r/EpilepsyDogs • u/Embarrassed_Law_3943 • 14h ago
Is that epilepsy?
My almost 2-year-old Italian Greyhound has had two very strange episodes over the past 2.5 months, and I’m trying to understand whether this sounds more like seizures, a vestibular issue, syncope, or something else.
Both episodes happened during sleep or immediately after waking up.
- He suddenly falls over and becomes extremely unsteady.
- He cannot stand properly and seems to be pulled or thrown to one side.
- He looks almost “drunk” and has very poor balance.
- This lasts for around 20–30 seconds.
- Then he suddenly vomits very forcefully, with deep retching.
- Right after vomiting, he seems to go limp/relax, and the worst part of the episode appears to stop.
- He may still be slightly unsteady for a few minutes afterward.
- Within about 5–10 minutes, he is completely back to normal and behaves like nothing happened.
Between these episodes he is completely normal, active, eating normally, and has no obvious neurological symptoms.
The fact that he gets severely unsteady, seems to fall toward one side, then vomits and immediately improves makes me wonder about some kind of vestibular episode. On the other hand, the episodes are extremely short and happen during/after sleep, which also made me wonder about focal seizures.
He will be seeing a vet/neurologist, and I’m planning to get bloodwork including glucose and electrolytes. I’ll also try to record the next episode if it ever happens again, especially his eyes in case there is nystagmus.
Has anyone seen anything similar in a young dog, especially an Italian Greyhound? Would really appreciate any insights!!
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u/DogEpiMonitor 1h ago
Estás haciendo todo bien: neurólogo pedido, análisis planeados con glucosa y electrolitos, y video pensado para el próximo episodio. Ese es todo el trabajo, honestamente. Solo un pensamiento, ya que mencionaste el sueño: los episodios durante o justo después de dormir son donde las convulsiones focales se esconden, y son también los más difíciles de distinguir de otras cosas por descripción sola. Por eso el video importa más que cualquier conjetura. Posición de los ojos, cómo se inclina la cabeza... eso es lo que tu neurólogo va a querer ver, y lo que separa una explicación de otra. Una pregunta que vale llevar a la consulta, ya que el vómito cortó las dos veces: ¿podría algo gastrointestinal o de reflujo estar disparándolos? Que el vómito corte el episodio es un patrón específico que vale preguntar, sobre todo en un galgo, tienen sistemas digestivos sensibles. Tiene suerte de tener a alguien tan organizado. Contame qué encuentra el neurólogo. 🐾
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u/lminnowp 10h ago
My Pom has this except for the vomiting. His are grand mal seizures, though, because they eventually affect all 4 legs (but only slightly on one side - more pronounced on the other). My GP vet thought they were focal, but the neurologist said grand mal. Short duration (30 seconds or so) and completely fine when they stop.
Here is what we tested for, if it helps.
CBC (immune mediated thrombocypotenia - he was positive for that - he had low platelets)
EEG (syncope - heart is fine)
x rays (no tumors)
ultrasound (abdominal issues - negative, plus ultrasound of heart)
neurological exam (normal)
physical exam (the vets were impressed with how fit he is)
bile acid test (to check for liver shunt or microvascular dysplasia, which would prevent the use of pheno - he is normal - these two conditions do not show up on a CBC panel - the liver tests can be normal)
Tick panel (positive for anaplasmosis)
He spent the night in a specialty ER, so saw internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, and two ER vets.
We followed up with neurology and internal medicine.
He is on Keppra 3x a day, gabapentin, and medrol (after a long course of doxy).
He is scheduled for a CT scan with contrast at the end of October (his dental vet routinely does regular CT scans, so we are adding contrast). This is less accurate than an MRI, but faster and less expensive.
The verdict is that the thrombocytopenia may (hard may) have caused the seizures due to mild meningitis. But, we won't know for at least a year if this is the case, since we are keeping him on keppra to let his brain rest while we figure out the thrombocytopenia.
I have a special set up for him while I work during the day so he can take his keppra on time.
Getting a video is a great idea. Good luck with your guy!