I was sitting in the living room about 8 p.m. last night, working on my laptop, when I suddenly heard a furious scratching noise coming from the couch. I looked over and saw blind Callie paddling her feet like crazy, her body trembling and quivering. She had been sleeping soundly just seconds before. I jumped up and put my hands on Callie to keep her from rolling off the couch. I called out to Alayne, who was in her office, and told her Callie was having a seizure.
We watched as the seizure increased in intensity, her plump little body going stiff, her legs outstretched, then pulled back again as another short-circuit sent tremors though her body. She rolled over on her side, gasping. We could tell quickly that this was definitely a grand mal seizure from the duration and the severity of it. She had peed on the couch, was foaming at the mouth, and towards the end of the seizure, she pooped.
After two minutes -- which seemed like an eternity, it always does when you're watching a seizure -- she started to quiet down. Finally she came out of it, but she was disoriented and exhausted from the physical exertion and stress of the episode.
Alayne cleaned the couch while I held Callie, and then we cleaned her up. We put her back on fresh bedding on the couch, and that's when I took the photo of her above. You can see how droopy she is from the experience.
We had never seen Callie seizure before, and given her age -- we suspect she's around 12 or so -- we were instantly worried about what this meant. Still, we have seen older dogs start seizuring later in life -- like blind-and-deaf Spinner, whose seizures are thankfully very infrequent ... while other dogs, like our blind Goldie, began having seizures early in life but then "grew" out of them. The real key is the frequency of the seizure episodes, and only time will tell.
Well, time told us this morning.
Callie had another violent seizure about 10:30 a.m., a repeat of last night. This, we instinctively knew, was a terrible sign: far too close to the first one. While Callie was in the middle of today's seizure, I called our vet clinic and talked with one of our primary care vets, Dr. Jennifer Rockwell. Jennifer asked if we had valium on hand, which we do -- an emergency stash of valium syringes for Spinner. She told us what dose to give Callie if she had another seizure today and it became uncontrollable.
Jennifer said the first step would be blood work to see if there was some kind of metabolic disturbance that could be causing these seizures. If the blood work was normal, then there might be an intercranial cause, i.e. tumors or growths. Jennifer explained that an onset in young dogs frequently pointed to epilepsy, but that was typically not the case in a dog of Callie's age.
Since I was already scheduled to head to Missoula tomorrow, Jennifer suggested I have our internal medicine specialist there, Dr. Dave Bostwick, look at Callie. As luck would have it, Dave had an opening tomorrow morning and was going to be doing CAT scans in the afternoon, so if her bloodwork is routine, we can proceed straight to a CAT scan to look for intercranial causes.
I'll post more tomorrow evening. In the meantime, please keep your fingers crossed for Callie.
My thirteen year old, 110lb lab mix is having the EXACT same kind of seizures. Ramsey had his first seizure September of 2008, since than we've had Six cycles, each containing roughly Twelve seizures and each cycle lasting an average of sixty hours, frequenting about Sixty days apart. After the first cycle, our Vet ruled out all metabolic causes which left inter cranial. Shortly there after we began Phenobarb at 48 mg per day- after the third cycle we doubled the dose. The cycles are wearing him down progressively- and I'm definitely feeling this is a brain tumor, however at his age, and being 6 hours from the nearest Vet school(NC State) we haven't been able to appropriately diagnose Ramsey. (I don't know if I want to put him through it.) He's been with me since Five weeks old, I was Seventeen and on my own when I found him - and now facing euthanasia. He is going through another cycle now. This one seems to be the hardest so far. He has had a great life with trails and bunnies and lots of awesome stuff. Yet, its really hard and I wish he'd go out in the sun and just, fall asleep. My love to your Callie.
James
Posted by: James | July 10, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Callie you have to get better you have so many people pulling for you. Thank GOD you have two special people (Steve and Alayne) to give you the best care that they can. Hugs kisses,fingers and paws crossed, and keeping all of you in my prayers!
Posted by: Kathy | March 23, 2009 at 02:22 PM
My fingers are crossed for Callie. She is such a sweetie. I'm thinking of you all.
