Seizures - YorkieTalk.com Forums

steel · 03-15-2008, 01:50 AM

I have a 17 month old yorkie that i have had for 6 months now and on 2 occasions i saw what looked to me like him shaking a little that lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds, but didn't pay much attention to it as it didn't seem to be anything to worry about. Late last night though he started shaking violently and fell over on his side as if he didn't have balance or use of all his legs, this episode lasted for about 3 minutes and scared me to death, but afterward he acted normal and happy. to me it looked similar to epileptic seizures i've seen people have. could this condition exist in a dog? my vet was closed and is closed today, and there is no emergency number in my area to call. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

jeanietoo · 03-15-2008, 03:37 AM

Yes dogs have seizures just like humans. He needs to be seen by a vet and evaluated.

kandy313 · 03-15-2008, 03:42 AM

My dog has them to and he has been diagnosed with a liver shunt.I really hope its not the case with your baby

cj125 · 03-15-2008, 05:16 AM

My blk Lab had them most of his life. Medication can usually control it quite well. I'd just keep a good eye on him so that he doesn't get hurt during a seizure and then get him into your vet as soon as you can. Please keep "calm" as this will help your pup calm down sooner. Best Wishes!

bjh · 03-15-2008, 06:20 AM

Here is a good article on seizures that may help. There are a number of things that can cause seizures. It would be best to have your dog evaluated by a vet. Do you know the people that owned your dog previously? If you could contact them maybe they would let you know if he has had these before (if they are honest). Please keep us updated as to what you find out. He will be in our prayers.

http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/epilepsy.html

Ladymom · 03-15-2008, 11:09 AM

My Lady is an epileptic. She was diagnosed at four years old.

You need to take him to your vet and get a complete physical, including bloodwork. He should also get a bile acids test to test his liver function and a thyroid panel. Both liver shunts and a thyroid imbalance can cause seizures. It isn't an emergency situation unless he he starts having several seizures in a day so it can wait until Monday.

Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined so it is essential that he have a bile acids test done. Seizures are one of the symptoms.

Here is wonderful resource about canine epilepsy:

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/

Ellie May · 03-15-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladymom

My Lady is an epileptic. She was diagnosed at four years old.

You need to take him to your vet and get a complete physical, including bloodwork. He should also get a bile acids test to test his liver function and a thyroid panel. Both liver shunts and a thyroid imbalance can cause seizures. It isn't an emergency situation unless he he starts having several seizures in a day so it can wait until Monday.

Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined so it is essential that he have a bile acids test done. Seizures are one of the symptoms.

Here is wonderful resource about canine epilepsy:

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/

Whenever a Yorkie has a seizure, liver shunt should be looked at first.

Yorkieluv · 03-15-2008, 07:25 PM

Yes, I agree...First try to rule out liver shunt..

kalina82 · 03-15-2008, 08:03 PM

since he is still young i too would ask for a bile acid test and full blood panel done. liver shunt might be the problem, but i hope not for yours and his sake. if its just epilepsy it can be managed with medication if the seizures become frequent.

yorkiepup2 · 03-15-2008, 08:08 PM

Maya had siezures before she was diagnosed with a liver shunt. I hope to God this is not what your baby has. Please get to the vet as soon as possible.....and don't give anything with tons of protein.

steel · 03-16-2008, 01:42 AM

Thanks so much everybody for the info and opinions. I am calling vet on monday and having him checked. Thanks again

shirlblack · 03-19-2008, 03:23 AM

2 wks. ago, at 4:30 in the morning, Scooter woke us up with a seizure. Before I could get to him, he fell off the bed, was lying on his side, kicking and panting. Afterwards he seemed ok so I didn't take him to the vet. It happened again this morning at 5:30, so it's a visit to the doc today. He's 11 and as far as I know that's never happened to him before. He has liver damage but what is a liver shunt?

Thanks,

Ellie May · 03-19-2008, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirlblack

2 wks. ago, at 4:30 in the morning, Scooter woke us up with a seizure. Before I could get to him, he fell off the bed, was lying on his side, kicking and panting. Afterwards he seemed ok so I didn't take him to the vet. It happened again this morning at 5:30, so it's a visit to the doc today. He's 11 and as far as I know that's never happened to him before. He has liver damage but what is a liver shunt?

Thanks,

I am not doctor, so I'll say it as simply as possible.
It is an abnormal vein in the liver that cannot properly process things.
MVD is several of these (very small) throughout the liver.
It is a vascular abnormality.

How did your dog get liver damage?
What is the dagnosis and what are the symptoms?

Ladymom · 03-19-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirlblack

2 wks. ago, at 4:30 in the morning, Scooter woke us up with a seizure. Before I could get to him, he fell off the bed, was lying on his side, kicking and panting. Afterwards he seemed ok so I didn't take him to the vet. It happened again this morning at 5:30, so it's a visit to the doc today. He's 11 and as far as I know that's never happened to him before. He has liver damage but what is a liver shunt?

