Very worried....seizure or tremor??

[BoxerDudz811]

I really hope someone out there can give me some info because I am a nervous wreck. Just about a half hour ago my boyfriend and I were sitting here watching tv and Dusty was sleeping under the covers beside us. I saw the covers start to move a little bit so I lifted them up and his was shaking really fast. It seems to be what people describe as a head tremor. I was so upset I left the room. My boyfriend said he got up while he was shaking and sorta stumbled around and then leaned on a chair. Then, he sorta just slumped down and rested his head on the chair and was kinda kicking, but not thrashing as I've heard people describe seizures. He then got up and stopped shaking but was really out of it, just walking around and acting strange. He was alert through all of this and even sat down when my boyfriend told him to. We have an appt. with the vet tomorrow but I would really like some peice of mind before then. Was it a seizure or just a tremor? I've read about both and it seems that Dusty had something in between. He seems fine now, just a little tired. I gave him a few cookies just in case it was low blood sugar which I am praying it is. If anyone knows what this may have been please let me know. Thank you all so much!

Melissa

 

[Shotze's Mom]

I have personally seen seizures range anywhere from a blank stare to a full body convulsion. There may be a swimming motion of the front legs, stiffness or other forms of muscle convulsions. Some can loose control of bladder and bowels and foam at the mouth. The GOOD news is...it can be controlled with meds. I know its frightening to watch, but remember to not put your hands near their mouth because they may bite and not mean to. If it happens again just watch your baby closely and document ANY behavior for the vet.
I wish I could help more, but thats about all I know. Good luck and keep positive. Your baby should be fine.

sending boxer kisses and positive vibes your way

Kat and Shotze

 

[Jazz&Thumper]

My first boxer started to have seizures about a year before he passed. He would just fall over and tremble, then lose his bladder. He was always soooo tired when it was over. It was one of the saddest things to watch. Just try to comfort them as much as you can. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please update this with a post after you go to the vet.

Steph & Randy
Jazz & Thumper

 

[John&Edith]

Hi Melissa,

We are going through the same sort of thing right now, and unfortunately, the cause can be many many things. We've done the blood tests and the head X-ray so far and are considering taking Portia (3 1/2 yr. old female) to the vet school at our state university. She started out with "spells" of just dipping her head and staring at nothing with a glazed look in her eyes. We noticed she started to bump into things every now and then. The blood test revealed high calcium levels which are an indication of a tumor of some sort. Now, and it's funny you should write today, last night she had her first full blown seizure out on the deck. From what I'm reading, the worst part of a seizure is the way it looks. She just started staggering sideways and fell into a chair. Her limbs then stuck straight out real rigid like for about 10 seconds. Our vet said all he could do was the blood work and the X-ray because the MRI and CT scan equipment are to expensive for local vets. We are now seriously considering shelling out the 600.00 to 2000.00 for the university check up. I'm sorry I can't give you any better advice or good news, but it could also be something as simple as allergies. Like I said, after a lot of reading on the internet, it seems this can be caused by a mulititude of things and finding out what it is exactly can be time consuming and very expensive.

Good luck and I really feel your pain.

 

[kpdangermouse]

melissa,

that is a rough thing to watch. my english springer spaniel had seizures. he was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 3. they started out mild, but over the course of a year, became quite severe. his last seizure lasted almost 24 hrs..he had to go to the emergency vets and have all sorts of drugs pumped into him to get him to "snap out of it". after that he lived a long happy life, he took phenobarbital daily (no liver problems) and recently passed at the age of 14, from unrealated causes.
it's a painful thing to watch, but hopefully your vet will run some tests, and find out what is causing the problem quickly. there are many causes of seizures...with low blood sugar being one of them. in my case, we never found out the cause of macintosh's seizures, but deducted that his problem was hereditary.

if you havent already, check out this website:
http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/basics/basics_index.html

good luck to the both of you

kelly & jezebelle

 

[JadeLynn]

seizure or head tremor

My 1 1/2 year old Boxer kinda did the same thing. We took her on vacation for the first time a couple of weeks ago. She would sit on the sofa and her head would start nodding like a "no". SHe did it a lot there and a few times after we got home. I've researched and taken her to the vet. My vet said it is common in some breeds and something usually triggers it. In our case, I think it was the vacation. She would only do it when she was sleeping or resting. It would last 2-4 min. She was completly alert, could walk around, look in our eyes, wag her tail, etc. Our vet said that unless they progress, not to worry about them too much. I took her to the vet. for bloodwork "just in case" and something showed up in her kidneys. Nothing to do with the head tremor. We have her on antibotic right now and are weaning her off of her meds. for her awful allergies. Then we have to test her again. It could be as simple as an infection, or much worse. I've just been praying really hard. My vet also said that head tremors and seizures are the same. Head tremors are just more focal. She called them focal seizures. I know how scary all of this, trust me, I'm going through the same thing. I would definitly do the bloodwork and exam. Good luck.

 

[peesha]

Thyroid disease is a fairly common cause of seizures and, although some vets may be reluctant to test the thyroid unless there are more symptoms of thyroid disease, in many cases the only symptom of thyroid disease is seizure activity. A recent study of over 600 dogs showed that 77% of the dogs who were having seizures were hypothyroid. Be sure that your vet orders the full 6 panel thyroid test (T3, T4, Free T3, Free T4, T3 auto antibodies and T4 auto antibodies). Some vets will only test T4, and that does not give a full description of what is happening with the thyroid. The full 6 panels will show early stages of hypothyroidism (low thyroid) that the T4 alone may miss

 

[JodyO]

Can I Offer some good news? Our boxer Cole started head tremors at about a year old. We did all the tests...everything came back normal. We even videotaped an episode to show our vet. Cole could respond to us, follow commands and even use the restroom when this would happen. He would only have tremors when waking up.

Here is the good news...I found some triggers for Cole. One was that he was allergic to wheat flour in his food. he is now on an organic food called wellness. Second we were usung Febreeze in the house. Once I got rid of all traces of it, the tremors stopped. The last time it happened (6 months ago) I had had the car detailes and had an air freshner put in. Bad idea.

Anyway, I truly feel all dogs can stop this type of tremor (assuming it is not a full on seizure). you just have to find the trigger. Since she was under the covers, maybe the detergent?

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Jody

 

[kassa]

Also, some dogs have a single seizure and never have another one!

 

[hugomom1]

Same thing....

My 2 and 1/2 yr old Hugo has been having the same issues. He had them a few months ago and the vet thought maybe he got into the fertilizer. But this morning he had another one. He was standing there waiting to go into his cage and he was glossy eyed and his head was shaking like crazy. I think we are going to also take him to the State University vet hospital. The vet didn't think it was serious but I'm not chancing it!

Stacie
Hugo's mommy