Posted by: Shelli Smith | March 19, 2009 at 09:47 PM
Sweet baby girl...you are in good and loving hands. Bless your sweet little heart!
Posted by: Yvette | March 19, 2009 at 09:41 PM
More thoughts and prayers to all of you and hoping for a good outcome to Callie's situation.
Posted by: Leila from Washington | March 19, 2009 at 09:12 PM
My thoughts are with you and this little, funny, sweet dog with the happy tail...
Love and licks,
Libby
Posted by: Libby | March 19, 2009 at 02:58 PM
You must have felt as droopy as Callie after watching a seizure that probably seemed like it was lasting an eternity. Sending good thoughts through the Cosmos that the vets find something treatable.
Posted by: Miranda | March 19, 2009 at 01:35 PM
Oh, NO ! Callie has been my special girl ever since I saw the video of her 'playing dead'..........totally still.....except for her tail wagging a mile a minute at the sound of your voice as you attempted to rouse her for her nightly potty........she is such a sweet girl........am sending good thoughts her way today !
(((((((((( Callie ))))))))))
Posted by: Bibi | March 19, 2009 at 01:20 PM
Keeping you close to my heart and always in my prayers sweet Callie.
Big hugs and loving thoughts are coming your way.
Posted by: Beverly | March 19, 2009 at 01:14 PM
Dearest Callie,
My name is Taipooh. I am an 11 year old cocker spaniel and live with my guardians in Seattle. I have seizures, too. My paws are crossed for a best result for you and lots of healing. I should know - I'm blind, have seizures, overcame three episodes of the worst strain of mange (rescued from Taiwan), AND I'm very handsome! Love, Taipooh
Posted by: Annemarie Juhlian | March 19, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Oh my! Poor Callie! It must be horrible for her & I know what it's like to watch someone have seizures & not know what's causing it to happen! We're hoping for some news of something that's easily treatable & thank you & Alanye for taking such great care of sweet Callie. Special hugs for quick healing.
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | March 19, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Well you've got many many finger crosses and prayers from me for lil' Callie. Bless you for taking good of this little angel. I'll be waiting with much interest to see how things work out!!
Posted by: Angela | March 19, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Prayers for you, sweet Callie! We "big-boned" girls have to stick together...
Posted by: Linda | March 19, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Callie..Honey, I hope you will be ok. How scary for her and you both! I will be thinking about you today!
Posted by: Laura | March 19, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I'm so sorry to hear about Callie -I know exactly how hard that is to watch and how scary it is. At least she has you guys there to comfort her and I'm sure the doctor will figure this out - please give her a hug for me and try not to worry too much!
Posted by: Katy | March 19, 2009 at 09:37 AM
What a scare for you and Alayne to see such severe seizures in sweet Callie. This photo certainly reveals how she feels.
We're sending healing prayers to Callie. Do keep us informed on how she's doing.
Posted by: Boundforglory | March 19, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Oh, poor Callie! How scary for her! We had a severely epileptic dog, and medication barely held off the seizures. The poor little guy would get so terrified when a seizure was coming on and when it was over. And you're right, it seems like they last forever, and you feel so helpless, you can't do anything to stop them.
Posted by: Amy | March 19, 2009 at 08:49 AM
Poor Callie....I hope she will be okay. The dachshund's are my favorites, I have three doxie crosses. I will keep my fingers crossed!! Benita
Posted by: Benita | March 19, 2009 at 08:48 AM
Hang in there Callie, all paws and fingers crossed for you
Posted by: Troy and Sasha | March 19, 2009 at 05:44 AM
As everybody else, I am praying for Callie, for a sharp eye and a quick mind for the vet and peace of mind for you...
Posted by: Jessica, NL | March 19, 2009 at 04:56 AM
That round little body reminds me so much of my plump little girl, especially when she sleeps on her back!
In her dark world something like this must be really really scary - your hands and voices must be very soothing and comforting to her. Thank you for what you do - I'm thinking of you and saying a lot of prayers. Stay strong you two. And you hang in there, Callie-girl - everyone is thinking of you.
