confusing episodes with my dog

Question
I have a 8 month old chihuahua.She weighs about lbs and is very active.Last month she had 3 of these episodes.It only happens when she is asleep.she starts screaming like she is in extreme pain...its the worst sound I have ever heard.She looks like she is dead as she doesn't move...body is just laying there. When she does start to move she wobbles like a newborn.She never shakes or convulses.the whole episode lasts only about 5 min and then she is fine.Runs around and acts like she is no longer in pain.The only thing different was that 3 days prior to the first episode, I had given her the first dose of revolution. She also went into heat for the first time this week. Other than those two things nothing has changed and she has not been injured.My vet seems puzzled and I was wondering if you have heard of this before or have any suggestions.Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me.

Answer

Hi Laurie,

It's really impossible for anyone to guess at what the problem is. You need to have your dog examined by a vet to rule out the possibility of a seizure disorder. Not all seizures have the dog falling over, shaking or foaming at the mouth. Many seizures are very subtle, a dog can be temporarily paralyzed, or also make sounds.  After a seizure the dog will act is a way that's similar to what you've described. Called the "Post-Ictal Phase" of a seizure, a dog will seem to be disoriented. This period of confusion can last for a few minutes, or several hours, and then the dog will act totally normal as though nothing has happened.

Until you see your vet, if your dog has anymore episodes, take note of the date and duration of the event. Five minutes would be a very big seizure, if the duration of past episodes has really been that long, it's a serious concern.

This doesn't sound like a reaction or Revolution, a reaction probably wouldn't have happened 3 days after it was applied, but your vet can also rule that out. Being in heat wouldn't cause the problem either, though you should have had your dog spayed before the onset of her first heat cycle. If your vet confirms that this is a seizure disorder, you should have your dog spayed. Seizure disorders can be passed down, so you wouldn't want to breed puppies predisposed to a seizure disorder.

If you are having trouble afford vet care, first talk to your regular vet, ask if he or she will let you work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. If you don't have a regular vet, try calling all the vets in your community, some might be cheaper than others. Ask friends and family to lend you the money necessary for the office visit, you may be able to get an advance on your salary if you explain the situation to your employer.

Another option is to contact your local shelter or Humane Society. Some shelters operate or know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. If you happen to live within driving distance to veterinary school, check with them to see if they offer discount services to the public. There are two special credit cards to apply for which help with medical bills (including veterinary bills) read about them here:

http://www.carecredit.com
http://www.healthcard.citicards.com

Best of luck,
Patti