No New Seizure Activity ~ Random Thoughs

Topaz has been doing well. No new seizures or anything. I was a bit worried a few nights ago, he was acting kind of off, but we made it through the night so all is well. He's been getting into things more than usual, but then again our schedules have been a little wonky and he gets out of sorts when that happens sometimes.

We have been crushing his PB and mixing it in with his food. I think this is a better way to go...we don't need to worry about whether or not he's eaten his pills or not, which makes things easier for me. I bought a little pill crusher thing from Avon. It works so well and was pretty inexpensive too. I was going to get a mortar and pestal from amazon.com, but saw this in the avon catalog and thought it was perfect. And it is!

I don't want to jinx anything by talking about how long it's been since his last seizure, but this has been a great stretch!! This was the time last year when he really started having problems and it's nice to see that he's doing much better now. Hopefully it will continue. Although, even the last GM that he had was not that bad at all...and since joining the EPIL-K9 list, I've got a few other tips to make the post ictal stage better, so if he should have another GM I will be sure to put some of those into play.

I also think the raw diet has helped him. I know there's info on the net about the risks with epi dogs and each person has their own idea of what's healthiest and best for their animals, but I really think this is working well. I need to get the coconut oil and the supplement back into his diet...we are waiting for Todd's disability checks to start before we get that again. But that will be hapening soon.

We're planning on getting his thyroid test done too whenever we have the money.

Tonight is a full moon. I hope that doesn't effect him. It didn't the last time.

So things are going well...and I really hope they continue!

No, No BAD DOG!!!

Ugh...this dog has gotten into EVERYTHING this week!!!

My lunch bag was on the kitchen table and he got that down...no doubt looking for food.,...which there was NONE. So what does he do? He chews the BAG and also the blue thing inside that keeps the food cold. BAD DOG!!!!

Then...tonight we leave for a few hours and I left my work bag on the kitchen chair...which I do ALL THE TIME...and he got into that!!! No doubt looking for food.

I know his meds make him hungry...but good Lord dog. STOPPIT!!!

100 days!!!!!

Topaz has gone 100 days with no seizures! Woo hoo!!!

We're doing a little dance here at our house.

Changes

I just want to document some recent changes. We were really short on cash this past pay and we were expecting some checks to come in and they never did, so we've been improvising with the raw food.

We've been feeding chicken backs for breakfast, and hamburger meat and dinner has been kind of skimpy too.

Topaz has been acting a little odd, almost like he did when he was coming off the loading dose of KBr. I'm thinking maybe it's too much meds/not enough food.

Anyway, we now have money and were able to get some food. We haven't been able to get their right breakfast, but we're got eggs and cottage cheese, pumpkin and more hamburger...so hopefully this will hold them over until I can get their food this weekend.

Plus, I won some samples of Honest Kitchen from their blog and we can give that to Onyx. It has rosemary in it or we'd also give it to Topaz, but he can't have rosemary.

Anyway, I just wanted to document this change just in case it triggers a seizure. He's been doing so well. I sure hope not!

Mile Walk

My husband took the dogs today for a mile walk which is a good thing if they are used to walking that far/that long, but they aren't.

When I came home from work Topaz didn't even get up to meet me at the door, he was so exhausted!!!

I know my husband didn't mean any harm, but #1 the dog's not used to it and #2 seizure dogs have a tendency to not be able to regulate their body heat.

I immediately took him outside to the kiddie pool to help cool him off and he's back in the air conditioned house with a fan on.

Hopefully he'll be ok and I hope my husband has learned to not do that again, or else go into it gradually!!

Preparing for Travel - Seizure Emergency Kit

Everything is fine with the Puppa. No seizure activity...although he has been acting more "doped up" lately. I don't know if he's lost weight lately or something and the meds are stronger now for him, or what's going on. But he has seemed a bit off lately. We're keeping an eye on him.

Ok...so we will be traveling in October up north for my sister's wedding. We've decided to take the dogs along with us because I'm worried about finding someone to watch them and feed them correctly and administer the medication correctly. We're on a pretty tight schedule and that's important, so I think I will just feel better if they are with us.

We're staying in a "pet friendly" motel, and they already know we're bringing the dogs and all that is set. In order to prepare, I wrote on the EPIL-K9 list I belong to (for epileptic dogs & their people) what they bring when travelling and what they have in their emergency seizure kit.

Here's what they've said so far:

• Medications (a few extra days' worth as well...just in case) like PB and KBr
  
• Valium if you give it
• Rescue Remedy
• Ice packs (they make some you crack and shake, or else keep ice at hand)
• Extra (throw away) towels or blankets
• Bottled water
• Wipes
• Waterproof sheet or tablecloth to put under crate
• Vet records
  

These are great suggestions!!

I'm also going to look up the closest vet to the hotel/wedding and call them to see what they do about emergencies, if there's an ER vet in the area. And also maybe a few along the way, just in case.

We'll also be bringing a cooler with their raw food and some recreational bones for them. We have this crate we bring to the lake when we go, so we'll probably bring that...it has some toys and things in it.

I don't think he'll have a seizure while we're gone. We go to the lake every year and he's fine, but I would hate him to have one and we're not prepared.

If you have any other suggestions, please leave me a comment and let me know!

Got Into the Litterbox...

Topaz got into the litterbox today. My husband left the door to that room open and since the dogs are never allowed in there, of course he needed to check it out...little bugger that he is!

He had a gross kitty snack...hopefully this doesn't trigger anything, but I'm documenting just in case!