My beloved furbaby had a grand mal seizure at 3:00 a.m. yesterday

I don't know if this will make you feel better, but I've had a dog that I got from a rescue about 6 years ago and she has a seizure about once a year. Your dog's behavior after the seizure is normal, they are extremely out of it and fatigued and usually will sleep a long time after. Mine has some sort of neurological issue probably due to abuse in the past, but she's a happy and pretty healthy dog otherwise, so my vet said it was up to me whether to put her through daily medication or just observe.

I agree that at 17, even if there was a brain tumor you wouldn't want to put your furbabe through any sort of treatment or surgery, so it does make sense to do what you're doing. If they start to come frequently, you will know whether it's time, of that I have no doubt.

Just enjoy each other, it may be that he never has another seizure or another one will be months away.

On 1/20/2015 pistolino said:

I don't know if this will make you feel better, but I've had a dog that I got from a rescue about 6 years ago and she has a seizure about once a year. Your dog's behavior after the seizure is normal, they are extremely out of it and fatigued and usually will sleep a long time after. Mine has some sort of neurological issue probably due to abuse in the past, but she's a happy and pretty healthy dog otherwise, so my vet said it was up to me whether to put her through daily medication or just observe.

I agree that at 17, even if there was a brain tumor you wouldn't want to put your furbabe through any sort of treatment or surgery, so it does make sense to do what you're doing. If they start to come frequently, you will know whether it's time, of that I have no doubt.

Just enjoy each other, it may be that he never has another seizure or another one will be months away.

Thanks pistolino. His vet said as long as I thought he had quality of life, then there was no reason to make any kind of decision now. And I do think he has some quality of life. He is almost completely blind and deaf (due to age and cataracts), but he is eating good and does have some quality of life. The vet also said that if the seizures start to continue, we can always try anti-seizure medication.

Sorry to hear about your loved little one. It is hard isn't it? I am dealing with one going blind and not liking it.

I once inherited an adult Maltese dog from people who could no longer keep her, and she was prone to seizures. She was on meds for it, and I had to give her one every day. Thankfully I never saw her have a seizure but I kept a very close watch on her, and so did my mother (who was living with me at the time) while I was at work.

Good luck with your furbaby. I agree with the previous poster, at that age I think its best to just take it one step at a time.

Wow, that had to be scary... I hope for the best for your pet.

It makes me so depressed to think about him having a seizure while I'm at work and he is home alone. But as his vet and I discussed, yesterday is the first seizure I know about. It is possible he has had one before, didn't injure himself during the seizure or the after effects, and has "gone back to normal" before I got home from work. But I still hate to think of him going through it all alone.

I had a little dog named "Billy" who I adored. He had seizures but I now can't say for how long. Loved the little guy dearly. If you go off to work, Do spread newspapers down when he can go through his seizure if you aren't there. No place that he can fall from of course. I know he's older, can't tell you how often Billy had these, no set anything. But I got to a point I knew when one was coming on and I'd go set on the floor with him, since I'm sure it's scared him half to death. He will be disoriented afterwards, pant heavily, may drool. Keep him in a safe place, he'll probably flail about. It just used to kill me to see him go through it. It must have been later in his life because I don't think it went on long. Hope your little one can be spared this. I don't recall our vet being able to help him out. Best wishes.

Sorry for your stress and fear, NiteStar. I hope there is no tumor, and the seizure was a one-time occurrence. I understand your fears about leaving him alone while you must work, tho. I have a pet cam that I can check in on through an app on my phone and tablet. Something like that might give you some peace of mind. Hugs to you and your furbaby.

On 1/20/2015 qualitygal said:

I had a little dog named "Billy" who I adored. He had seizures but I now can't say for how long. Loved the little guy dearly. If you go off to work, Do spread newspapers down when he can go through his seizure if you aren't there. No place that he can fall from of course. I know he's older, can't tell you how often Billy had these, no set anything. But I got to a point I knew when one was coming on and I'd go set on the floor with him, since I'm sure it's scared him half to death. He will be disoriented afterwards, pant heavily, may drool. Keep him in a safe place, he'll probably flail about. It just used to kill me to see him go through it. It must have been later in his life because I don't think it went on long. Hope your little one can be spared this. I don't recall our vet being able to help him out. Best wishes.

From all the research I've done since yesterday, it appears that the animals have no memory of the seizure afterwards (which is a blessing) and most websites say they are actually unconscious during the event itself and do not feel pain during the episode. I have area rugs all over upstairs and have always had the baby gate at the top of the stairs as he was already going blind when we moved in a little over a year ago. I do not have a bed frame and my mattress sits directly on the floor (no box springs either). Plus I now have blankets and such on the floor all around the perimeter of my bed. My little guy has a big incontinence problem, but that doesn't bother me at all; I have washable rugs, etc., and he has never gone on the bed. It is associated with his advanced age.