Mar 5, 2024

A Different Type of Seizure

 


Hailey had been recovering nicely from her calcium drop. She was back to her old self and we were continuing to enjoy our Spring weather. I took this picture of Hailey on Sunday afternoon. Everything was ok. 

At 7:30pm, Hailey had a seizure. She went down on her side quick. She was stiff with legs shaking. It didn't last long, maybe 15 seconds. Then she got up and walked across the room to my husband who gave her a little treat. Nowadays, treat means one piece of her low fat gastro food. She then walked under my desk got in her bed. Maybe 5 minutes later, another one hit her just like the last one. She slid out of her bed.

The next 4 seizures were maybe 10 seconds long. She would be either sitting or laying down with her head up. Each time she would start shaking and her head would twitch or jerk to one side. These all happened within half an hour. We took her to the Emergency Vet who is used by her thyroid doctor. 

While driving over, Hailey was quiet. Not moving around which is unlike her. She would shift, take a deep breath and then become very still. I really thought that this was it. When we arrived and went in, I was clutching her so tightly, I just didn't want to let go. As with every Emergency Vet, they terrify you with everything horrible that could be going on and at one point giving us the option to end things here and now for her. I was in tears, my husband said no, we are not giving up on her without knowing what's going on.

They kept her overnight during which they took chest x-rays, did blood work and started an IV.  The next morning the regular doctor, who was more likeable than the overnight vet, called. She said that they started her on anti-seizure medications overnight. She said Hailey had not had any more seizures. She said that Hailey has a stage 3 heart murmur and that there is also fluid in her belly that was noticed on the chest x-rays. She said there could be a cancerous tumor on her liver or other cancer in there causing the fluid. Her heart is slightly enlarged and that also might be causing the fluid. They also started her on heart medication overnight. She said the seizures could have been caused from her heart issue causing mini strokes or a neurological cancerous tumor. 

They had a laundry list of every test, scan, MRI that they wanted to run. When it came down to it, based on her age the Vet said that they wouldn't change how they are treating her. It would just give us answers. Well, we are not putting her through anything unless treatment would change. The quality of Hailey's life is worth much more than quantity at this point.

We picked her up Monday afternoon and she was her happy self again. Clearly the meds were helping her feel better. As we were driving home, Dr. Burney her thyroid doctor called. He didn't hear the heart murmur two weeks before, neither did our primary vet Dr. Johnson. Dr. Burney apologized for not catching the heart murmur, again discussing testing that could be done to give us answers. Based on what Hailey displayed during the seizures, he believes it is a brain tumor. He said our options are limited to radiation. We know all about this having been through it with Lucie. We learned and given Hailey's age, we do not want her enduring the testing and procedure involved to extend her life a few months. He said a pup with a brain tumor has 3 to 6 months. Quality of Hailey's life is most important.



That's my Hailey. Enjoying life and making funny faces. If you thought my Hailey was already spoiled, you can only imagine how spoiled she will be now.



For my reference, Hailey's new medication consists of Levetiracetam 250 mg, 3/4 tablet 3 times a day and Vetmedin (Pimobendan) 2.5 mg, 1/2 tablet in the morning and 1 full tablet 12 hours later. Dr. Burney also wants her to stay on Rimadyl instead of switching to Galliprant which our primary vet wanted. Dr. Burney believes that Rimadyl provides better pain relief than Galliprant. Plus her blood test all looked fine so he sees no reason why she cannot stay on it right now. If anyone is still reading our post at this point, have you ever had two trusted Vets disagree on a med and if so, how did you handle making the decision. This is a first for us. 









Feb 24, 2024

Hypocalcemia

 

We have been enjoying a lovely early Spring here. Sunny weather in the 70's. No crazy freezing cold weather. It just couldn't get better. Both girls were doing great.

Then all of a sudden last weekend, Hailey wasn't well. Couldn't keep anything down and she was doing this odd tripping thing with her back legs, yet she was still her happy self never acting sick. Wanting to eat everything. 


A Vet check Monday morning was all good. Heart sounded good and her overall check was fine. Our Vet said the only odd thing was that when they were bringing her back to us from the back, all four of her legs went out from under her and she couldn't get up. Once he helped her up, she trotted along to us. As we waited for her results, I noticed her tripping more and having more difficulties walking. Blood tests results that we received Tuesday, showed that her calcium was low. These results also showed that she has Cushing's and Pancreatitis. She was showing no clinical signs of Cushing's so nothing would be started on that front unless she starts drinking a lot of water and urinating a lot. Outside of an upset tummy, she was not acting like she had Pancreatitis but we went ahead and moved her to Royal Canin gastrointestinal low fat dry food just to be safe. Since Addie suffered from it, we know exactly what that looks like.

Since her calcium was low, we immediately contacted her thyroid doctor who wanted to see her immediately. As we were leaving for her appointment, she was having the most trouble walking. Dr Burney at VSNT checked her over and did a specific blood test checking her ionized calcium which had dropped to .99. The normal range is 1.18 - 1.37. He said it was Hypocalcemia that was causing her weakness which is why she was tripping and having a difficult time walking. He found no other issues outside of the low calcium. He said if it would have been just a bit lower, he would have admitted her. He said that he has seen this happen before. The dog is doing great and then the calcium just drops. No rhyme or reason to it. He increased her calcitriol to help correct her calcium.

Dr. Burney said the increase would take 2-3 days to see a change in her. Tuesday evening was her worst evening. She hardly walked at all and at times I could see she wanted to walk but couldn't. It was awful. But the next morning she was already improving and by the next day she was doing so well again.


Taken today, one week after Hailey started to not feel well. 
Well done, Hailey!