Clifford

[dobermom]

Clifford just had another one of his seizure like episodes. I guess its not really a seizure. He looks like a bobblehead. This one lasted a bit longer 2 or 3 minutes. Its only in his head. Hes not scared or in pain. We were laying in bed when it started. He got up and walked over to me no problems. Then he walked away and grabbed a bone, and everything was over.
I already took him to the Vet last time this happened. They did bloodwork and everything was OK.
What could be the cause of this? Will it get more extreme? If it stays as it is, I'm not too worried.

[joella]

I wish I had an answer for you, but I just wanted to offer my support and concern. I'm sure it won't be long before someone who has experienced something similar comes along. I'll be thinking of Clifford, I hope you get answers soon!

[SouthPaw]

Are dobermans prone to epilepsy like poodles? My mother had a poodle mix who had seizures and had to take medicine. He lived to be very old however so even if this turns out to be something like this don't panic. Since nothing turned up in the blood tests it's probably nothing to worry about. Keep us up on Clifford.

[dobermom]

Thanks Joella.

SouthPaw...they are prone to epilepsy, but epilepsy is not cut and dry in blood tests. I guess they to test to rule other things out before they say its epilepsy. The vet didn't think it was epilepsy. Its so weird because its so subtle, and it really doesn't seem to bother him.
I just wish I knew exactly what it is.

[Dax]

2-3 minutes of uncontrolled head movements? Was it a stressful day? Anything less common (ie food etc) Maybe it's a food reaction. What did the vet say the next step is?

[Lessica Jake]

I have a friend (actually Bailey's last owner) whose son has seizures like that. He just stares into space for a period of time, with no apparent trigger. His seizures are being controlled by medication, but I'm not sure that they actually diagnosed it as epilepsy.

[dobermom]

Nothing would have been stressful, it was not too long after he got up. Foods all been the same. I'm not sure what the next step is. I have to stop in the Vet office in the morning, I will ask then.
I dont even know if I should describe it as a seizure, I really dont know what it is.

[Dax]

Seizure is exactly what I think you should call it.

[SouthPaw]

I knew a man whose daughter had a few seizures as a baby and I don't think they ever figured out what caused them. I worked with him over 5 years and nothing during that time came back. Clifford may be like that and I hope so.

[erdog3]

Well it must have been very disconcerting for you, I know a little about seizures, but not a lot. So I have gone back to the book. Here's what it says.

Seizures can be in the form of the below:
Loss of consciousness.
Stiffness of the body or rigidity, then intermettent stiffness.
Slobbering
Paddling with the legs.

They can take from 30 seconds to 5 minutes from start to finish. Recovery can take a few seconds to minutes.

Epilepsy is defined as a state in which repeated seizures occur.