For those of you who remember Boone's health problems, he continues to
baffle his regular vet and his neurologist at the vet school...

Has anyone had experience with seizure-like episodes that really aren't
seizures?

Boone's neurologist is starting to doubt that he is having seizures.  He
used to have what we called a seizure about every 1 1/2 months.  Since the
end of February he is all of the sudden having much more - 6 in 7 weeks.  He
has been on Phenobarbital for 2 weeks and has had two "episodes" since being
on it (although he is on a low dosage).  The main reason we are wondering if
his episodes are seizures is because he ONLY has them when he is excited
about something (I read somewhere that seizures usually occur when the dog
is at rest).  In addition, the last "episode" he had, I was playing with
him, he started breathing funny, swaying back and forth.  I caught him and
helped him to the ground and then he whimpered a little and it was over in a
total of about 10 seconds and he was fine.  Usually he starts howling after
he falls over (lasts about 30 seconds total) but it was almost like I was
able to calm him down and stop the "episode."  There has been no evidence of
heart problems or low blood sugar, but we are considering testing him
further.  I have a theory that maybe it all has something to do with his
cervical disk compression that was fixed a year ago in May.  The neurologist
says that it could still be unsteady and causing problems, but could
pressure on his spine in his neck cause such "episodes"?  How about pain?
Any other ideas I should bring up with the vets?

My second question is about the medicine Gabapentin.  Has anyone used this
on their dogs before?  For what reasons? Did it help?  This is an idea the
neurologist has, but she brought that up before we started doubting he is
actually having seizures. Supposedly it works to prevent seizures, but also
helps get rid of pain when other pain meds don't tend to work.  But it costs
$170/month!

Once again any advice/suggestions are welcome!  [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Thanks so much!
Annette Tucker and our beloved Boone (5 1/2) whose been struggling with
these neurological problems for almost 2 years now
Raleigh, NC




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