Hi Thank yOU for the thought. I posted an update just before this but I wanted to also share this-
we haven't given Kobe flea treatment yet at all. Summer is started now but even just this last week it was in upper 40s, low 50s. we are planning to use Frontline tho and give it the first week of June!

Hi Thank yOU for the thought. I posted an update just before this but I wanted to also share this-
we haven't given Kobe flea treatment yet at all. Summer is started now but even just this last week it was in upper 40s, low 50s. we are planning to use Frontline tho and give it the first week of June!

ahhhh... Thank you for the quick and informative response! It is definitely easier to talk it out and have some info to go on. I want to give an update on how Kobe is doing and also ask advise on a choice we were given.

Kobe saw a neurologist yesterday and I was relieved with the amoung of time, care and interest that was provided through this visit. The neurologizt was very thorough asking about Kobe's past, behavior, diet, vaccinations, etc. He physically watched and checked him over using tests like checking his mouth, ears, tempature, reflexes, and light tests on his eyes. The blood work all came back as normal which we were told rules out any sort of poison, thyroid imbalance, some cancer, etc. The neurologist was able to tell us what is not causing the seizures but gave a number of reasons that could be. For instance, he knows it is not epilepsy. Something he thinks is more likely than anything else is that Kobe has a viral infection or inflammatory problem in the brain. He says it is something he maybe picked up longer ago than just in the past week(s) but has nervous system may have built up an immunit to the virus which causes bloodwork to come back normal...except that all the effects (seizures) are still present.

So...the treatment is the phenobarbitol for the seizures. This is as you described a trial until we find the right dose for Kobe. Yet, this treatment doesn't address the actual problem going on. Which he doesn't know the right treatment for that without doing further tests. He suggested a spinal tap. The information he gave is that Kobe could never have another seizure or he could start showing other symptoms of the problem as it progresses without treatment. He also said a spinal tap could come back as normal too based on the way his immune system works. Of course he describes this better than I can but this is what I understood out of our time with him yesterday! Our decision now is if we want the spinal tap to happen! The neurologist reminded me some of the TV show HOUSE because he was excited and interested in this challenge with Kobe's case!

Kobe has not had a seizure after starting the phenobarbitol yesterday evening!! He is on 2 pills of .5g every 12 hours. He appears kind of drunk-not able to walk in a straight line, stumbling, and slower than usually. Very thirsty and TIRED. THe neurologist is following up with me daily to determine the appropriate dose. It's a wait and see game now. The reccommendation on the spinal tap is to do it soon. He suggested next week Tuesday and said it is our choice because of the unknown on if it will help his treatment or not and also the expense.

Any advice on if we have the spinal tap done or not? Also, my family suggested I call Kobe's breeder to notify them of what is going on with him. I haven't done that as I think the breeder woulnd't talk to us. However I see the value that it cold be helpful just for him to be aware. Any thoughts on that? Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

ahhhh... Thank you for the quick and informative response! It is definitely easier to talk it out and have some info to go on. I want to give an update on how Kobe is doing and also ask advise on a choice we were given.

Kobe saw a neurologist yesterday and I was relieved with the amoung of time, care and interest that was provided through this visit. The neurologizt was very thorough asking about Kobe's past, behavior, diet, vaccinations, etc. He physically watched and checked him over using tests like checking his mouth, ears, tempature, reflexes, and light tests on his eyes. The blood work all came back as normal which we were told rules out any sort of poison, thyroid imbalance, some cancer, etc. The neurologist was able to tell us what is not causing the seizures but gave a number of reasons that could be. For instance, he knows it is not epilepsy. Something he thinks is more likely than anything else is that Kobe has a viral infection or inflammatory problem in the brain. He says it is something he maybe picked up longer ago than just in the past week(s) but has nervous system may have built up an immunit to the virus which causes bloodwork to come back normal...except that all the effects (seizures) are still present.

So...the treatment is the phenobarbitol for the seizures. This is as you described a trial until we find the right dose for Kobe. Yet, this treatment doesn't address the actual problem going on. Which he doesn't know the right treatment for that without doing further tests. He suggested a spinal tap. The information he gave is that Kobe could never have another seizure or he could start showing other symptoms of the problem as it progresses without treatment. He also said a spinal tap could come back as normal too based on the way his immune system works. Of course he describes this better than I can but this is what I understood out of our time with him yesterday! Our decision now is if we want the spinal tap to happen! The neurologist reminded me some of the TV show HOUSE because he was excited and interested in this challenge with Kobe's case!

