seizures???

[lady and amber]

Hi did you have a look at this site http://cavalierepisodicfalling.com

It sounds just like the episodes that my dog Amber has

[mokipono]

Hi Lady and Amber, Thank you for your post. I didn't think my cav had episodic falling until I saw the video of Thistle. I'm almost positive that's what my cav has. He doesn't tilt his head or roll over but the leg extension and everything else looks the same. I'm so glad I found this forum! My vet wants to give him anti seizure meds, along with 2 different heart meds. She assured me that it would stop the seizures. But, it did just the opposite. I just didn't feel good about that and I didn't fill the last Rx.
WHAT CAN BE DONE???? IS THERE ANY MEDICATION THAT CAN HELP THE FALLING????

[Mary]

Please visit the Episodic Falling Snydrome Board and email to Dorothie. She will help you. My little girl has EFS but has had no seizures since she was about 10 months. It comes in varying degrees of intensity. Sassy's seizures or myoclonic episodes were brought on by excitement or play it seems. She was never on medication. After she was spayed and I stopped giving vaccinations she never had another episode so not sure if it was just outgrowing it or the other things that had a positive effect.

Good luck.

[lady and amber]

Hi Lady and Amber, Thank you for your post. I didn't think my cav had episodic falling until I saw the video of Thistle. I'm almost positive that's what my cav has. He doesn't tilt his head or roll over but the leg extension and everything else looks the same. I'm so glad I found this forum! My vet wants to give him anti seizure meds, along with 2 different heart meds. She assured me that it would stop the seizures. But, it did just the opposite. I just didn't feel good about that and I didn't fill the last Rx.
WHAT CAN BE DONE???? IS THERE ANY MEDICATION THAT CAN HELP THE FALLING????

Email Dorothy at cavalier episode falling she will give you lots of advise, She was very friendly and helpful when I contacted her.
I don't have Amber on any medication but had to change a lot of things we did with her, Amber`s is brought on by exercise, so we can only do short walks and never when its hot,

[WoodHaven]

I've owned two dogs with seizure disorders-- a cocker we rescued from euthanasia that started having them right after being neutered. The second was a cavalier that had major head trauma and had hydrocephalus. They had grande mal seizures, total loss of consciousness, urination, drooling, defecation. They exhibited certain behaviors before an episode (hiding, spacy acting) and afterward they were frantic and exhausted.
I hope you get some answers for your cavalier.

[Karlin]

I agree that this really sounds like episodic falling. It would be very difficult for most vets to spot this -- it is rare, and pretty much affects only cavaliers. Dogs with EFS do not generally lose consciousness -- they often do just what you are describing.

I have some information here:

http://board.cavaliertalk.com/showthread.php?t=8883

The board on the EFS site has been discontinued but you can read what is archived. There are some medications you can try. Given that the seizures seem worse you will definitely want to try to address this. One of the EFS website contacts should be able to steer you to what to do next -- probably see a neurologist, either way. There's no test that can verify EFS, it is basically diagnosed on the basis of the episodes, so if you can video one or two, that would be helpful. Good luck and I hope you can quickly find what is going on and address it.

[mokipono]

Thank you folks for all you wonderful, and informative posts! I am grateful for all your input. I was afraid it was going to be some kind of "mystery diagnosis" where I would have to drag my poor cav from one vet to another to find out what's wrong. The more I read about episodic falling the more I can see he fits the category.
His episodes don't come on from exercise but happen merely when he's walking around the house.
Thank you again!

[molly]

EFS isn't always exercise induced and there is usually no loss of consciousness during episodes. And unless the episodes are so frequent that they impact her quality of life, they dont' usually prescribe anything for it. Check with your breeder and see if there are any other pups in her lines that have EFS. Also notify her that your dog may have it. It is important to keep her cool especially if she also has a heart condition.

[mokipono]

I guess I should have been more suspicious when our breeder skipped out of town!