August 16, 2007

Hi Michelle, just wanted to let you know that the DOGSAFE™ Canine First Aid knowledge came in handy recently. Only 3 nights after the course, my husband and I awoke to our dog Imly (who is only 1 1/2) violently shaking in her crate. She was foaming at the mouth, her eyes were unfocused and she was unaware of her surroundings. As you can probably guess, she was having a seizure. I panicked (something we were taught not to do!) but it was midnight and I had been woken out of a sound sleep to see my baby in a seizure.

After she finished, I came to my senses a bit and tried to remain calm and reassure her. She was temporarily blinded and growled a little at us in her confusion. She eventually came out of it and because she had thrown up some plant material earlier in the day and had heavy salivation...I assumed it was toxic plant material that had caused her seizure. We took her to emergency, they ran some tests which turned out to be ok. The next morning she had another seizure (in my husband's car) so he sped her to the vet. More tests were done and they seemed to be pointing in the direction of Epilepsy as the kidney and liver screenings came out normal and healthy and showed no toxicity. She stayed in the hospital that day and had no seizures so we took her home that night.

Again, that night we were awoken to another seizure but this time...I was more calm and remembered what I had learned in the class. I removed all stimuli, and waited until the seizure was over...this time we timed it as we had valium in case the seizure went over 5 minutes. It lasted 2 1/2 minutes (thankfully) and after it was over, I calmed Imly and held her until she started to fall asleep in my arms.

Of course, the next morning we went back to the vet and were given a prescription as she was now in a dangerous zone having cluster seizures. The potassium bromide is working and Imly is doing well. We're also giving her homeopathic meds for the side effects of the potassium bromide.

Anyhow, very long story to say thank you, Michelle....the DOGSAFE course helped to prepare me for something I would otherwise been unequipped to deal with. 

Sheryl Rhodes
DOGSAFE Graduate, July 28, 2007

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