Anybody know much about siezures in dogs? I've had this dog less than a month (full story here https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=104476) so I don't have a clue about his history. Tonight I was watching TV, the dog was sleeping. He jumped up, then crouched down and slunk over to me and laid down by my feet. He was shaking all over and breathing fast. He started drooling thick clear mucus so I carried him into the kitchen where the light was better and laid him on the floor. He couldn't hold his head up and seemed to be having difficulty breathing. I checked his airway by giving his ribs a squeeze to see if I could hear a puff, then blew through his nose to clear the mucus. He started breathing better (not sure if I actually helped), and started licking his legs and paws as soon as he could hold his head up. Within 2 minutes he was standing, and in less than 5 minutes he was back to normal. Scared the crap out of me, I thought he was gonna die on me for a few minutes there. I called the emergency vet, they said to keep an eye on him overnight and if he siezes again to bring him in. I'll be taking him to my regular vet Monday, is there anything in particular I should ask about? This really has me worried, the only other dog I've known who had siezures had a brain tumor.

You know you're in too deep when you will put your mouth on a slobber covered dog nose without even flinching.

 

Nope. That's called love right there.

 

I was searching around for more info on these dogs and found something unrelated. These dogs are prone to a hereditary eye condition called PRCD that makes them go blind. One of the early warning signs is that an affected dog has poor night vision. Yup, you guessed it. He can't navigate without the lights on - I noticed that the first night I had him.

 

This breed is very prone to genetic defects like hip and joint problems, hearing problems, and vision problems. Most cases it is hereditary and nothing can be done about it. The siezures I have hear of before in this breed also. I havent heard of any treatment for them but I will say that most dogs with this genetic defect live perfectly normal happy lives with the exception of a spell here and there.
My heeler has what has been determined to be "puppy nightmares". It freaked me out the first time I saw him doing it. His legs started to twitch and he was breathing really heavy and fast. This went on for about 5 minutes. I contacted the vet and he said it almost like a siezure but not quite. He said most grow out of it and not to worry, all puppies have dreams that cause this. He still does it every once in a while and I will wake him up and it stops. Its hard to wake him up though because he is in such a deep sleep when this happens.

I wouldnt worry about it too much though. He seems to be an mature dog and he made it this far along!
heres a site with plenty of reading and specifics on the breed from one end to the other.
www.cattledog.com

 

We have a 12 year old red blue heeler, with some dingo in her. She has shakes, or twitches, looks like she is shivering, that is genaric. Had it since she was a puppy. Her night vision is still good, can see and chase bunnys in the "bark park" at night. She loves to run even in the hot weather. Good luck with your dog. Heelers are great dogs.

Davey

 

Thanks for the info, guys. He was fine all night, and seems to be OK this morning. I'm still going to take him to the vet on Monday. I'm really bummed about the PRCD thing, it seems like he's got it. He really can't see without plenty of light. From what I have been able to find out it sounds like he'll be blind by the time he's 7 or 8.

 

We've had about 7-8 healer's throughout the family over the years. 4 at the moment. None of these seem to have had any disability's until well into old age. Only one had developed a skin condition later, that was determined to be allergies. Had to keep him on antihistamines. I wonder if the dog hadn't swallowed something that disagreed with him or got a touch of heat stroke or something? I've got one available if anybody's interested. He's on the smaller side, but you can't tell him that. He might get taken down to a farm in Kalamazoo though...

 

Mine moves so fast sometimes he will take a raw hide and chew on it for an hour or so and then just swallow it hole. A few hours later he will come through with his head hanging low and start puking up foam and eventually his raw hide that he swallowed. He looks pitiful when he does this.

Does this one have any chews or toys that are now missing?

 

Nope, no missing toys. Nothing came out of his mouth but clear mucus - basically your standard dog drool. He is a chewer (thankfully only on chew toys, he's been well trained), but I take away the rawhides when they get small enough that he could swallow them. I don't let him chew on rawhides unless there's someone around, I learned that from my other dog. When I'm out he has a Kong, but he'll only chew that if he's really bored. I guess he likes to see progress...

 

Dave, let's see what your vet says before jumping to conclusions.

As you know, my mother raises and shows Collies and Shelties - and we have had some bad medical scares over the years.

Years ago, one of our older collies had a seizure (we thought) out in the back yards. My father (a human doctor, not a vet) ran out, and immediately diagnosed a heart attack, injected her with some drugs, and performed some CPR-type thing right there. She stabilized, and we rushed her to the vet. She lived several more years.

Is it possible your dog had a heart attack? See what the vet says.

Scott

 

I had a Shepard once that would take epileptic (spelling) fits and loud noises would set him off. Anything like a lawn mower, weed whipper, or the like and he would go into a fit. He would roll over with his eyes rolled back in his head and quiver all over and usually wet himself. Put him on medicine to lessen it a little but but it finally took him. I think he went into a fit one night when it was cold out and couldn't come out of it. I woke the next morning to find the little Collie covering him up with leaves and pine needles. Brought him inside to warm him up even though he never was an inside dog. Looked in his eyes and one was wide open and the other was nearly closed. He died right there on the work room floor in my arms.
I've had five high dollar AKC registered dogs (Rotties, ShiTzus, Pit bulls) and have had some sort of trouble with all five of them. This old shepard / mutt mix I've got now never even gets a cold or sneeze and never goes to the doctor except for shots. Old pound puppies and strays are the best you can get in my book.

Just love him all you can while he's here Dave, they never forget.

 

As to the going blind, I just saw a special on RFD-TV about a famous Blue-Heeler in Texas that has been on more talk-shows than Farah Fawcett, paid for two ton Ford diesel dualies, a couple of trailers, and made his owners a good living.

The dog's name is Skidboot.

He is also going blind.

 

My hats off to you, that was quick thinking to help clear his airway. I love my three German Shepherds so i know how scary things can be, Talk to the vet and take their advice.

Chris

 

I had CPR training (human) about 3 months ago. The training kicked in and I just went through the ABC's. I was pretty amazed myself once the adrenalin died down.

He's been his normal self all day, wrestling with Ginger, my other found dog, (who's taller and heavier) and pinning her almost every time. Basically a little furball of energy. I'm glad Ginger is there to help wear him out. Off to the vet tomorrow, though. I get the feeling that for a free dog this one is gonna be pretty expensive...

I've been thinking about the eye problem, and I guess it's not too tough on the dog. It happens over a course of years, so they must just start relying on their other senses more as their eyesight deteriorates. When the vision finally goes completely, I guess they are pretty good at navigating by sound and touch already.

 

When my sweetie Courtney got attacked by four other mutts in the back yard, I took her clear up to Marshall Virginia for acupuncture treatments to help her walk again. That doctor told me some stuff about dogs that was amazing, usually every trip. Course it was $250 a trip and took five trips but it worked and she walked again. He looked in her eyes the first time he ever saw her and said nope, she's not ready to give up yet. He was right. The local doctors around here had already given up on her but we didn't. As long as she was not in pain, I was determined to do everything possible. She got about two more pain free years of walking and then the cancer got her back leg and I knew there was no coming back from that. They are really incredible if you treat them right. It cost me right at a grand to get Macy out of the office about two years ago. She had 32 stones in her bladder. I would do it again as long as they are not suffering. I figure if I can't afford to take care of them right, I don't deserve to keep them. Rattlinram can tell you how mis-treated my three are.