4121. An old dog with 3 seizures. What is the cause?

16 June 2022. An old dog had 3 seizures. Why?

The owner wanted a 2nd opinion on why her dog had a 3rd seizure. She had consulted a vet who took a blood test and said there was liver disorder. He wanted further blood tests to check whether the old dog had Cushing Disease. The owner did not wish her dog to undergo more tests and so declined. 

"Blood tests are needed to check whether the dog really has Cushing Disease before prescribing medication," I told the lady owner who had consulted me when her dog was a puppy. "There are effective medication from the vet for Cushing Disease in the dog."

She had shifted far away and was busy at work. So proximity to vets was important and Toa Payoh Vets was distant from her home. So I had not seen the dog.

She ordered online two herbal supplements. One claimed Cushing Disease "treatment" and the other claimed "Skin disease" treatment. 

"Since the blood test was done one year ago," I advised a recent one to check the liver disorder. "There are many causes of seizures or fits in the older dog," I told her.  Many of the younger generation do their research on the internet and some may buy the herbal supplements to treat their dogs. In this case, I advised stopping the herbal supplements as seizures still persisted. The "skin disease" herbal supplement were of no use, as the old dog had developed a few skin warts which are part of ageing in some dogs. Warts are caused by papilloma viruses.

A blood test is accepted by the lady. She wanted vaccination for her dog. "Vaccination is best done after blood test', I advised. "The big cherry eye caused intense discomfort. Your dog has tartar on his teeth, but he has panting occasionally. No heart murmurs but the dog may have heart enlargement."

"If the old dog has good dental health and prevention of diseases, he will live another 2 years. Some small breeds live up to 20 years in Singapore," I said. 

The dog has a swollen abdomen. "He passed gases often," the owner said. The dog did pass gas during my palpation of his tense swollen abdomen.  

We will wait 7 days to ensure that the dog has his antibiotics before dental scaling. Vaccination and removal of skin warts and cherry eye procedures will be done. The owner will stop feeding beans in her home-cooked food for her dog as they may cause flatulence or farting.  We will observe for seizures to know more about the cause.

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