Hard Times

This week we had to face hard facts and put down our sweet old pug, Jojo. We have a lovely vet who makes house calls, so Monday was the day. It was a hard weekend prior and an even harder morning. She may no longer be in our arms, but she will be in our hearts forever.

Two hours before the vet was due to arrive Navy had a seizure. He was eating his morning meal when he stepped away from his bowl, sat down and kind of curled forward like he was in great pain. He turned his head to look at me (you know the look: "help me!"). I went to him and had my hands on him trying to figure out what was wrong, if maybe he had food stuck in his throat. He was very stiff. Then his back legs began to stretch out in an odd way and I realized he was having a seizure. I helped him to lay down and covered him with a blanket. I turned the lights off and asked my family to be quiet to try to reduce his neural stimulation. I kept one hand on him. The seizure lasted about 2 minutes, then he lay still under the blanket for 15 minutes, then he got up. He was a little wonky for another 30 minutes.

This was Navy's second seizure that I know of. His first was four years ago. At that time I took him to the vet for a full work up. It essentially came down to this: if he begins having frequent seizures we can begin medicating him, but if they only happen occasionally it is best not to medicate. I was taught to reduce environmental stimulation during a seizure, including covering him with a blanket.

I don't know if the high emotions of the day triggered him. I honestly have not been able to find any similarities between the lead up to his first seizure and his second. I hope he never has another, but I realize that might be wishful thinking. He has been fine since. A bit more clingy, but with the loss of Jojo that may have happened anyway. I have been watching him closely wondering if he has been having smaller seizures that I just haven't been noticing. So far, no evidence of that.

PF has been a very helpful resource as I have done searches here regarding seizures and read many stories of others who have experienced similar or worse things. One thing I've learned is that there is some evidence that immediately putting a bag of ice on the dog's back during a seizure can lessen the length of the seizure and quicken the recovery time. I have one ready to go in case of future events.

Thanks for listening, PF friends! Navy is about 10 years old now. I am hopeful he will make it to 20. He agrees that 20 sounds good :angel2: