My 6 week old puppy has had 4 Grand Mal Seizures in 36 hours

[mona_b]

Ohhhhhhh Adriann27,my heart goes out to you and Horton...

What a GORGEOUS boy you have there.

The AKC is pretty much different from the CKC(Canadian).

The AKC has you pary for the registration papers,were as the CKC papers are paid for by the Breeder(no charge)

What contract did you get/sign with this breeder?

This to me is NOT an ETHICAL breeder.No ethical breeder sells their pups at 6 weeks.

Is this breeder a member of the AKC? What health/Genetic testing is done? Do they show/title the parents? Are they members of a Basset Club? I'm sorry for all the questions..

See with me,I was put on a neuter contract..This meant I had to have them fixed..You also have what's called a Non-Breeding contract.My sisters Husky was on this contract.So if you show your dog to Ch,and have had all health/genetic clearences done,then and only then will the breeder lift it.

As was stated,you need to fight this tooth and nail..Please get a hold of the AKC and let them know what is happening...Just a question,where did you find this breeder?


As for the puppy breath, I LOVE puppy breath....

[Shaykeija]

One look and I fell in love...what precious fur baby. I hope that you get good news..

[Adriann27]

Found the breeder on a website, the AKC will not revoke/or repremand in anyway someone who breeds AKC registered puppies. I have been in touch with them. The breeder has offered to give us back the $400 it cost to adopt Horton, but only if we let their vet look at him. I refuse to let them have anything to do with him. At this point, I'm sleep deprived, heartbroken, anxiety ridden, and RUTHLESS! To have their vet look at him is pointless! I have the copies and documentation of everything my vet has done and he doesn't need to be jumbled from place to place for no reason. Not to mention, that won't even begin to cover the vet bills. The breeder is still trying to find fault with me, something I've done to him. Our only option is to take them to court or threaten that and that won't bring Horton back his health or give him a normal life.
Unfortunately, I'm afraid we will be faced with a decision tomorrow that I don't want to make. I'm trying to prepare myself for that, but how do you do that...I don't think it's possible.

[bendyfoot]

Oh, Adriann, I logged on tonight hoping to hear better news. :sad: I'll keep my fingers crossed that tomorrow paints a happier picture for your family.

[mona_b]

My suggestion is to contact a Lawyer..I'm sure you can get a consultation(free)...I would NOT let this person get away with this...

Please don't beat yourself up...You are not ruthless.This is NOT your fault..

Hmmmm,I would go public with this....

Here is some interesting reading...This lists breeders who have been suspended..Tells you why and for how long..

http://www.barkbytes.com/suspend/suspindx.htm#a

See with the CKC we have whats called Code of Ethics.And so does the AKC.

Here it is.

http://www.pawsitesonline.com/cats/code_of_ethics2.html

I will refrain from releasing any puppy until it is at least eight (8) weeks old.

I hope you will have better news tomorrow.

[hazelrunpack]

More and s coming your way, Adriann. I hope you get better news than you're expecting tomorrow

[Adriann27]

We have decided to exhaust every mean nessecary to keep our Horton with us! As long as we can find a way to afford it. My partner is not happy and we have already lined up to speak with some lawyers! He is determind to not let this happen to anyone else. I'm so devistated I've been a big ball of tears since we picked him up from the vet!
If anyone knows anything about the postosystemic shunt, please fill me in. I have done research, but that could never compare to hearing from a pet parent who has lived through it!
I want to thank you all again for all your support! It means so much! We aren't quiters and niether is Horton! He is a fighter! Well, not really, he's more of a napper, but he has a fighters spirit! LOL! Thank you for your continue thoughts and prayer!!

[Dr Lee]

Originally Posted by Adriann27

If anyone knows anything about the postosystemic shunt, please fill me in.

Here is a client hand out on PSS from www.vin.com:

Portosystemic Shunt (PSS)

Authored by: Becky Lundgren, DVM

A portosystemic shunt (PSS, portasystemic shunt, portocaval shunt, portacaval shunt, or porto-systemic vascular anomaly) happens when a pet’s venous blood from the intestine bypasses the liver. The pet can be born with the shunt (congenital) or can get it later (acquired). About three-quarters of the cases are congenital, although sometimes a pet can have both types.

During pregnancy, the portal blood vessel in the fetus bypasses the liver (i.e., the mother’s liver filters out toxins for the fetus). Normally this shunt closes within three days after birth. In affected animals, the shunt doesn’t close and the blood continues to bypass the liver. Because the liver filters toxins, if the liver is bypassed, the toxins build up in the body. This results in the puppy or kitten having slow or nonexistent growth (failure to thrive). If left untreated, puppies and kittens are not likely to survive. Congenital shunts seem to happen more in purebreds than in mixed breeds. Breeds with increased risk of PSS include Cairn terriers, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Irish Wolfhounds, Himalayans, and Persians.

