give Payton some extra hugs from us all...

Just know we are here for you to talk to, this board is wonderful for advice and people that will give you some positive reinforcement. I thank God for this board every day.

Shannon, Bill, Zane and Wyatt

Trinitys-Momma · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:42 am Post subject:

When a dog has a seizure are you supposed to put something in their mouth so they dont bite their tongue or choke on it? I had a a seizure a few years ago and the doc said if it happens again to put something in my mouth to bite on since I almost bit a 1/2inch of my tongue off. Do dogs do the same thing?

AmyB · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:44 am Post subject:

AW! Poor guy! I thought seizure too when I started reading. I hope it was a one time episode. Kisses for Payton Lips

BearGator56 · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:

Payton went to see the vet today. My girlfriend said he's been fine since the episode. As many of you are saying, they think it's a seizure. They are doing the preliminary bloodwork to see if that shows anything. He already had a checkup appointment for next Friday, so that looks to be a follow-up to this now.

The vet actually said that if it happens again to stay close, but don't try to intervene. Just talk to them and let them know you're there. He wasn't trying to hurt himself, but that's not to say it can't happen. If I see him doing something crazy or dangerous, I'm not going to sit and watch.

I'll post an update when the vet lets me know more.

I appreciate the kind words and thoughts. Payton does, too. Smile

weimamama · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:20 am Post subject:

Oh poor Payton!
You all must have been so scared...
WE had a non-Weim (Casey) who had epilepy. If she seized when we were there, we would gently and calmly talk her thru it... mommy and daddy are here... i'm sure she could hear us and when she would come to, she'd be very loopy and unstable. She never bit us, but she did lose control sometimes and poop or pee. Totally not her fault. She was on dilantin and phenobarb when she was younger, but grew out of it so we stopped it. SHE WAS DX'D WHEN SHE WAS 2.

anne · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject:

Seizures are actually fairly common in dogs and unforutnately are usually diagnosed as "idiopathic" meaning they don't know why it has happened. Most of the time they do not put a dog on meds until they become frequent. I do know people who have controlled seizures by changing diet, to a more healthy diet of raw or home cooked, NO CHEMICALS/PRESERVATIVES. I have also heard that Vitamin B supplmentation might help.

amazonstarlight · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject:

I'm so sorry that happened. I bet you were a total wreck, I would have been. I don't know anything about this, but I will be praying for you and Payton.

Big hugs!

simis · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject:

That must have been so scary for you all. I hope that Payton is OK.

We have 2 friends with epileptic dogs who have medication given every day to help them occur less frequently.

ange165 · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:08 am Post subject:

How frightening.. keep us updated. Hope he's ok and has no more episodes.

weim2mom · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:15 am Post subject: