Life with an Epileptic Westie
West Highland White Terriers are renowned for skin problems so when our little girl started having skin and allergy problems we were not unduly surprised and promptly visited the vet. She underwent a battery of blood and skin tests and was prescribed a course of prescription medicine to improve her resistance to allergens and to help her skin to heal. We were half expecting to face the same issues with our little boy Westie as he grew older.
The first seizure
To our horror our little boy had a seizure in February 2013 just before his second birthday. The fit came from nowhere, there was no warning, no period of illness and no other symptoms. We rushed him to the vet who reassured us that this could be a one off. He took bloods and did a full examination but there was no obvious cause. We were given some medication for him to take for a few days and took him home.
That was the start of a pattern of seizures, always clusters, and often lasting 24 – 48 hours. Six months later after a stay in a canine hospital under the care of a neurologist he was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. He takes three types of medication three times daily to try and control his epilepsy and we have diazepam and gabapentin to use during and immediately after fits along with anti-sickness medication and anything else the vet can throw at him!
Thankfully it all helps but his epilepsy cannot be controlled. The longest period without a fit has been one six month period but is most often just a couple of weeks. The prognosis when he was two was not good with such severe epilepsy, and we have had some hairy days and nights along the way, but he has just turned 7 and thankfully is still with us.
Living with Epilepsy
Life with an epileptic dog is not easy. It breaks your heart every time you hear the tell-tale sound of his little body thrashing around during a seizure. His older sister squeals and barks to alert us as the fit is about to start and does not stop until we arrive at his side. She kisses him, tries to play fight with him and loves him until the fit passes. Over the next few hours she watches over him whilst we go through anything from three to six fits. We don’t know how much he knows at the time but SHE is a star!
There is no doubt that the seizures/fits have taken their toll on him, but through it all he is still happy and extremely loving. He is the most loyal little dog we have ever had. He is so brave and has defied all expectations as he continues to battle this awful condition.
What causes epilepsy?
Our dog has idiopathic epilepsy which is basically cause unknown – it is something built in him. There is no brain injury or trauma or other neurological or medical cause of the fits. Other cases of epilepsy can be as a result of a brain injury or trauma. Some medical emergencies may cause seizures including high temperature and sepsis. A common cause of seizures in dogs is as a result of ingesting poisons. Many pesticides and herbicides are toxic to dogs and can result in seizures. If the emergency can be resolved the fits may stop but only your vet can advise on lasting issues.
Epilepsy in dogs is heart breaking and terrifying in equal measure but it is not necessarily a life sentence. There are many excellent medications available, and the protocol is similar to that for humans. As medicine evolves and new treatment options are found to aid management of human epilepsy our canine companions will also often benefit.
Would you know how to cope with a fit, read more here.