Thanks,

Has he has a complete geriatric blood profile recently? How about a thyroid panel? Thyroid imbalance can also cause seizures.

shirlblack · 03-19-2008, 01:10 PM

I don't know how he got liver damage. he's a rescue yorkie, was 4 when we got him and we think he was abused. the dr. told me that any number of things can cause liver damage.

my daughter's poodle had seizures and our dr. told her that there was nothing that could be done about. 2 seizures within 2 weeks sounds like a bit much to me.

he had a blood profile in dec. 07.

03-15-2008, 01:50 AM	#1
steel Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Maine Posts: 13	Seizures I have a 17 month old yorkie that i have had for 6 months now and on 2 occasions i saw what looked to me like him shaking a little that lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds, but didn't pay much attention to it as it didn't seem to be anything to worry about. Late last night though he started shaking violently and fell over on his side as if he didn't have balance or use of all his legs, this episode lasted for about 3 minutes and scared me to death, but afterward he acted normal and happy. to me it looked similar to epileptic seizures i've seen people have. could this condition exist in a dog? my vet was closed and is closed today, and there is no emergency number in my area to call. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

03-15-2008, 05:16 AM	#4
cj125 Mia, Max and Moe's Mom Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 4,403	My blk Lab had them most of his life. Medication can usually control it quite well. I'd just keep a good eye on him so that he doesn't get hurt during a seizure and then get him into your vet as soon as you can. Please keep "calm" as this will help your pup calm down sooner. Best Wishes! __________________ *Connie* Mia Max Moe

03-15-2008, 11:09 AM	#6
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,317	My Lady is an epileptic. She was diagnosed at four years old. You need to take him to your vet and get a complete physical, including bloodwork. He should also get a bile acids test to test his liver function and a thyroid panel. Both liver shunts and a thyroid imbalance can cause seizures. It isn't an emergency situation unless he he starts having several seizures in a day so it can wait until Monday. Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined so it is essential that he have a bile acids test done. Seizures are one of the symptoms. Here is wonderful resource about canine epilepsy: http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/ __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...6213341?ref=nf

03-15-2008, 07:25 PM	#8
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,178	Yes, I agree...First try to rule out liver shunt.. __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

03-15-2008, 08:03 PM	#9
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: with my yorkie baby Posts: 10,141 Blog Entries: 1	since he is still young i too would ask for a bile acid test and full blood panel done. liver shunt might be the problem, but i hope not for yours and his sake. if its just epilepsy it can be managed with medication if the seizures become frequent. __________________ Kellie and Morgan

03-15-2008, 03:37 AM	#2
jeanietoo YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 783	Yes dogs have seizures just like humans. He needs to be seen by a vet and evaluated.

03-15-2008, 03:42 AM	#3
kandy313 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: prestonsburg,ky Posts: 105	My dog has them to and he has been diagnosed with a liver shunt.I really hope its not the case with your baby

03-15-2008, 06:20 AM	#5
bjh Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 7,959	Here is a good article on seizures that may help. There are a number of things that can cause seizures. It would be best to have your dog evaluated by a vet. Do you know the people that owned your dog previously? If you could contact them maybe they would let you know if he has had these before (if they are honest). Please keep us updated as to what you find out. He will be in our prayers. http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/epilepsy.html

03-15-2008, 08:08 PM	#10
yorkiepup2 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 789	Maya had siezures before she was diagnosed with a liver shunt. I hope to God this is not what your baby has. Please get to the vet as soon as possible.....and don't give anything with tons of protein. __________________ Kali and Nikki's Mommy

03-16-2008, 01:42 AM	#11
steel Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Maine Posts: 13	Thanks so much everybody for the info and opinions. I am calling vet on monday and having him checked. Thanks again

03-19-2008, 03:23 AM	#12
shirlblack Bailey's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 1,553	2 wks. ago, at 4:30 in the morning, Scooter woke us up with a seizure. Before I could get to him, he fell off the bed, was lying on his side, kicking and panting. Afterwards he seemed ok so I didn't take him to the vet. It happened again this morning at 5:30, so it's a visit to the doc today. He's 11 and as far as I know that's never happened to him before. He has liver damage but what is a liver shunt? Thanks, __________________ Shirl and Bailey

03-19-2008, 01:10 PM	#15
shirlblack Bailey's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 1,553	I don't know how he got liver damage. he's a rescue yorkie, was 4 when we got him and we think he was abused. the dr. told me that any number of things can cause liver damage. my daughter's poodle had seizures and our dr. told her that there was nothing that could be done about. 2 seizures within 2 weeks sounds like a bit much to me. he had a blood profile in dec. 07. __________________ Shirl and Bailey