Steve Kovacs

My Dog And Her Epilepsy, A Terrible Illness For Both Of Us



Posted: Monday, April 13, 2009

by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective

I have two dogs; German Shepherds that look menacing but are as gentle as stuffed animals if you happen to be a guest in our home. I didn't want two dogs, but after getting Buster the big male I call Buster the Wonder Dog because he really isn't a wonder dog at all (I just try to make him think he's bright), an acquaintance called me. She is a breeder and had a female puppy that wasn't up to show standards and wanted to find a good home for her. I am not a show-dog kind of person and my last Shepherd was from a dog rescue center, but this puppy needed a home and after thinking about it and checking her out, we took her in.

We named her Missy and she became a good pet and became friendly towards dogs and humans. She is beautiful with long brown, black and red hair. They tell me her grandfather was a great champion and legend on the show-circuit, but all I cared about was for a happy normal dog.

She was about two years old when she had her first seizure. For those pet owners who've dealt with epilepsy and their dog you know how bad it is to watch them go through the convulsions. To make matters worse, Missy had cluster seizures, which are many seizures in a day-sometimes 10 a day.

I noticed she only had seizures during her heat cycle so we had her spayed. She continued to have seizures, but strangely, it appeared that after her spaying she still seemed to have "in-heat" signs. Our veterinarian, who did her surgery told me it was possible he did not do a proper or thorough spaying, but he doubted he did it incorrectly. He further said the only real way to tell was to cut her open and find out. He said there would be no charge. Nevertheless, cut her open again, that stinks!

Missy never has a seizure until I notice some "in-heat symptoms" and then like clockwork; she has cluster seizures for two or three days. We give her medications to try to minimize or stop the seizures while watching her rolling around in uncontrollable fits, always wondering if one day it will kill her or give her brain damage.

Presently, Missy and I are in the second day of seizures. Yes, we both are going through it, for me it's a lousy couple of days to say the least. It's time for a new doctor to evaluate her and go from there, and as far as this round of seizures, I hope tomorrow will be seizure free, for both of us.

Steve is the author of Protect Yourself: The Simple Keys Women Need to be Safe and Secure. He is the host of the Internet Radio Talk Show, The Kovacs Perspective http://www.thekovacsperspective.com/ where he interviews experts in various fields, geared to help and inform. Steve also does on-line current events & political audio commentary.

Steve's background is in law enforcement, security, investigations, teaching and he is also the president of a small specialty investigation company: http://www.allsourcesecurity.com/investigations.htm. Contact Steve any time at:info@thekovacsperspective.com

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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Susan Thom
 3 years 14 days ago.
179 fans.
hi steve,
 
that is so sad, and something i've worried about in the part of my brain that worries about things that haven't happened yet! i adore my maltipoo, and i am sure i would be right there with him, but i also know it would tear me apart. i'm sorry for you that you have to go through this type of pain.
 
i wish there were more that could be done. maybe with another doctor? i'm going to search online.
 
i'll let you know if i find anything.
 
my best regards,
 
sue
» left by Susan Thom 3 years 14 days ago.
179 fans.
hi steve,
 
i don't have your e mail, but if you just search for: "medications for german shepherd seizures" there seems to be some interesting reading, and sites, and medications.
 
i diagnosed my own thyroid problem by using the internet, and then seeing a doctor, having a blood test, and needing to be on medication. i went by the symptoms the internet listed, and they were the same i was experiencing.
 
good luck,
 
my best regards,
 
sue
» left by Steve Kovacs 3 years 13 days ago.
94 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!

Hi Sue--thanks for caring and writing me about it.  Yes, if someone’s an animal lover it’s really terrible to watch it happen.  I’ve researched the Internet (you can find so much on it) and there IS another treatment that my dog hasn’t had yet that works for some dogs.  For us now though, the first move will be to talk to another doctor and see what he or she says.

Thanks again Sue and take care!

 

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