It seems odd to have to post this kind of update on blind-and-deaf Spinner after her happy "dining al fresco" post a few days ago, but we had a set back with her yesterday that was quite frightening. Spinner started having seizures a few months ago ... just a few of them, several weeks apart. Our vets thought her episodes were spaced far enough apart, and the seizures themselves relatively short-lived, that it wasn't time to intervene medically. Usually medical intervention happens when seizures are clustered, long-lasting (i.e., more than a minute), and are of the grand mal type in severity. So far she met only one of those tests, in that her seizures had been grand mals.
We crossed that threshold on all three counts yesterday. Fortunately, Spinner happened to be in the house when this occurred. We were having some trees sprayed in the front yard and had put all the dogs up, so Spinner was inside with us. I was working in my office when I heard all this thrashing coming from the dining room, and at first I thought it was Austin and Briggs the blind Beagles roughhousing with each other. No, it was Spinner seizuring under the dining table. Alayne and I rushed over and pulled her out from underneath, then hovered over her.
There's nothing really like watching an animal (or a person, for that matter) have a seizure and feeling so helpless. As the seconds ticked by, her convulsions increased, and we realized this was another grand mal seizure. Alarmingly, it went on for nearly two minutes. Finally, Spinner started to come out of it and her body began to quiet down, but just when we thought the seizure was over ... it started up again. She raised her feet off the ground, pressed her head down, and trembled and shook. I noticed her right eye was mostly closed, her left one open. Her body kept convulsing.
I pulled the phone out to call our vet clinic, and shortly I was talking with Dr. Jennifer Rockwell. Unfortunately, we didn't have injectable Valium on hand, so Jennifer had me start Spinner on phenobarbital once the second seizure finally quit. From start to finish, Spinner was seizuring for more than three minutes ... which is a long, long time for your brain to be shorting out.
Today Alayne drove Spinner over to Helena so Jennifer could begin some tests. I took the photo above of Spinner in the truck just before Alayne left for the clinic this morning. Our internal medicine specialist, Dr. Britt Culver, is on vacation, but he will do a neurological exam on Spinner when he returns.
In the meantime, Jennifer is equipping us with the injectable Valium in case we need to control any more of these seizures. Hopefully the phenobarbital won't make that necessary. As I write this, Alayne had just called to say she was heading up MacDonald Pass from Helena on her way home with Spinner.
Because of this latest episode, Miss Al Fresco now will be spending a lot more time indoors, under close supervision, whether she wants to or not!
Sweet, beautiful Spinner; we're so sorry you're seizures have gotten worse. We're sending you healing thoughts and hope that if medicine is prescribed for you that it's most helpful.
Hope you can return to your warm grass soon. Lots of love sweetheart.
Thank you for taking such good care of Spinner right now Steve and Alayne; she looks like she needs the extra lovin'.
Posted by: Boundforglory | August 11, 2008 at 09:38 AM
How's our sweet girl doing?
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | August 11, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Precious Spinner, I hope you feel better real soon so that you can be outdoors enjoying the summer warmth and your personalized dining service!!!
Posted by: Nina | August 08, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Boy do I know that feeling! Our wonderful foster Ruby had seizures, which were diagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy. I did my homework and we started her on potassium bromide instead of pheno. It was commonly used successfully last century to treat human epileptics. Something to talk to your vet about anyway. Happy thoughts for Spinner from the ATL beagle crew.
Posted by: Morgan | August 08, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Sweet, sweet Spinner. How I rejoiced the other day seeing you enjoying your dining in the outdoors & just living your life to the fullest. To hear this news just broke my heart. Baby girl, you are in very good hands & I know you will be outside again very soon! Get well soon & the dining room is holding your table! God bless all you!
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin - San Antonio TX | August 08, 2008 at 08:00 PM
There is something about Spinner for me - I really think she is amazing and I love reading about her and everything that you have "figured out" - how she needs a touch on the nose to come inside, etc. I sure hope they can figure out what is wrong and that it can be managed. God bless Spinner!!! She sure seems like she deserves some luck.
Posted by: Suzanne | August 08, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Poor girl, she's got a special place in my heart too. (Don't they all?) Crossing my fingers that this is something manageable.
Posted by: Rebecca Mroczkowski | August 08, 2008 at 02:27 PM
I have to hand it to you, Steve and Alayne - I read your blog every day and share your personal and emotional rollercoaster of the ups and downs with each precious family member. You seem to move on after each and every medical episode with your pets. Any illness, however small, with my own pets is very stressful for the whole household. For to live this way every day is a very special gift! You must have figured out a long time ago how to put it all in perspective.
Posted by: Glenn | August 08, 2008 at 12:33 PM
I will keep Spinner and all your wonderful animals in my thoughts. Keep your chin up Spinner!
I think what you are doing is absolutely amazing and I just told my husband we were selling the house, packing up and moving to Montana so I can work with your babies :0)
Posted by: Shawna from Milwaukee | August 08, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Lovely Spinner, I hope and pray for your return to good health soon. Steve & Alayne, it's awful to watch a loved one who is seizing. Here's a big hug for each of you, and my best wishes for all.