An acquired liver shunt is usually caused by liver problems (due to poisons, hepatitis, and inflammation, etc.) that resulted in the body routing blood through whatever blood vessels are available, even if it means bypassing the liver. (It would be like taking side streets to your final destination, instead of using the interstate highway.) As happens with congenital shunts, the liver can’t filter what doesn’t pass through it, so toxins build up in the body.

Signs

Signs include stunted growth, not gaining weight, losing weight, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, unresponsiveness, temporary blindness, seizures, spaciness (staring into space), disorientation, circling, poor skin and coat, excessive drinking, excessive urination, etc. Sometimes the pet will just act odd after eating or pace around or press its head against the wall. The signs you will see depend on the location of the shunt and how many toxins have built up in the body. Some pets will only have one sign, while others could have several.

Diagnosis

Blood tests, urinalysis, and imaging tests (e.g., radiographs, ultrasound images, portograms [an image of the blood vessels to the liver], or nuclear scintigraphy [a nuclear scan that measures blood flow]) can be used for diagnosis. Blood bile acids are elevated after a meal, so the before-meal and after-meal bile acid levels will be compared. Despite the variety of tests available, a confirmed diagnosis may not be available until surgery is done.

Treatment

Some pets with liver shunts can do well with medical management. However, some of those pets will eventually be euthanized when dealing with the neurologic problems becomes too much for an owner to cope with. In some pets, a change of diet can be enough to control the signs. A typical diet would involve low-protein, low-magnesium, high zinc, and high Vitamin E, in addition to lactulose. Medical management is more a matter of avoiding certain things (diuretics, NSAIDs, barbiturates, infections, etc.).

Surgical repair of the shunt is common, particularly for congenital shunts, but it seems to be more successful in dogs than in cats. Before surgery, the veterinarian will try to stabilize your pet as much as possible with a low-protein diet and antibiotics. Post-operative antibiotics will also be administered. After surgery, once the pet has normal bile acid levels, he can usually return to a normal diet.

It takes about two weeks after surgery before the pet will feel better. During that time, many pets will be anorexic (off their feed). Owners may have to coax their pets to eat, feed canned or strained meat diets, etc. Your veterinarian will have suggestions for stimulating your pet’s appetite.

Prognosis

How well the pet does with medical management or surgery depends on many factors, such as where the shunt is located, if the pet has both acquired and congenital shunts, etc. The overall success rate is about 85%. Complete surgical ligation of the shunt has a very good prognosis. A partial ligation will provide some level of improvement, but will have a less positive long-term prognosis. Some animals will not respond to any treatment, and will have to be euthanized.

Treated cats don’t do as well as treated dogs. Sometimes cats will still have neurologic signs after surgery and may need continuing medical treatment. Some cats may respond to a second surgery one month after the first one. Only a third of the cats who have the shunt ligation surgery do well long term.

With dogs, the prognosis really depends on where the shunt is located. Unfortunately, over half of the dogs who don’t have surgery and are treated medically are eventually euthanized, typically within 10 months of diagnosis. This is because of neurologic difficulties or continued liver damage. Dogs that do best with long-term medical management are usually older at the time of diagnosis and aren’t as severely affected. Surgery is usually, but not always, the best option for a normal life span.

Affected pets should never be bred because it is too much strain on the body and because this condition runs in families.

Date Published: 4/1/2007 4:30:00 PM

[Adriann27]

Originally Posted by Dr Lee

Here is a client hand out on PSS from www.vin.com:

Portosystemic Shunt (PSS)

Authored by: Becky Lundgren, DVM

A portosystemic shunt (PSS, portasystemic shunt, portocaval shunt, portacaval shunt, or porto-systemic vascular anomaly) happens when a pet’s venous blood from the intestine bypasses the liver. The pet can be born with the shunt (congenital) or can get it later (acquired). About three-quarters of the cases are congenital, although sometimes a pet can have both types.

During pregnancy, the portal blood vessel in the fetus bypasses the liver (i.e., the mother’s liver filters out toxins for the fetus). Normally this shunt closes within three days after birth. In affected animals, the shunt doesn’t close and the blood continues to bypass the liver. Because the liver filters toxins, if the liver is bypassed, the toxins build up in the body. This results in the puppy or kitten having slow or nonexistent growth (failure to thrive). If left untreated, puppies and kittens are not likely to survive. Congenital shunts seem to happen more in purebreds than in mixed breeds. Breeds with increased risk of PSS include Cairn terriers, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Irish Wolfhounds, Himalayans, and Persians.

