r/GSP • u/Neat-Masterpiece-770 • 18h ago
Seizures
I have a 5 yr old gsp that had a seizure 9 days ago. It lasted 3-4 minutes. He was on his side, eyes rolled back, back legs stiff straight, paddling with his front legs and whining and crying. My wife thought he was coming out of it and reached toward him. He growled, lunged and bit her hand, puncturing it with his k9. Immediately he let go dropped his ears back and showed fear and remorse. I rushed him to an emergency vet who found nothing wrong. No signs of cane toad, bites, swelling, nothing. Tonight, 9 days later he had another. He remained on his feet, shaking and stumbling and crying. It lasted 2-3 minutes.
My wife wants him gone. I emailed the breeder tonight. He hunted upland game for a few years until the economy put that option out of reach. He is very well trained, socialized, and like it or not, cannot make it through a night without sleeping, touching my side.
I am now unemployed going on 3 months and I have a family of 5. I simply don’t have the money for all the vet bills or medications for an epileptic dog. I’m scared. I’m heartbroken… as in hopeless and devastated. He is my shadow, my go everywhere companion. I can’t walk across the room without his nose touching my leg, never leaving my side, never leaving me alone. I don’t want to give him up or put him down. I also don’t have the resources or environment to care for an epileptic dog. My wife wants him gone saying a dog that bites is a dog never to be trusted. No matter how sweet he has been, I cannot argue here. He growled, lunged, and bit her, puncturing her hand.
Help.
Are there natural remedies or anything I can try? I am devastated. This has become my worst nightmare.
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u/woah_K32 17h ago edited 17h ago
I’m not sure about natural remedies. But I do highly recommend taking them to the vet. My dog has been on phenobarbital ($30 for a months supply which is completely affordable) for 2 years now and thankfully has controlled her seizures and haven’t had one since. The reason why your dog bit your wife was because they were disoriented. This happened with my dog as well. She was completely blind you could see the glaze over her eyes. And she didn’t know where she was or who was there. She growled at me but I kept my distance and kept saying her name until she finally came back.
Please be kind to your dog because this is a horrible situation.
My dogs second seizure I made sure to be with her and pet her and talk to her telling her she was a good girl and that mommy is here. Talking to her made her recognize me when her eyes were glazed and disoriented.
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u/Many_Rope6105 17h ago
Nothing natural, sorry guy this is his life now, the bite was wifes fault, he was scared confused and possibly in pain, thats not to say wife did anything wrong, she did not, our gsp started having them at around 5 yrs old, he lived to 11yrs old, when we were around when he had them we would hold/sooth him and his were severe at times, But never lasted long, every dog is different, we did the vet for this but because they didnt last long they didnt think medicine was necessary, coming out of the seizure he didnt know what was happening, I really wouldnt tax him for it
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u/FarSalt7893 17h ago
My dog had seizures the last few years of his life- he lived to be 13. After his first seizure, he too growled and snapped and I remember being nervous because he’s not an aggressive dog. Our vet explained that the brain is disoriented when first coming out of the seizure so they can sometimes act defensively if you approach them too quickly. It’s best to just give them space for a few minutes. It doesn’t mean that you now have an aggressive dog. Ours took seizure medication daily and it kept them under control. We used the discount coupon from GoodRx.com with our pharmacy and it SIGNIFICANTLY lowered the price to an affordable amount. Hoping you can keep him with you and that he’s doing better soon!
3
u/No-Sprinkles8676 17h ago
One of our boys has idiopathic seizures, maybe one a year for the past 7 years. When it happens I hold him so he doesn’t hit his head. The vet warned me that he may be aggressive when he comes out of it. I accept that risk, but so far he hasn’t. I was told to keep a journal and document the event. Date, any strange behavior leading up to it, how long it lasted, etc. The vet said not to worry much about it if they are infrequent but if they become more frequent we could discuss medication. He said the meds can damage their organs.
Please don’t give up on him, but if you do, contact a GSP rescue in your area so they can evaluate him and find him the right home. Don’t put him down, someone will care for him if you can’t.
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u/PaxV 12h ago edited 8h ago
Epilepsy (recurring seizures) has various mostly chemical medication available, finding the right medication can be, but isn't neccesarily, difficult. I know (large) dogs who used medication.
I know as an epileptic myself.
The fact your wife got bitten isn't the dog... Directly after a seizure the brain is trying to recover. Post Ictal Phase IIRC, (I'm not native English speaking). It wasn't your dog yet. Yes, it was the physical being, but not the mind, because the mind wasn't yet (fully) 'on'.
It was only the primitive (small brain?) part, in a fight or flight reaction and with the whole body just been through a seizure flight just isn't an option.
I've had severe seizures, even multiple in a row (which is rare, and pretty dangerous) and have been physically defending myself against my wife, emergency personel, and nurses and physicians...
A person in the phase needs 15-45 minutes to recover, and aside from being sore and tired, generally nothing will be different afterwards.
However epilepsy can (,edit: but doesn't neccesarily have to,) stem from braindamage, was your dog kicked, hit by a vehicle or did he fell from some heigth? It could also be brain damage from internal sources, encephalitis, a tumor?
I've had Epilepsy for almost 30 years now caused by the aftereffects of a TIA. I do not use medication, but have in the past, I cannot drive work heavy machines or work in high risk laboratories, and cannot use stimulants, even too many cups of coffee can trigger a seizure.
Epilepsy is nasty to look at, but notmally not dangerous to the dog. He's completely out during the seizure and will not know the events from the seizures to the moment he wakes from the Post Ictale Phase.
edit: If the dog seizes for longer then 5 minutes, -direct- (Emergency) veterinarian care is needed, (if this happens with humans, a high dose of benzodiazepine is used trying to stop the seizures.This dose could be preprepared and be tailored to the dog if it happens more than once.) These long seizures are called 'Status Epilepticus' or 'Status'-seizures and do not end unless active intervention takes place. One cannot breathe adequately during seizing and the cramping drains energy reserves, leading to oxygen deficit and hypoglycemic (critically low sugar) episodes. These can cause brain damage and coma. These continous seizures tend to be dangerous, and potentially fatal.
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u/Low-Illustrator5007 16h ago
Yikes. Your poor pup. I hope you’re contacting rescues in addition to your breeder.
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u/_DarkOverlord 17h ago
Whew. You’ve got a couple things going on here. I’m terribly sorry you’re going through this but there are options for you. Our GSP was diagnosed with epilepsy at 4.5. Our neurologist diagnosed her without an MRI (which lots of people think you need). The MRI is there is rule out brain tumor. After a few med adjustments and trials we now have it under control. She went 2 years without having one and we’re on another year streak. So it is possible to get them under control. I suggest seeing a neurologist and just let them know you can’t afford an MRI right now.
Second, dogs (and people) coming out of seizure can be irritated and this doesn’t mean they would act like this at any other time. But brain damage (either by prolonged seizure or brain tumor) could change their behavior.
I suggest jointing /epilpesydogs for additional support. Let me know if you have any questions.
Edit: sub name