I am sorry you are having to deal w/this. I can't tell you what to do---every situation is different. We have a female who is basically living on love & doing pretty well w/a rare cancer. She has truly beat ALL odds. After her 2nd surgery the hospital encouraged us to "put her down" but we were not ready & felt she was not either. She was 8 + when diagnosed & will be 12 in August. She mostly eats & sleeps & rides in her stroller each night & walks for part of her strolls. She is feisty! She is bossy! As long as she continues to fight we will be right beside her. We know she has pain because sometimes she cries softly in her sleep---but she is not ready to give up. We did have a dog about her size once (she is small) who was just like her in so many ways. He was born w/liver shunt, operated successfully & developed life-long seizures. When he was about 17 we finally had to put him down but he enjoyed such a good long life of love & adoration. The seizures were hard as we never knew if he would come out of them but we have never regretted waiting until we knew he was ready to stop fighting. My advice is watch them closely & pray you will know when his time is complete. I think they mostly tell us if we listen when the time is right. Love them & make every day wonderful.
18 years of and seizures
Hello,
My pup, Athena, is 18 years old and has a seizure disorder. She started on 2x a day medication to control them about three years ago and is now at 3x a day. Without on-time medication she basically has seizures non-stop. Her day consists of sleeping. She is up for 20 minutes in the morning and about an hour around dinner time. She eats some and drinks as well. Her hearing is gone and her vision is limited. She's a sweetheart but her quality of life is in question. Anyone else had this situation with their senior pup? I guess I'm waiting for her to have breakthrough seizures to make a decision about adding more medication (if that's possible). Any advise?
My pup, Athena, is 18 years old and has a seizure disorder. She started on 2x a day medication to control them about three years ago and is now at 3x a day. Without on-time medication she basically has seizures non-stop. Her day consists of sleeping. She is up for 20 minutes in the morning and about an hour around dinner time. She eats some and drinks as well. Her hearing is gone and her vision is limited. She's a sweetheart but her quality of life is in question. Anyone else had this situation with their senior pup? I guess I'm waiting for her to have breakthrough seizures to make a decision about adding more medication (if that's possible). Any advise?
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I also have had two dogs with epilepsy. One's seizures were not severe or frequent. The other was having more trouble after about 5 years and any decision was taken away from me due to a fence that came down in a storm. I felt so bad about that.
Have you asked your vet whether there are other drugs, or combination of drugs, that are less sedating?
I agree with Sandi (Edelweiss) - you know your dog, and are the best person to decide. Many hugs to you. {{{{{}}}}}
Have you asked your vet whether there are other drugs, or combination of drugs, that are less sedating?
I agree with Sandi (Edelweiss) - you know your dog, and are the best person to decide. Many hugs to you. {{{{{}}}}}
Thanks for the response. I take her out in the buggy also. Sometimes she walks. When she's awake Athena is feisty too (even when she's wobbly). She just keeps hangin in there. lol Best to youI am sorry you are having to deal w/this. I can't tell you what to do---every situation is different. We have a female who is basically living on love & doing pretty well w/a rare cancer. She has truly beat ALL odds. After her 2nd surgery the hospital encouraged us to "put her down" but we were not ready & felt she was not either. She was 8 + when diagnosed & will be 12 in August. She mostly eats & sleeps & rides in her stroller each night & walks for part of her strolls. She is feisty! She is bossy! As long as she continues to fight we will be right beside her. We know she has pain because sometimes she cries softly in her sleep---but she is not ready to give up. We did have a dog about her size once (she is small) who was just like her in so many ways. He was born w/liver shunt, operated successfully & developed life-long seizures. When he was about 17 we finally had to put him down but he enjoyed such a good long life of love & adoration. The seizures were hard as we never knew if he would come out of them but we have never regretted waiting until we knew he was ready to stop fighting. My advice is watch them closely & pray you will know when his time is complete. I think they mostly tell us if we listen when the time is right. Love them & make every day wonderful.
So sorry about the fence and thanks for your response. I waited too long for my first maltese and regret keeping him hanging on. I guess each pup has a unique story. Thanks for the response.I also have had two dogs with epilepsy. One's seizures were not severe or frequent. The other was having more trouble after about 5 years and any decision was taken away from me due to a fence that came down in a storm. I felt so bad about that.
Have you asked your vet whether there are other drugs, or combination of drugs, that are less sedating?
I agree with Sandi (Edelweiss) - you know your dog, and are the best person to decide. Many hugs to you. {{{{{}}}}}
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