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Yesterday was a great day for Spike.  He helped me bake cookies by making sure that anything spilled on the floor was cleaned up, he wrestled with Scott and chased the tennis ball, and curled up next to me on the couch.   I knew it was too good of a day,  I just knew.

Just as we were getting up to go to bed, Spike started to look around in a dazed sort of way.  He started to have a small seizure foaming at the mouth and shaking.   It only lasted a 20 seconds or so.   Then he had a grand mal seizure, which Scott was able to stop with a dose of valium.  His body stopped convulsing but he was unresponsive.  We thought he might be dead.   I wanted to get him to take a dose of clorzapate, but he  did not recognize the piece of chicken I placed in front of his face.   He eventually became aware of his surroundings, but went into an another seizure.  This was a vocal seizure where he just yapped without awareness for about 7 minutes.   Scott loaded him into the car and we took off for the animal hospital.   

On the way there Spike came out of all the seizures and was just back to normal.  For me, this is the hardest part of epilepsy how he can be normal minutes after a seizure.  We got him booked into the hospital and left him overnight.  I knew when I left him that would be the last time I ever saw him again.  

The neurologist called this morning and said that Spike had another seizure overnight and after talking with her we decided to let Spike go.   Scott went to the hospital to be with him, but I could not go.  I stayed at home and cried.

He was a great dog and will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Refractory Epilepsy

I have consulted with our regular vet and the neurologist.  I am slightly cautiously optimistic.   Both vets said that Spike is in a difficult spot, he has what is called refractory epilepsy, which means epilepsy that is resistant to drugs.  There is still hope that the Zonisamide might help.  However, the neurologist was honest and said that if the Zonisamide does not help that the likelihood of another drug combination  working is slim.  Scott and I are determined to focus on making sure Spike enjoys the life he has.  Every minute we have with Spike is a gift.

Spike standing by in case Scott does not eat his burrito.

Zonisamide

Spike came home today, which was not at all certain.  Scott and I had come to terms that Spike might not ever come again.  

Our regular Vet and the Neurologist were both unavailable due to the holiday weekend.  We have so many questions and no one to really consult with except with the ER vet, who is so busy that he really does not have the time to coddle us.  I really need some coddling right now too.

We have added 3 Zonisamide 3 times a day.   Spike is wiped out. He has been asleep almost all day.  I could not take being at home any longer and went did a little retail therapy. I bought a new couch and ton of new Christmas decorations.  

We had plans to get together with some friends tonight, but had to cancel when Spike had a 20 second focal seizure.  We called the ER Vet and he said that he not really concerned about focal seizures with most dogs, but Spike is not most dogs.   The focal seizure just made us even more nervous.  

I read a bunch of studies about Zonisamide and it does appear to be effective for many drug resistant dogs.  Crossing my fingers that Spike is one of those dogs.

Hopelessness

Spike has had 2 more seizures since being in the hospital.  We are losing hope.   If there is a treatment that will make him better, we want to give it to him.  However, we cannot continue like we are now.

A Thanksgiving Status Seizure

Progress, maybe not.

This morning at 10:44 AM, I noticed that Spike had that pre-seizure look about him.  His head was up and he was holding his body still.  He head started to shake and foaming at the mouth.  The seizure lasted 30 seconds and he never lost his feet.  Two minutes later he had a Grand Mal seizure that we stopped with Valium.   Once it was over Scott took him outside to go to the bathroom and while I was cleaning up, I saw Scott carrying Spike towards the house having another seizure.  We stopped that one too Valium and gave him 3 Clorazepate.  These seizures were not as violent as the ones in the past but they were coming close together.  Minutes later he went into a focal seizure and we loaded him in the car to head once again to the emergency hospital.

He had 2 more focal seizures in the car, he just barked constantly but he was not aware of his surroundings or of me holding him.   He is going to spend the night again.  The Vet hinted that we may need to think about whether we can keep this up.

It is so hard on Scott and I, but I have to believe that we have done everything we can.  They are adding Zonisamide to his treatment.

Focal Seizure

Last night, Spike had his first focal seizure.  It was not bad, we can deal with this.   I woke up about 3:20AM to hear Spike making this weird coughing/gasping sound.   I have since learned this is called a reverse cough.  We could not get his attention and he was not aware of us.  This lasted 2 minutes and when it was over Spike went right back to sleep.  Progress?

Potassium Bromide

The MRI and Spinal Tap came back normal, which is good I guess.

I am back in Louisville and Spike came home today.  He is a little tired, but back to normal for the most part.  We have started on him Potassium Bromide (KBr) 1250 MG once a day in additional to PB.