[tidbitonebox]

I have a fixed 13 yr old female mini schnauzer. She had a grand mal seizure a month ago (at 2 am). Took her to the vet, had a complete blood panel done. Nothing. She has been very healthy up til now. Last night (2 am) she had another seizure. This one lasted a little longer and was more violent. She is weak in the back end some and her coordination is a little off. Last night she was having trouble picking up her front feet to walk, like she couldn't feel them, especially on her left side. She lays on her left side during each seizure. Years ago I took her off of commercial dog food due to an apparent intolerance to grains. At the time there was no grain free dog foods. I make all of her food except one little grain free treat. That one is Nutro crunch treats, grain free. Her breakfast consists of a granola ball I make her - oats, molasses, peanut butter, ground flax seeds. Her dinner I also make her - Deer ( I process this myself), chicken gizzards, green beans, peas, carrots, calf liver, chick peas, beets, a multi vitamin, a joint supplement, alfalfa tablet. All cooked, all ground. Refrozen into dinner sized servings. Fed in two servings. Her weight is spot on, her blood work for the last three years has been fine. Her shots are up to date. She is walked on a leash, no toxins that we are aware of. She does constantly want to eat dirt. We keep her from it as much as possible. Vet said no parasites or worms. No flea treatments, she is bathed weekly. She does have cataracts, has for several years now. But that is a schnauzer thing supposedly. The vet does not want to put her on meds unless the seizures are more frequent due to her age. I hate watching her go through it. Then dealing with the restlessness and daze that she goes through the following day. I know I am over involved with my dog. But she is my fur child. Please help.

 

[Dawnben]

Is it possible he is getting into some cat food some where? it is notorious for food dye which can cause seizures.

 

[Grabby]

I've had two dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. One was eventually euthanized as we could not control the seizures without medicating him to the point he had no quality of life. The other dog lived a long life, seizure free, once we got the meds figured out, with our vet's guidance. I know how scary this is and I'm sending you lots of good thoughts that your dog will be ok.

 

[Aspen726]

I don't have any experience with seizures myself. From what I've read though, they can be tricky and hard to pinpoint a specific cause. Sending positive thoughts your way!

 

[harleyboysmom]

I had a shepherd, same thing. He was up in years, 12, he started having them, and my vet also said if on meds at his age wasn't good for him.

I'm not discouraging, but I hope they subside for you.

 

[Calioutlaw1a]

Unfortunately the most likely cause for seizures in an old dog with progressive neurologic signs is a brain tumor. A brain MRI would be the best test to look for this, or any other cause. Rarely old dogs are diagnosed with late-onset idiopathic epilepsy, but this is not the case for your Schnauzer as she is showing abnormalities other than seizures now.
I'd talk to your vet about starting her on a trial of a steroid like prednisone to help with any swelling/inflammation in the brain, and a seizure medication. Especially if you aren't going to move ahead with a brain MRI to confirm a diagnosis.
I wish you and your girl the best