Shit, I’ve started and stopped a post to this thread several times this past month. My vizsla is almost 11 and epileptic, but seizures were pretty controlled. Until about a month ago, when I was out of town, and he had what apparently was a huge cluster of seizures. Wife took him to pet ER and they tried a lot of things including Midolazam, keppra, and nothing worked until they did an IV with phenobarbital. Even then he was still seizing, but less often. After I got home we picked him up since I usually care for him myself, and after talking to the vet we put him on bromide as well.
Btw, pet ER can get 5k before you blink.
We got home and he was still seizing but more controlled than before. After another 24 hours he stopped and we were able to assess the damage. His back legs basically weren’t working, whether due to ataxia or neuropathy, and he was obviously in pain.
We got harnesses, slings, and went to work on therapy. For about two weeks he steadily improved. Then out of the blue, he starts dragging his paws and tripping. In addition it looks like he’s having focal seizures (he usually has grand Mals). Really weird.
Vet tells us she’s out of ideas and we should go to a neurologist. 2 hours away. So off we fucking go, get there and realize this neurologist is a fucking idiot, asking us for videos of the seizures and a log. Another 1k wasted.
At this point I contact a vet who does home euthanasia because I feel like the dog is just suffering needlessly. She comes twice, the first time I wave her off because I’m seeing some improvement. The second she gives me pain medicine for the dog, because she thinks there is probably some underlying pain besides the seizures causing the lack of mobility.
We got him on Meloxicam and so far, so good. Three anti convulsants and a pain med and I think he’s averted the rainbow bridge for now. I cried more over my dog than I have for anyone else in a long time. I really thought he was done for a few days, and I’m glad I am so stubborn and wouldn’t stop trying for him.
We don’t deserve our dogs, but we can try to live up to what they think we are.