An acquired liver shunt is usually caused by liver problems (due to poisons, hepatitis, and inflammation, etc.) that resulted in the body routing blood through whatever blood vessels are available, even if it means bypassing the liver. (It would be like taking side streets to your final destination, instead of using the interstate highway.) As happens with congenital shunts, the liver can’t filter what doesn’t pass through it, so toxins build up in the body.

Signs

Signs include stunted growth, not gaining weight, losing weight, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, unresponsiveness, temporary blindness, seizures, spaciness (staring into space), disorientation, circling, poor skin and coat, excessive drinking, excessive urination, etc. Sometimes the pet will just act odd after eating or pace around or press its head against the wall. The signs you will see depend on the location of the shunt and how many toxins have built up in the body. Some pets will only have one sign, while others could have several.

Diagnosis

Blood tests, urinalysis, and imaging tests (e.g., radiographs, ultrasound images, portograms [an image of the blood vessels to the liver], or nuclear scintigraphy [a nuclear scan that measures blood flow]) can be used for diagnosis. Blood bile acids are elevated after a meal, so the before-meal and after-meal bile acid levels will be compared. Despite the variety of tests available, a confirmed diagnosis may not be available until surgery is done.

Treatment

Some pets with liver shunts can do well with medical management. However, some of those pets will eventually be euthanized when dealing with the neurologic problems becomes too much for an owner to cope with. In some pets, a change of diet can be enough to control the signs. A typical diet would involve low-protein, low-magnesium, high zinc, and high Vitamin E, in addition to lactulose. Medical management is more a matter of avoiding certain things (diuretics, NSAIDs, barbiturates, infections, etc.).

Surgical repair of the shunt is common, particularly for congenital shunts, but it seems to be more successful in dogs than in cats. Before surgery, the veterinarian will try to stabilize your pet as much as possible with a low-protein diet and antibiotics. Post-operative antibiotics will also be administered. After surgery, once the pet has normal bile acid levels, he can usually return to a normal diet.

It takes about two weeks after surgery before the pet will feel better. During that time, many pets will be anorexic (off their feed). Owners may have to coax their pets to eat, feed canned or strained meat diets, etc. Your veterinarian will have suggestions for stimulating your pet’s appetite.

Prognosis

How well the pet does with medical management or surgery depends on many factors, such as where the shunt is located, if the pet has both acquired and congenital shunts, etc. The overall success rate is about 85%. Complete surgical ligation of the shunt has a very good prognosis. A partial ligation will provide some level of improvement, but will have a less positive long-term prognosis. Some animals will not respond to any treatment, and will have to be euthanized.

Treated cats don’t do as well as treated dogs. Sometimes cats will still have neurologic signs after surgery and may need continuing medical treatment. Some cats may respond to a second surgery one month after the first one. Only a third of the cats who have the shunt ligation surgery do well long term.

With dogs, the prognosis really depends on where the shunt is located. Unfortunately, over half of the dogs who don’t have surgery and are treated medically are eventually euthanized, typically within 10 months of diagnosis. This is because of neurologic difficulties or continued liver damage. Dogs that do best with long-term medical management are usually older at the time of diagnosis and aren’t as severely affected. Surgery is usually, but not always, the best option for a normal life span.

Affected pets should never be bred because it is too much strain on the body and because this condition runs in families.

Date Published: 4/1/2007 4:30:00 PM

Thank you Dr. Lee! We know that even though the odds aren't in his favor, Horton will live a happy and semi-normal life.

[TeriM]

I don't have any advice but wanted to send some good vibes and hugs for you and Horton .

[rainbow]

I just read your thread now and am so sorry to hear what you and Horton are going through. All I have to offer is my good luck in your quest to nail that s.o.b breeder to the wall.


And, little Horton is totally adorable.

[sandlor]

I am so sorry to read what you and Horton are going thru. I have been dog sitting a 10 week old puppy and feel for all of you-they are so vulnerable.
"stay strong little Horton".

[zomo]

So sorry for what you are going through . ((((((((( hugs )))))))))) prayers and positive vibes going out to your sweet little Horton.

[Maxine]

Hi Adriann, I read this thread last night and since then I keep thinking of Horton and sending him good vibes.

Thank you so much for not letting him down! You're an

[Love4himies]

Horton is so lucky to have your as his parents . Sending some and keeping 12 paws and my for you and your baby.

[Adriann27]

Well, we don't have the test results yet. We will probably have them mid-morning.

However, Horton did AMAZING last night. He had a very small seizure last night about 2:30 and went right back to sleep. So Mommy (that's me) actually got about 5 hours of much needed sleep last night.