Posted by: Moon Rani | August 08, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Oh, poor spinner. All of the animals there are wonderful, but she has always been my favorite.
Hugs and thoughts to you all--and here's hoping with some good meds, she can live a long, happy life.
Posted by: megan rocker | August 08, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Spinner,
We hope you feel better soon and can enjoy being outdoors again. Our dog had seizures most of his life. Once they got to the point he needed phenobarb we put him on it. He never had any side effects from the medicine and it helped him A LOT. Once on phenobarb he very rarely had a seizure and when he did they were very mild. He enjoyed a long, happy, life! We'll keep you in our prayers Spinner!
Posted by: Toni | August 08, 2008 at 09:32 AM
The amazing Spinner has always owned a soft spot in my heart. Amongst an entire clan of very special creatures she has shown true spirit and humbling delight in living life with the cards she was dealt. It is gratifying to see through it all she has the love, care and loyalty of you two and the amazing vet staff. You all are in our thoughts and prayers, I seriously don't know just how you manage all your ups and downs but thank God that you both have the endless courage and determination to do so!
Posted by: Sasha | August 08, 2008 at 09:01 AM
Poor, sweet Spinner...I have only seen one grand mal seizure...when I was taking care of someone else's dog...and I felt totally helpless! At least you have great training and skills to know how to deal with this. Hopefully the meds will help and they will be few and far between. Good luck.
Posted by: Debbie | August 08, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Spinner, Get well soon.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | August 08, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Oh dear, I'm so sorry to read about Spinner's worsening condition!:-( I do hope that, with proper medical intervention, her seizures can be kept under control.
Please give her a big hug for me and keep us posted.
You're all in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | August 08, 2008 at 03:10 AM
Oh Lord, not Spinner. This dear dog has enough challenges w/o having to deal with this too. We will definately pray for her and hope that her health stabilizes. We too have an epileptic dog, Kiwi, (not on meds so far) so we understand the "helpless bystander" feeling. We send our prayers and love to Spinner. You can beat this, sweet white Angel.
Posted by: Barbara Arenal | August 08, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Good luck Spinner! You can get through this!
Posted by: Wendy | August 08, 2008 at 12:10 AM
Sorry Spinner! My girl Holly has had seizures for the past 10 years. It wasn't until 3 years ago she started phenobarb. Her seizures weren't/aren't grand mals but they last 5 minutes from start to finish. I feel so sorry for her. Watching her start the phenobarb was hard on me. She still has one every now and then but not as often as she used to before the drugs.
Keep your chin up Spinner you'll be dining outside again before you know it.
Posted by: Craig from Great Falls | August 08, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Oh my goodness. That is not good - I hope the episodes subside soon! :(
Posted by: Stacy | August 07, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Love to you Spinner--sorry for your very scary time yesterday. I'll be praying and sending good thoughts your way. You're in the best of hands. You are truly precious!
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | August 07, 2008 at 10:31 PM
We hope Spinner feels better soon!
Posted by: Karen | August 07, 2008 at 09:36 PM
You're right...there is nothing more frightening and helpless than watching an animal (or person) having a seizure. My dog, under medication, had seizures about once every 3-4 weeks; some more scarier than others; but he lived to be 14 years old and lived life to the fullest.
Posted by: Cora | August 07, 2008 at 09:25 PM
I have an epileptic dog and it is very frightening. Spinner, I hope you feel better soon. Thank you Steve and Alayne for being there for her.
Posted by: Leigh | August 07, 2008 at 08:51 PM
Hi Steve,
Sorry to hear about Spinner. My 13 yr old began having seizures a bit over a year ago. They were grand mal, lasting typically 3 minutes. Initially, they occurred sporatically, but then increased - 2 weeks, one week, 2 in one day! She takes phenalbarb daily now. The first 2 weeks on it are rough with regards to side effects, but then she acclimated. She has a seizure every couple months now. Still 3 minutes. An hour later, she is fully recovered. We keep valium on hand. Ask your Vet about administering it rectally. That may be more easily done than trying to find a vein while she is seizing. Keep us posted. It is aweful to witness, isn't it.
Posted by: Mary | August 07, 2008 at 08:39 PM
oh no. i know too well that seizures are not a good sign. my golden retriever recently passed away from a brain tumor. i an so sorry to hear about spinner and i truly hope you are able to get her stabilized and well very soon.
Posted by: maggie | August 07, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Thoughts and prayers for Miss Spinner and hopefully can find something to stop any further siezures from coming - Spinner has no time for that kind of foolishness, she needs to be outside waiting for her al fresco dining. Poor dear - thanks for taking such good and loving care of her.
Posted by: Lisa | August 07, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Spinner you are beautiful. Like you, I have a Husky mix girl who LOVES the outdoors. I hope it's not serious... Pet her on the head for us.
Posted by: Lisa | August 07, 2008 at 07:50 PM