[Erin]

Well, Daisy started having episodes again, even though we thought the Temaril-P was working. She had gone 4 months (the longest ever) without an episode but in the past few weeks she's had 4 so we're off to vet #6 this coming week. Please pray that we can get this figured out... it's been going on since we got her a year ago

 

[beaglesmom]

By episodes, I assume you mean seizures?? That has to be so scary for you and for Daisy. Sending positive thoughts for a positive solution to her problem.

 

[Erin]

They're actually not seizures as far as we can tell. We just call them episodes because we don't know what else to call them. One vet thought they could be a partial motor seizure (which I didn't really agree with... but I'm not the vet) but we tried phenobarb with no luck.

 

[Erin]

Here are some links from the original post that I did. They are videos of her epidodes.

Daisy's episode 1
Daisy's episode 2
Daisy's episode 3

They can last for hours. We've just recently started letting her go outside and eat grass and that sometimes seems to help her. But we just can't figure out what's causing it. I was going to link to the original post that I did but couldn't figure out how? It you turn up the sound you can hear the noises she makes.

 

[debannib]

OMG!! I just watched Daisy's videos for the first time tonight, and I thought I was watching my own Maggie!!!!!

Daisy does EXACTLY what Maggie does over and over; PRILOSEC or some kind of acid reducer helps!!!!!
I give her generic acid reducer (consult with your vet regarding dosage) and I hold her upright while it takes effect (ie: head up/bottom down); she and I sit on the couch with her draped over my shoulder while I hold her bottom.

Maggie is terrified during her episodes and shakes like a leaf, so I find if I hold her upright and talk to her soothingly, it helps her to calm down while the medicine takes
effect!

Good Luck....I'm gonna PM you right now.

 

[Brisen]

Have any of the previous vets actually seen Daisy during one of her episodes? If not, then maybe take a laptop with you and show him the videos. There has to be someone out there who can diagnose what's going on with her and treat it. I will pray that vet #6 is the one!

 

[weed30]

What are you feeding her now? I read your original post and you were going to switch foods.

Have you tried dividing up her food into more frequent feedings? ie, two main meals 10-12 hours apart, with a snack between the main meals and a snack before bed? By snack, I mean just a few tablespoons of food to keep her stomach from getting completely empty. The snack could be a little of her food that you held back from her main meal, or a bit of protein, like scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, or cheese.

(By two main meals, I don't mean doubling her food intake, just divide the regular amount in half for each meal.)

 

[Erin]

Deb I am going to call you today!

We are feeding her Innova (regular) right now. She gets fed twice a day but I hadn't thought about a snack,thanks!

Only one vet has actually seen an episode in person, but most of the others have seen the videos we've taken.

 

[Murphys Dad]

I hope that you can find the answer soon. It has to be distressing for both you and Daisy.

 

[debannib]

Thank you for calling today Erin!! What a wonderful doggy-parent you are to keep pursuing Daisy's problem so faithfully! Wow, six vets!

Now we'll pray that vet #6 confirms what you and I discussed. As I said on the phone, I'm waiting on pins and needles to hear a happy ending!

Blessings to you!

 

[Zookeeper]

Oh wow, I watched the videos and Violet did that about a month ago. It was very intense, she was licking was out of control and she was going after everything. We took her outside and she attacked the grass, and then threw it up, but that helped and she was fine afterward. We just assumed it was an upset tummy and she hasn't done it since.

Another thing with Vi is that when she is hurt, she's afraid. She tucks her tail and runs from us. I assume it is some sort of baggage from her previous home, but it breaks my heart. Duke and Cassie are the opposite and always come to Mommy when they aren't feeling well so Mommy can make it better.

I'll be very interested to hear what the vet has to say and if it's the same as Maggie's and if the acid reducer helps. If so, I will be sure to talk to Violet's vet, in case of any future incidents. Best of luck to Daisy! Hope this is the solution that helps her!

 

[Erin]

Thank you for your help Deb, it was wonderful talking with you and so nice to know I'm not alone!! And thank you SOOO much for your prayers

What Violet did is exactly what Daisy does (and apparently Maggie too!) it's just much more often. She's had three of these episodes in the last week. I will definitely keep everyone posted about what this vet says. Daisy will usually come running to me or daddy when she doesn't feel good, but she's so frantic sometimes during her episodes she just moves around all over the place.