Everyone at the Vets is in love with him (including the doctors). They had me leave him today just so they can observe him.

I will post an update when we have one.

[Love4himies]

Glad to hear that his night went well? Is there any chances that he will grow out of this?

[Adriann27]

Originally Posted by Love4himies

Glad to hear that his night went well? Is there any chances that he will grow out of this?

You know, I really hope so. I have a friend who's daughter had seizures when she was a young baby. She was admitted to ICU and they could not find a reason for the seizure. The diagnosis wasn't good....but that baby is 13 now! And hasn't had a seizure since she was a baby. We hope that it is some freak thing and he will just stop. However, there is a lot of evidence that points to liver disease, including blood work and other little things Horton does that are signs of the disease.

[Adriann27]

Just spoke with our vet. Horton's liver is functioning great! This doesn't rule out the shunt 100% but, the Vet feels like that all the testing points to a healthy liver. However, he did test positive for Coxidia (probably spelling that wrong) which can cause seizures in pups that are already weak and malnurished. The Vet explained that Coxidia wouldn't show up for a week to two weeks after being exposed which means he got it while still at the breeders. The Vet doesn't think we have found the reason for his seizures yet, but since his liver is healthy, if he does continue to seize we can start him on some meds to control them.
THANKS to everyone for all your support and prayers!!! I will definetly keep you updated on these breeders and how far we get with them.

[BenMax]

Adriann27 you are one great person! If I met people like you everyday I would be rich (in mind). You regain my faith in the human race.

[Adriann27]

Originally Posted by BenMax

Adriann27 you are one great person! If I met people like you everyday I would be rich (in mind). You regain my faith in the human race.

Your too nice! I'm just a big sucker for puppy breath! LOL!

[Adriann27]

Just so everyone who has a vodoo doll for these breeders, I'm composing an email (using references from websites all of you gave me yesterday) asking them to do the right thing and refund money to myself and my wonderful partner. I am going to assume (because they are acting this way) that they are not as educated as the should be (especially doing this as a full time business) and give them the opportunity to learn from the experience and make it right for Horton's future needs.
HOWEVER, I have an appointment with a lawyer today to discuss other options. I know what SC state laws are, but we purchased him from another state which has no regulations on puppy sales.

[BenMax]

Originally Posted by Adriann27

Just so everyone who has a vodoo doll for these breeders, I'm composing an email (using references from websites all of you gave me yesterday) asking them to do the right thing and refund money to myself and my wonderful partner. I am going to assume (because they are acting this way) that they are not as educated as the should be (especially doing this as a full time business) and give them the opportunity to learn from the experience and make it right for Horton's future needs.
HOWEVER, I have an appointment with a lawyer today to discuss other options. I know what SC state laws are, but we purchased him from another state which has no regulations on puppy sales.

Don't send them anything as of yet. See your lawyer first. You do not want to give them any ammunition to prepare...they need to 'stumble'.

Good luck.

[hazelrunpack]

Out of curiosity, Adriann, which state (you can PM me if you don't want to put it in open forum).

That's great news about Horton! that clearing up the coccidia will help with his seizures!

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by hazelrunpack

Out of curiosity, Adriann, which state (you can PM me if you don't want to put it in open forum).

I'm also curious. Here is a table of what laws apply to what states regarding the sale of puppies under 8 weeks: http://www.animallaw.info/articles/o...ysaletable.htm

[Dog Dancer]

Adriann, Horton is just too cute for words. I sure hope that all of this gets worked out for him and that he outgrows it. Bless you for taking such good care of him and not just giving him back to his useless breeders. Good luck to you in pursuing them. It is so sad that they want to blame you, don't let that get to you though, they'll try to beat you down with it's your fault, but you know it's not. I can't believe they sold you such a young pup to start with, it shows what they're made of. Bless you and your partner for all you're doing for Horton, he'll return that to you hundred fold during his life.

[Adriann27]

Originally Posted by hazelrunpack

Out of curiosity, Adriann, which state (you can PM me if you don't want to put it in open forum).

That's great news about Horton! that clearing up the coccidia will help with his seizures!

Trying to figure out the PM, I don't want to put it on the forum....but I'll be happy to share the state with you! :-)

[Adriann27]

Ok, figured it out. Because I'm a new member, it takes a couple of days.

[Diamondsmum]

Aww Adriann

I think all of us here are rooting for you & Hortan lot of for you guys

[Adriann27]

Originally Posted by BenMax

Don't send them anything as of yet. See your lawyer first. You do not want to give them any ammunition to prepare...they need to 'stumble'.

Good luck.

That's what my other half is saying too. :-)