Seizures in Chihuahua

Question
QUESTION: My Chi Cricket is 3 months old. When we first got her she was precious. She was friendly, sweet, did not know a stranger and vied for everyone's attention. Then at about 10-11 weeks she had her first seizure. She acted like she had chewing gum in her mouth or something stuck in the roof of her mouth and made these very pronounced "chewing" actions and foaming at the mouth. This "chewing" lasts about 30-45 seconds, she is tensed up and loses her bladder and bowel, then she "has" to get down (we hold her during the spell) and she will run up and down the hall, not responding to us at all. This whole ordeal lasts about 5 minutes. When she comes back she usually runs to her food bowl. We had been feeding her Iams for puppies in the can then we changed her over to Purina Puppy Chow shortly after the change is when she started, however I had been mixing the dry Puppy Chow in her food from the beginning.
We took her to the vet and $434.00 and one night there she is still having them. We did have the carpet cleaned before she started so we called another cleaner and had them do a water only cleaning to remove any chemicals that may have been left by the first.
She is not the same dog as before. She has forgotten everything we had taught her, she is very skiddish or standoffish. We have noticed that she is not urinating as much as before. Her appetite is good and she eats her 3 meals a day with some dry food in between. She does not seem to drink a lot of water and never has. While at the vet I bought Royal Canin dry puppy food and we put her back on Iams Puppy food in the can.
Something else that seems strange is she does not bark. My neighbors have 2 Chihuahua's and they are constantly alerting them to anything that's going on.
I sure hope you can help because this little girl stole our hearts.
Mike and Carol

ANSWER: Oh, poor little Chi!!
The seizures could be environmental, as you stated
"The carpet was cleaned by a company "
Also, seizures could be related to her vaccinations????
Hard to tell.  If she continues to have more than 2 seizures per month the vet can put her on Phenobarbital :
*** see here about this drug:
Phenobarbital - canine:
http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/Phenobarbital.html


I would be glad to suggest a better food for your girl and a good supplement..
Let me know if you want my suggestions???

As far as behaviors - Yes, every seizure can damage some of her memory.  You need to get the seizures to stop ASAP.
I am sure the vet must have talked about the Phenobarbital option?
It can at least control the situation and give you time to figure what it was that set her off.

Chi dogs are know to have seizures if the VET does too many things at once - combo shots ...?


Talk to you soon!

Marie Peppers LP MA

mtnmom@gci.net



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Marie, thanks for your reply. We started PB last night. 1/4 of 16 mg. tablet every 12 hours. After the first dose was given at 6p.m. she slept  pretty much until her first seizure at 2:45 a.m.,then another at 4:30 a.m., then the last at 6a.m. That's the way it goes they are always after midnight???? We will give her her first dose for today at 9 a.m. so we can give her the second at 9 p.m. so maybe we can get some sleep. Our patience is wearing thin due to no sleep.
Yes I would be glad to take your suggestions about supliments and food.
Thanks,
Mike

Answer
The seizure meds need to build a blood level....Tonight may be better for you !!!!  I sure hope:

As for foods and supplements - here is what I suggest for your little kid..

1.  HOW about some better food -
Wellness ( canned ) makes some very good pup foods;  YOU can buy the canned and also get the small bites of dry Wellness.
ALSO, Innova makes a great puppy food/ small bites and some wonderful canned wet food, too.
YOU can find them at most pet stores:  MUCH better than Iams or Royal Canine dog foods.

When you make the change over - do 1/2 of the old food and 1/2 of the new food x 10 days...TO avoid shock to the system..
NEW foods can = Loose poops.
For loose poops give 1/2 teaspoon of pure canned pumpkin 1 x per day;


2.  I would love to see this baby on NuVET Plus Powder / yum yum good and you mix just 1/2 the amount into the wet and dry dog food..
She will only need 1/2 the dosage because she is so small.
Cost is about .30 cents per day/
This is an immune system booster/  EXCELLENT for the digestive system and many other body systems.  ALSO helps to prevent patella ( knee ) problems in Chi dogs.  Chi doggies have a tendency to have knee problems and luxating patellas.

NuVET Plus Powder ;
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html
1-800-474-7044  ( m-f Calif time zone)
Make sure you write down my name as your referral: Marie Peppers
order code 81098 and ask about the 15% off program...
They don't sell to the public unless you have been referred by a VET
or some pet professional ... OK

The WEB store for nuvet is here : make sure you get Powder formula -
They sell some yum yum good wafers but too big for your baby:
Need powder ....OK
http://www.nuvet.com/81098


3.
Also, I would like to see you give this baby some Silver shield 1 x per day - just a small dosage/  Wonderful to fight off any ? virus , bacterias and toxins that can hit them/  
I take this myself - Short term only - 3 months   -
here is the info:  Nature's Sunshine silver:
liquid that you hide in her food:

Small amount / child's dosage or less:

http://www.mynsp.com/nuvetpetnurse/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=4274

This is great to have around for the Humans in the family, too.
Good at virus/cold season - or when your body needs a PICK ME UP...



I sure hope my suggestions help:
Everything is safe and natural - can be used along with your VET's treatments.

Keep me posted

Marie Peppers LPN MA

ask the pet nurse

mtnmom@gci.net