Kobe has not had a seizure after starting the phenobarbitol yesterday evening!! He is on 2 pills of .5g every 12 hours. He appears kind of drunk-not able to walk in a straight line, stumbling, and slower than usually. Very thirsty and TIRED. THe neurologist is following up with me daily to determine the appropriate dose. It's a wait and see game now. The reccommendation on the spinal tap is to do it soon. He suggested next week Tuesday and said it is our choice because of the unknown on if it will help his treatment or not and also the expense.

Any advice on if we have the spinal tap done or not? Also, my family suggested I call Kobe's breeder to notify them of what is going on with him. I haven't done that as I think the breeder woulnd't talk to us. However I see the value that it cold be helpful just for him to be aware. Any thoughts on that? Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

a reaction to flea treatment? The reason I ask is because my sister has a 3 year old bully (Beanie) and she began having seizures last summer. My sister didn't realize until early this spring (after a flea treatment) that the seizures always came within the first week or two of applying Frontline Plus on Beanie. She quit using the Frontline and went with a natural flea repellent and Beanie hasn't had any more seizures...it's been almost 5 months since she has had a seizure and she was having at least one a month!

I don't mean to imply that your bully's seizures are connected to flea treatment but thought the information might be helpful.

Hope your baby feels better today...

a reaction to flea treatment? The reason I ask is because my sister has a 3 year old bully (Beanie) and she began having seizures last summer. My sister didn't realize until early this spring (after a flea treatment) that the seizures always came within the first week or two of applying Frontline Plus on Beanie. She quit using the Frontline and went with a natural flea repellent and Beanie hasn't had any more seizures...it's been almost 5 months since she has had a seizure and she was having at least one a month!

I don't mean to imply that your bully's seizures are connected to flea treatment but thought the information might be helpful.

Hope your baby feels better today...

Having met with your regular vet and told him about the seizures, how the dog behaves and how long they last, he has some basis on which to start. Blood testing is SOP. I'm presuming that there's no suspicion of the dog having eaten any poison (ie rat bait, poisonous plants) and your vet undoubtedly checked his mouth for any "burns", no vomiting was reported, no other unusual behavior beyond the exhaustion directly following a seizure or cluster of seizures. The dog will likely be put on phenobarbitol, once or twice daily, with some possible dose adjustment to find a level that he can avoid most seizures both in severity and frequency...using the lowest dose possible. Many times Potassium Bromide (KBr)is added to the regimen as a "boost" for the Phenobarb that will enable the dose of the narcotic to be lowered yet still effective.

Yes it is scary, yes it is frustrating, yes it will be a life-long condition, and yes he can still enjoy a wonderful quality of life once this is under control. Routines are best for children and pets, but especially so for pets with health issues, so you will need to take a look at your current feeding schedule to align that with a reasonable medicine program (ie, every 12hrs?) and hopefully your vet will also give you some syringes with Valium which can be given rectally should he have a particularly severe seizure (longer than usual). There's lots of good info on the internet but you should be getting the basic info from your vet (or if he refers you to an Internal Medicine specialist or Neurologist). There are special groups on the internet for owners of epileptic dogs...someone referred to that here recently. For now, take some deep breaths, watch him but make notes or film his seizures so you can best help your vet with proper treatment. YOU CAN DO THIS.

Having met with your regular vet and told him about the seizures, how the dog behaves and how long they last, he has some basis on which to start. Blood testing is SOP. I'm presuming that there's no suspicion of the dog having eaten any poison (ie rat bait, poisonous plants) and your vet undoubtedly checked his mouth for any "burns", no vomiting was reported, no other unusual behavior beyond the exhaustion directly following a seizure or cluster of seizures. The dog will likely be put on phenobarbitol, once or twice daily, with some possible dose adjustment to find a level that he can avoid most seizures both in severity and frequency...using the lowest dose possible. Many times Potassium Bromide (KBr)is added to the regimen as a "boost" for the Phenobarb that will enable the dose of the narcotic to be lowered yet still effective.

Yes it is scary, yes it is frustrating, yes it will be a life-long condition, and yes he can still enjoy a wonderful quality of life once this is under control. Routines are best for children and pets, but especially so for pets with health issues, so you will need to take a look at your current feeding schedule to align that with a reasonable medicine program (ie, every 12hrs?) and hopefully your vet will also give you some syringes with Valium which can be given rectally should he have a particularly severe seizure (longer than usual). There's lots of good info on the internet but you should be getting the basic info from your vet (or if he refers you to an Internal Medicine specialist or Neurologist). There are special groups on the internet for owners of epileptic dogs...someone referred to that here recently. For now, take some deep breaths, watch him but make notes or film his seizures so you can best help your vet with proper treatment. YOU CAN DO THIS.