alex and seizures

[shais_mom]

i think alex might have this, or a complex seizure or a small stroke, off to the vet. pupdate later.

oh joyce -
I'm hear if you need - you have my cell.
Prayers and Thoughts on the way...

[joycenalex]

my vet can't find anything wrong, she said alex is neurologically competent ( and i wish i was ). the circling thing might have been a complex partial seizure, might have an episode of old dog vestibular disease, or maybe something else. but, for today, he's home, is annoying the cats and is happy as a well loved dog. life is good, and i'm still wanting some one to tell me i'm neurologically competent

[shais_mom]

you are neurologically competent!!
I was wondering how it was going.
Continued prayers and thoughts on the way for you both!

[4 Dog Mother]

Poor Alex and poor Joyce. Hope things start to get better for you both soon. If you want, Joyce, I will second Staci's you are neurologically competent -- feel better now?

[KittyGurl]

Any update??

Poor Alex. I am so sorry. Hopefully he goes back to his good ole self. Fingers and paws crossed for Alex.

Feel better now!

[joycenalex]

alex had 1 more episode of spinning. in consulation w/ the vet, i'm splitting his evening phenobarb dose 2/3 at regular pill time(6:30), last 1/3 at 3 1/2 to 4 hours after that. the idea is to keep his blood levels at a theraputic level, all night. he and princess peanut are thrilled with the extra food at bedtime. thanks so much for the concern and the assertion of competence. i need that

[KittyGurl]

Poor Alex.

I feel so sorry for him. Get better, sweetie!

[pitc9]

Thinking of you and Alex!!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

You are as neurologically competent as the rest of us

Hugs and kisses to you all

[KittyGurl]

Any update?

Thinking of you Alex! Get better soon!

[joycenalex]

so far, so good. i have to set the stove timer alarm to remind us that it's time for more pills, but both dogs think the extra food is good. thanks for the support, it really helps

[pitc9]

{{{hugs}}} to you!

[joycenalex]

alex has had a series of seizures this weekend, some grand mal and some petite mal, in the PMs- he's "gone" for a few seconds, then he's back. he was on my lap a few minutes ago, we were napping and i felt the seizure start in his body, then i could see his eyes change, it's as though he left for 90 seconds, then he comes back from seizure land. he's pacing in the kitchen right now,recovering. i reread the poem autumn a few days ago, it speaks about our human awareness of our beloved dogs too brief days with us, and i wept. it won't be today that he goes. it's autumn and i'm sad

[shais_mom]

so sorry to hear this Joyce.
gentle hugs to you and Alex...

[joycenalex]

AUTUMN
by Christy Caballero

What do we do when our loving pets face the last leg of the race? We do all we can to help them finish well, of course. We take time to read the unspoken needs of the friends we've come to know so well. We give the simple reassurance of a loving touch when the old boy seems confused for no reason.
We groom them faithfully, but more gently, as age brings muscle wasting, and the arthritic bones aren't so well padded. We learn to slow down for their sake, as they enjoy the scent of the wind, or track a visitors trail across their yard. We expect to be inconvenienced, and aren't angry when it happens.

We watch for pain and treat it, watch for changes in vision and hearing and do what we can to help preserve those precious senses for as long as possible.

We take care of their teeth, and make sure their food is a manageable texture for them. We remind them of the need for a potty walk when they seem to forget.

We remember the little rewards. We scratch the graying ears and tummy, and go for car rides together. When the pet we love has an unexplained need for comfort, we give it freely. When infirmities bring a sense of vulnerability, we become our old guardian's protector.

We watch their deepest slumbers, when dreams take them running across long-forgotten fields, and we remember those fields too. When they cannot stand alone, we lift them. When their steps are uncertain, we steady them. And if their health fails, it falls to us to make the choice that will gently put them to rest. But until that is absolutely necessary, we pause to let the autumn sun warm our old friend's bones. And we realize, autumn is not a bad time of year at all. Old age is not a disease or a reason to give up. It is a stage of life that brings its own changes. Autumn can be a beautiful time of harvest.

And, sometimes, the harvest is love