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Any input welcome

chloe'sdee

chloe'sdee

Well-known member
OK, where to start. About a week and a half ago Chloe started this strange what appeared to be seizure like behavoir. She looked like she was drunk, or spinning. Almost as if she was dizzy and would just fall over. This lasted for hours, until she went to bed. I brought her to the vet the following day, they did blood work, and sent me home with stuff to bathe her with, something to take the front line off of her that I applied the night before the episode. That was the only thing I could think of to link this to.
The next week and a a half she's been fine. Last night about 5:30pm she started again, my first reaction was to video her, because it's a hard thing to explain. She is responsive, almost crazy energetic, but will have moments of falling over. When she is still she appears dizzy her head spins in a circular motion. So I decided to call the vet and they stayed open for me and I thought, I hope they will see her like this to help me figure out what is going on. Yes they saw her like this, but the answers weren't there. Maybe she's having a type of mild seizure, is what he told me, I want to give her vallium. Me, not being the yes Dr. type of person, questioned him until he changed his mind. I believe treating a symptom is to cover what is really wrong. He didn't know what's wrong, he told me I could bring her to get tested for neurological problems. But he also decided that this could happen if she ate something in the back yard. OK I decided to wait and see instead of rush around spending money trying to find whats wrong.
I read for hours last night, and continued this morning, until I found EFS. Now she doesn't display the severity of the dogs in the videos, but to me it's the only thing that makes sense. I do see some things similar. I feel very confused. I was just looking for some feed back. I was trying not to sit here and cry. She's only 6 months, I feel helpless, we love her soo much, as you all understand fully. Today she is fine, but sleepy, which is not unusual for her at all. Thank you for listening, you all always have the nicest things to say.
 
How terrible i can just imagine how upset and worried u must be. Sorry cant help but i think i would be keeping an eye on her if it happens again i would be making them do something if ur not happy then i would go get a second oppion.
let us know what happens.
 
Hi Dawn

I was just going to suggest looking into EFS. The symptoms vary widely in severity. My tri girl Sassy who is now 2 had the "seizure" type episodes from about 4 months to 10 months. She was spayed at 7 months, I stopped giving any vaccinations other then her rabies. I have no idea of these two things altered her condition but we have not had any more myoclonic spells. Her episodes varied greatly in intensity from the first noted one when I thought she would go to heaven to mild "fall over" for a few seconds and get back up to episodes that appear much like seizures with her front legs rising over her head and occurring 1- 3 times at one episode. Her episodes were triggered by excitement. She would be running and playing with the others and go into a myoclonic episode. I watch her closely now in heat as that may also trigger an episode. I highly recomment the EFS board. It is http://cavalierepisodicfalling.com/bulletin_board.html . The moderators of that board are very knowledgeable and helpful.
 
I am sure you are very worried. Its so hard when our babies are sick and we dont know what's wrong. People on the board have wonderful advice and are very supportive. Hopefully someone can help you! Good luck!
 
I am so sorry ,i do hope it will get sorted,i hate it when my fella gets sick,it makes my tummy turn.My old Lab. had an attack like that,he just started to stagger and bounce of the walls,it was very dissturbing to watch,they never found out what happened and it never happened again.
 
oh goodness Dawn this is very frightening for you.

I'm glad that you didn't just go ahead with the valium - I do not think it's right to give something like that when they don't know what's going on...

It does sound like episodic falling - the only other thing that springs to mind would be an heart Arrhythmia but I'm guessing they will have checked her heart?

Sending you and Chloe hugs, I hope you manage to get a diagnosis, I think we always feel better if we can put a label to it.

The only other thing that occurs to me is Myasthenia Gravis http://www.vetspecialists.co.uk/06_Animal_Welfare/Neurology_Facts/Myasthenia_Gravis.html - might be worth reading up on this too?
 
Thank You all so much for the kind words.

I do choose to wait and see. I feel that I would need to go into a vet apt with as much wisdom as possible. Knowledge is power and that is what you all give to me. If the Dr isn't very familiar with Cavalier issues then it's my job to do the research. I read on and off most of the day, and now I can better understand what to look for.
Thanks again, I will keep you all posted.
 
I`m so sorry to read your post it sounds just like what my girl Amber has, I found that her attacks happen after she had been walked or is stressed in any way, her`s started when she was just 3 months old she is now three. we have spoken to our vets but they don't have a clue as to what is wrong with her, I found this site and they have been a great help, hope Chloe gets better soon.
Lynne

hhttp://cavalierepisodicfalling.com
 
I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. It sounds very baffling. Hope you find some answers.
 
Fron your description, it does sound like EFS which can vary greatly in severity and types of seizures. I have several articles as well in the Health section of the Library section of this site. There is ongoing research. I would join the episodic falling board and try to find a specialist who knows this condition. It is worth trying to do something for it I think as the seizures can be controlled in some cases. The problem is this isn't a condition where something like a blood test will tell you what is wrong; it is diagnosed from symptoms, so it probably isn;t a good idea just to wait and see rather than looking actively for a specialist familiar with the condition, if you can (at least that would be my approach).

In a good number of cases, researchers say the dog will have these seizures typically from about 4 months to a year then just stop having them. I've heard of several dogs like this. Why this happens isn't understood at all. Other dogs will have this over a lifetime and like SM, it can vary greatly in severity. Some researchers believe there may be a connections between SM and EFS while others feel there is no connection.

The woman who runs the website and the board others have mentioned is wonderful and I strongly recommend getting on that to talk to others as you will find a lot of people with a good working knowledge of symptoms and treatment. :flwr:
 
Oh Dawn, my heart goes out to you and Chloe. I know how I would feel if this was happening to one of my dogs. This must be terribly distressing. I would have reacted the same way when the vet suggested valium for a condition that was undiagnosed. I hope you get some answers on this. I know almost nothing about EFS so I must now go & read that link Karlin has offered there. I sure hope that if this is what Chloe has it is easily managed.

:hug: Hugs for both of you.
 
Karlin,
Of course that's how I found a clue to what might be wrong with Chloe in the first place, is your health articles, so very helpfull you are:). I feel this website is a gift, and I do rely on reading old threads and different experiences from you all. I know it's my responsablity to find out what I can to better our chances of figuring out what's really going on. Thank You all for your kindness and concern.
xoxo Dawn
 
i'm so sorry that this is happening to you and chloe. it's so upsetting when something is wrong with our furbabies and it must be very frustrating that your vet hasn't been able to help. you've done the very smart thing by researching and questioning---you'll find a solution! i don't know anything about these conditions, but i'm sure you can find help on the EFS boards to show your vet, or better yet find a specialist or at least a vet more knowledgeable about cavalier health in your area. good luck and hugs to you and chloe.
 
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