 

[debannib]

OK, it's not prilosec I use....it's PEPCID. Tagamet, Axid and Zantac are all acid reducers which work the same way.

Prilosec is also used, but is newer and much more expensive; it's an acid reducer/anti-ulcer drug also. According to what I've read on the internet, none of these drugs are approved by the FDA for use in dogs, but are prescribed by vets as 'extra label' drugs. I buy my generic pepcid over the counter, but had asked my vet to recommend a dosage. The typical dosage is .25 to .5mg/pound

 

[Murphys Dad]

Originally Posted By: debannibOK, it's not prilosec I use....it's PEPCID.

Make certain that it is Pepcid Original, not AC or Complete. I don't have the information right in front of me but, as I recall, there are ingredients added to the others that are not good for our pups and/or are stronger than the original. Maggie is on generic Pepcid Original -- she gets one pill a day which I believe is 10 mgs. (she weighs 18 lbs.).

 

[debannib]

Yep, My Maggie also takes 10mg

 

[Erin]

Eeek! I got Pepcid AC, I'll have to get the regular kind. She's only had 3/4 of a pill so far.

Ok... so here's the long story from yesterday. Originally Daisy's appt. was supposed to be this Friday but she started having some other problems so I changed it and went yesterday afteroon. Here's the story from the new vet visit:

I explained to him everything that has been going on and all of the many tests/meds that we've tried. I also showed him the videos that we have of her. He told me that he'd never seen anything like it and really wasn't sure what it was, but that we have some options. First he's going to get in contact with an internist that he knows at Auburn University and be a go-between for us. Woo hoo! He's also going to show our video to some other vets and get their opinions.

He didn't seem absolutely convinced that it could be all related to acid reflux. He said that he would have expected that the specialist who did the endoscopy would have seen damage to her esophagus and the specialist specifically wrote on her evaluation that she didn't see damage. However, the new vet also said that it didn't mean she didn't have it at all so we've started her on Pepcid twice a day as a preventative. We're going to give it 2 weeks and see if it helps.

He also said that it could very well be allergy related. Originally we thought we could not get her allergy tested while she was on the Temparil-P, but he assured us that we could if we wanted. We just have to make the company doing the testing aware that she is on a low dose of steroid. So that is another option for us. It's possible all of the drainage and mucus is being caused by an allery. We also, in line with the allergy thought, have gotten a bag of Prescription Z/d food which is supposed to be allergen free.

Our other option with him is to do an x-ray of her skull to get a view of her sinuses. He said that it's a possibility that she has some kind of chronic sinus problem or even a polyp/tumor in her sinuses. That's something that we could have done at his office. They would have to sedate her, but that's not too bad.

So anyway, after vet #7 (yep, not 6 like I originally thought), we're moving forward slightly. woo hoo!! I'm just grateful to God that Jason and I are both working now so that we can afford to comfortably try new things for her!!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and I will keep you posted!!!

 

[Murphys Dad]

I know it must be a relief to at least find a vet who has some ideas, at least diagnostically. Re the Pepcid: I get the generic Pepcid original (called famotidine) in a bottle of 60 tablets at Publix. The original is a bit hard to find.
I know our pups get almost everything that a human can get so thought I would share that I had a sinus infection last May -- it made me so nauseous that I couldn't stand up. Doctor said that the nausea was from a huge amount of nasal drip. If something similar is happening to Daisy, maybe nausea is making him gag/throw up froth, etc. Keep the updates coming!

 

[Murphys Dad]

Thanks for the update. I hope you're finally on the path to a correct diagnosis of Daisy's problem. You're a very good beagle mommy.

 

[Erin]

Thanks Judy!! The Pepcid AC's active ingredient is famotidine, so I guess it's ok then! Phew!

We've really considered a sinus problem, so maybe that will be our next adventure.

 

[debannib]

I'm always happy to hear when a vet looks at the most obvious things first; sounds like your new vet is open to listening to your experiences and allowing your input!! (Always a PLUS in my mind)

I'm continuing with prayers, and excited to hear how darling Daisy progresses on her new meds. If she has allergies, I'm sure you'll find them, and perhaps we'll all learn something new to help our own pups with hard-to-diagnose problems.

Judy and Maggie have certainly been through a lot of testing, trials and vet visits too! Judy is a wonderful resource if you need to bounce ideas off someone.

I'm always a phone call away, if I can do anything to help, and perhaps your experiences will help another beagle here on the board!

Keep the updates coming......