Posted by: bregda south africa | March 19, 2009 at 02:18 AM
OH,NO! Sweet Callie. You are in my thoughts & prayers. Steve & Alayne you are too! Erin & I are keeping all finger, toes & paws crossed that it is something treatable & manageable. Poor baby looks so tired & worn out.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | March 19, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Oh no, this is very sad news indeed. Poor Callie! I'll be sending lots of prayers from Canada. I hope she gets better soon :(
Posted by: Kristen D. | March 19, 2009 at 12:11 AM
I hope she is ok. I will be praying for her. The dachshunds are my favorites. I have a cripple Dachshund that started hers also, she is being tested friday. She had one last yr but not like she did this past Sunday, it lasted for 2 hrs and I had to take her to the emer. Vet, they kept her over night. I hope Callie is ok,Kika is only 4 yrs old and A rescue. She was hit by a car and her owners did not want her any more but they waited 13 days to decide and by then the vet staff had fallen in love with her. So i took her, she is great, we do dachshund rescue fund rasiers and go to the booths, she is sweet.Good luck to Callie and all your dachshunds. You guys are great. Vicky
Posted by: vicky humbarger | March 18, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Callie - and you two - are in my thoughts. Wishing for the best.
Posted by: Helen R | March 18, 2009 at 10:31 PM
So sorry to hear about Callie's seizures. Thankfully she has you and Alayne and the medical care that she needs. Prayers coming her way!
Posted by: Julie Brown | March 18, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Sweet Callie girl, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: Doe George | March 18, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Oh no, poor Callie! I shall keep her in my thoughts, and send mental hugs to her.
Posted by: Billie | March 18, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Poor old girl. Good luck at the vet tomorrow. Ev
Posted by: Ev | March 18, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Callie is in my thoughts and prayers. Get better, little one.
Posted by: Peggy Fields | March 18, 2009 at 07:40 PM
Oh poor Miss Plumpette, not you! Here's hoping this turns out to be something treatable and managable. You are such a dollie, and I will be thinking of you.
Posted by: Heidi, Panda, and Emmett | March 18, 2009 at 06:50 PM
This pup is in my prayers - along with you and Alayne~~
Posted by: sharon | March 18, 2009 at 06:46 PM
Saying a prayer and keeping my fingers crossed...
Posted by: Jamie | March 18, 2009 at 06:45 PM
Hang in there Callie girl! You will be in my prayers tonight.
Posted by: A Arsenault | March 18, 2009 at 06:42 PM
My thoughts are with you and Callie. I know you'll keep up posted. She's in good medical hands.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | March 18, 2009 at 06:25 PM
Poor thing! She looks so sad! I hope she's okay. Big hugs to you, Callie.
Posted by: JC | March 18, 2009 at 06:19 PM
I hope all works out with Callie. My ten year old dachsie started having seizures out of nowwhere. We stopped vacanation protocol and she never had another one. I hope that this turns out to be the case for Callie. If you have ever used Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, it is good to use during seizure and to help afterwards.
Posted by: Lori Leduc | March 18, 2009 at 06:18 PM
My best wishes for Callie, you and yours are held in our hearts.
Posted by: Sandra Beardsley | March 18, 2009 at 06:04 PM
OH NO! I know it's wrong to have "favorites," but Callie is my favorite. She looks just like my fat little Molly, and Callie's YouTube viral video is how I first found Rolling Dog Ranch.
I will keep my paws crossed. Please give us the update as soon as possible.
Posted by: Vickie | March 18, 2009 at 05:54 PM
Oh, goodness- I hope my favourite 'certifiably plump' girl is alright. :(
Posted by: sian | March 18, 2009 at 05:52 PM
Will be certainly crossing all fingers and toes for sweet Callie.
Love to all,
Julien (and rescue dog Verdell and rescue cat Melvin)
Posted by: Julien Sharp | March 18, 2009 at 05:44 PM
Your in my prayers Callie
Posted by: gayle | March 18, 2009 at 05:30 PM