Stress causing seizures in older dogs

[ttfr]

Hey you guys,

I am down at my parents and apparently last night our eight year old chihuahua mix named tacobell had another seizure type episode. Basicaly what happens is that she gets over loaded with stress.
The first time we thought it was a fluke or a vaccine reaction. She got her new shots, shook the entire time, and once home she was still shaking and ended up freezing up on my dads lap. I posted this episode a while back with recomendations not to do vaccines anymore.
The second time she was just hanging out with my dad...no people. nothing out of the ordinary. Dad just looked over and she was stiff and couldn't walk.
The third time happened last night when everyone was here having a cook out. We've had tons of cook outs and usualy the dogs are fine. taco loves laps! But she was sitting by my aunt and my aunt looked over and taco fell over and frooze up with her paws over her face shakking.

Mom and me are going to the vet next month some time (have to figure out a good time and get a good paycheck) to get the cats rabbies and distemper updated. Were going to bring taco to get checked out.

But what do you think could be causing her to freeze up and seize? Could it be Canine Stress syndrome, or late age epilepsie? Low Glucose? If need be, I am willing to give her shots at home, pills, etc etc and teach my mom in order to keep her stress free and happy.

Taco's the dog i would put in the basket to my bike and go out to lunch as a kid. She's my canoe dog who is the captain and i'm the private. She's my girl.

[Heather]

This is simple....get that dog to a vet. There are not half the problems getting a good work up and a knowledgeable vet for dogs as there are for ferrets. No questions. No guessing....this needs a vet. It could be something as simple as epilepsy (common in chihuahuas, so I was informed while watching one do exactly that one day....a bit disconcerting but the owner wasn't fased at all , the dog was on meds, the owner had all the tricks), it could be horrible stuff too. So, no messing with this one. A vet. I would guess that you're going to need meds but again, that's a vet's call.
ciao

[Heather]

Oh, just thought of something....8 yrs old isn't old for the breed either. Those dogs live forever.
ciao

[Sherry]

Definitely needs a vet visit, and a blood workup. Epilepsy simply needs daily meds, and then they are usually fine.

[ttfr]

Yup..I thought it was still june. Were taking her possible next week or the week after depending which paycheck I get this week.

I'm calling tuesday to figure out if they could sedate her before getting her into the vet. The first time she shook the entire time and refused to walk into the vet.

Eight is old for us atleast. All our animals ended up passing before ten due to health problems. Our goldie had a bad heart and after being paralyzed on one side we decided to put her down. She was only 8-9. We had a cat named sam who after my sister left got really ill. The vet did the work up and found nothing wrong. We gave him meds...but he just went downhill untill he died in my arms while taking him to the vet to be put down. He was only 6-7. A kitten got killed in a accident at 5 months which now has us double looking at car tires, washing machines, dryers, and anything a cat could go in. So...honestly. I am nervious at taco being 8. It hasn't realy been anything we do wrong..just we take the pets no one wants.

But yeah. Could a dog be hypoglycemie?

How would you guys deal with the stress of going to the vet?

[Deleted]

Maybe try some Rescue remedy?

[Deleted]

I went with through this with our last dog, a Bassett hound. we adupted her from the shelter when she was 8. by 9 she was haven the same issue. here is what u do: call and let your vet know. most vets will then tell you for the next couple of episodes you will time it, write it down, write what he was doing at the time, and how acting now. the Most important is to time them. take the paper to the vet. this is easily treated with meds once he is on the correct dose. my girl lived to be 14 and had to be euthanized to to a tumer growing on her heart.

[Deleted]

You can ask the vet to give you a dose of gravol (to be used as a sedative) or if you can pick up some sedatives before taking her to the vet if she's really that stressed but honsetly I wouldn't risk it. You have no idea what's causing the seizures and any stress the dog's going to go through at the vet is far less dangerous than her not being checked out.

Yes hypoglycemia can cause seizures but but this is fairly rare in dogs.
Could be epilepsy, which can be very easily managed with medicine twice a day.
Unfortunately seizures that appear as they get older can also be an indication of a brain tumour, but the seizures can be managed with medication.

Either way, definitely get the dog to a vet asap. She's coming out of the seizures now, but if you allow them to progress it can get to the point where the seizures are so bad, they need drugs to come out of them. Remember you don't breathe during a seizure and loss of oxygen for too long is not good all around.

Plus if they're not home when it happens, there's no guarentee she'll come out of it. I had a friend (human) die from epilepsy because he just didn't start breathing again after a seizure I think we take seizures too lightly, but they are actually incredibly dangerous.

[Deleted]

Chihuahuas, as puppies, are incredibly vulnerable to blood sugar disorders (mostly hypoglycemia) and I dont see why that and/or other blood sugar issues wouldn't be something to worry about in adult/seniorhood either (Id peg 8 as less than middle age, the average chihuahua lives to be like 20). It doesnt seem like those are stress situations for her.... I would be looking into medical issues first. Your parents should get a complete blood work done on her and make sure an indepth blood sugar is included. She def needs a vet check up.. I mean, it could also be something like (god forbid) a tumor- you know? Or something completely different... I wouldnt jump to stress as a cause (especially if most of her attacks occured in non-stressful situations) until I've ruled out all the medical things it could be. Its easier for us to think "oh its just stress" but its better to rule out illnesses that are harder for out hearts to grasp, while theres still time to fix them if they are the cause- you know?