On Tue, 1 Aug 2006 14:29:11 -0400, "Sue and Atty"
wrote:


How do they diagnose epilepsy? Is it a blood test?

It's usually a diagnosis of exclusion. Idiopathic epilepsy means, by
definition, that the cause of the seizures is unknown. If an EEG or
MRI shows a brain tumor or a blood test shows high lead, the cause is
known. If the dog is having seizures and no cause can be identified,
it's idiopathic epilepsy.

Mustang Sally

"sighthounds & siberians" wrote in message
...
snip

Am I also reading correctly that they can have petit seizures while
asleep?
And in that case, simply calling their name or touching and getting a
response would indicate that it is indeed a dream vs a petit mal seizure.

I'm sure that petit mal seizures can begin while a dog is asleep, but
they're not as noticeable because your bed doesn't start shaking.
Dogs can respond while they are having petit mal seizures. Petit mal
and partial seizures are more difficult to identify than grand mal
seizures, so that just calling the dog's name and getting a response
doesn't prove much other than that the dog isn't sleeping.

Mustang Sally


Well shoot. So much for "getting a response means its not a seizure". So
back to my original question, revamped. How can you tell the difference
between a petit mall or partial seizure and a good dream? Or can't you and
you should just involve your vet if you're in question?

Sue and Atty

On Wed, 2 Aug 2006 09:37:36 -0400, "Sue and Atty"
wrote:


"sighthounds & siberians" wrote in message
.. .
snip

Am I also reading correctly that they can have petit seizures while
asleep?
And in that case, simply calling their name or touching and getting a
response would indicate that it is indeed a dream vs a petit mal seizure.

I'm sure that petit mal seizures can begin while a dog is asleep, but
they're not as noticeable because your bed doesn't start shaking.
Dogs can respond while they are having petit mal seizures. Petit mal
and partial seizures are more difficult to identify than grand mal
seizures, so that just calling the dog's name and getting a response
doesn't prove much other than that the dog isn't sleeping.

Mustang Sally


Well shoot. So much for "getting a response means its not a seizure". So
back to my original question, revamped. How can you tell the difference
between a petit mall or partial seizure and a good dream? Or can't you and
you should just involve your vet if you're in question?

Getting a response means it's not a grand mal seizure. If a dog
appears to be sleeping/dreaming and is twitching or doing something
that possibly looks like a petit mal seizure, call its name. If it
was merely sleeping, it will wake up and stop twitching. If it's
having a petit mal seizure, the twitching or whatever will continue,
even if the dog is awake. Petit mal/partial seizures can vary a lot
and so can be more difficult to recognize. One of my greyhounds had
petit mals in the form of head tremors, and was always consious and
responsive when he had them, but he couldn't stop them. Our IG has
partial seizures where his body arches to the side and he's unable to
stand; he is also conscious and responsive during the seizures, but he
can't stop them. You can always ask a vet, but without observing the
dog's behavior, s/he may not be able to say for sure either.

Mustang Sally

"sighthounds & siberians" wrote in message
...
snip
Getting a response means it's not a grand mal seizure. If a dog
appears to be sleeping/dreaming and is twitching or doing something
that possibly looks like a petit mal seizure, call its name. If it
was merely sleeping, it will wake up and stop twitching. If it's
having a petit mal seizure, the twitching or whatever will continue,
even if the dog is awake. Petit mal/partial seizures can vary a lot
and so can be more difficult to recognize. One of my greyhounds had
petit mals in the form of head tremors, and was always consious and
responsive when he had them, but he couldn't stop them. Our IG has
partial seizures where his body arches to the side and he's unable to
stand; he is also conscious and responsive during the seizures, but he
can't stop them. You can always ask a vet, but without observing the
dog's behavior, s/he may not be able to say for sure either.

Mustang Sally


Thanks. Sounds like it might be time for the video camera if you're not
sure what you're seeing. You all have been very helpful. Thanks again.

Sue and Atty

On Thu, 3 Aug 2006 09:36:06 -0400, "Sue and Atty"
wrote:


"sighthounds & siberians" wrote in message
.. .
snip
Getting a response means it's not a grand mal seizure. If a dog
appears to be sleeping/dreaming and is twitching or doing something
that possibly looks like a petit mal seizure, call its name. If it
was merely sleeping, it will wake up and stop twitching. If it's
having a petit mal seizure, the twitching or whatever will continue,
even if the dog is awake. Petit mal/partial seizures can vary a lot
and so can be more difficult to recognize. One of my greyhounds had
petit mals in the form of head tremors, and was always consious and
responsive when he had them, but he couldn't stop them. Our IG has
partial seizures where his body arches to the side and he's unable to
stand; he is also conscious and responsive during the seizures, but he
can't stop them. You can always ask a vet, but without observing the
dog's behavior, s/he may not be able to say for sure either.

Mustang Sally


Thanks. Sounds like it might be time for the video camera if you're not
sure what you're seeing. You all have been very helpful. Thanks again.

A lot of vets have their clients videotape the seizures, or whatever's
going on. Ours were always pretty clear-cut, so we didn't do that,
but I did/do keep a seizure diary.

Mustang Sally

montana wildhack wrote:
snip
The rigidity of her body was part of our lay diagnosis, but there was no
question in either of our minds what was happening even though we had
never seen it before.

snip

That's how it was the first time I ever saw a human have a grand mal
seizure.

I dragged him away from the wall to keep him from slamming his skull on
the drywall, turned him on his side and prevented well-meaning idiots
from attempting to jam various objects between his teeth until the
ambulance arrived. If I'd had an extra set of hands I'd have
bitch-slapped the old man who threw his hands in the air and begged God
to cast out the demons afflicting the youth (yeah, there's a useful
reaction).

Kathleen

On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 14:50:57 -0500, Kathleen
wrote:

montana wildhack wrote:
snip
The rigidity of her body was part of our lay diagnosis, but there was no
question in either of our minds what was happening even though we had
never seen it before.

snip

That's how it was the first time I ever saw a human have a grand mal
seizure.

I dragged him away from the wall to keep him from slamming his skull on
the drywall, turned him on his side and prevented well-meaning idiots
from attempting to jam various objects between his teeth until the
ambulance arrived. If I'd had an extra set of hands I'd have
bitch-slapped the old man who threw his hands in the air and begged God
to cast out the demons afflicting the youth (yeah, there's a useful
reaction).

I was walking along a college sidewalk when I saw a girl that just
gave off a vibe somehow that made me think she was going to have a
seizure. I started to walk over her way because there was nothing
around her but concrete and no one there to help. She started going
stiff as I got closer and I got there just in time to go down on a
knee to catch her head before it hit the concrete sidewalk. Hurt like
hell, but I figured it was better than having her head hit the
sidewalk. My knee would fare better than a head injury for someone
who already has seizures. Some people walking across the quad who
came over to help while I knelt there trying to keep her from banging
anything hard while she seized wanted to know how I knew to do that
and I couldn't tell them. To this day I don't know what I saw in her
that just told me she was going to have a seizure even though I'd
never seen anyone have one before. I'm just glad that it did hit me,
whatever it was.

--
Paula
"Anyway, other people are weird, but sometimes they have candy,
so it's best to try to get along with them." Joe Bay