My Beautiful Buddy Has Brain Tumor

My Beautiful Buddy Has Brain Tumor

by Debra Denike
(Burlington, Ont)

Yesterday morning I woke up to what I thought was my 9 yr. old Wheaton Terrier "Buddy" having a bad dream. I leaned over the bed to calm him and relized he was having a seizure.

I talked to him and put my hand on him for what seemed like forever. When it was over, he stood up with foam around his mouth and growled at me with teeth exposed. Then barked agressively at me. I called the Vet and was told that since he had just had a full blood workup and everything was fine, that it was a brain tumor.

24 hrs later he had another grand mal seizure and then walked in circles and banged into walls, while barking at my husband and I. Eventually he recognized us and settled down. He had such a lost look in his eyes. Later in the day he was back to himself again. Today so far he is happy and eating well.

I don't know how long we'll have left, but I won't let him suffer.

Another Vet has told me he could go anytime once the seizures increase in frequency. And she says we'll know when his time comes.

God Bless my Buddy for all the happiness he's brought into so many lives!

Debbie

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My Beautiful Buddy Has Brain Tumor

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Oct 02, 2011
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Some dogs need more than 1 seizure medication
by: Sharon McGuigan(Bianca's owner)

Re Beagle Charlie:

He may need a second anticonvulsant medication such as Potassium Bromide. Please ask your vet.

My Bianca is also on Phenobarbitol since age of 2 and when she started acting like 'Cujo" snapping at me and fearful of me, the vet added Potassium Bromide and she has been seizure free as long as blood levels are ok. Some dogs have to be on 2 sometimes 3 medications to control seizures. I hope you can benefit from my suggestion!!

Oct 02, 2011
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Charlie beagle started having seizures
by: Juliette

My Charlie is thirteen years old and has been a lovely friend to me. He has seen me through so many personal losses including the loss of my daughter.

He started having seizures a month ago, having had a cancer removed from his eye a year ago. I don't know if the two are related, but suspect strongly that they are. He is on Phenobarbitone and a huge dose at that. Lately he has started to snap at my face, something he has never done in his life. He is miserable and no longer wags his tail or sniffs when we go for a walk. This morning he went for my face when I planted a peck on the top of his head. I realise that he is in great discomfort and perhaps in pain. So I have made a decision that I will have to follow through with due to his age and his deterioration.

I hope I am making the right one as I love him very much and I am so terribly sad this morning.

Dec 28, 2010
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My Wonderful Friend Molly
by: Sandi

My 11 y/o lab Molly had her first seizure on Nov 21, 2010. It was a grand mal seizure that lasted for almost 5 minutes. She had another one later that night. She had 3 more early in the morning before her visit to the vet. They did blood work which only showed high liver enzymes. I put her on Phenobarbital which stopped the seizures. I had to adjust her dosage a few times and have blood work to get her to the right dosage to prevent the seizures but still remain alert and enjoying life.

She did very well and seemed fine other than a bit slower until December 24. She had 2 seizures on the 24th so I increased her medications. On Dec 25, 2010 she had a bad seizure at 3 am and continued to have several more and the medication was no longer working at all. She began to breath hard and pace all around the house running into things and getting into small places where she would press her head against walls and furniture. I took her to the ER vet hospital where it was determined that she had a brain tumor and made the very heart wrenching decision to put her to sleep as she was suffering a great deal at this point.

The initial diagnosis had been either senior seizures which can be controlled with phenobarbital or a brain tumor. In the last week of her life she had incontinence issues as well.

She was a rescue dog whom I had for 10 years and she was such a joy to all friends and family and will be missed every day.

Nov 25, 2010
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Special Thanksgiving Blessing
by: Kathy

Champ my 12 year old boxer's right eye looked irritated last Sunday and appeared to have an eye infection and I started treating it with antibiotic eye drops.

He had a seizure Sunday night and we took him to the Emergency Clinic and he stayed the night for observation. The doctor on call suspected a brain tumor. His night went well and when I picked him up and took him to his vet the next morning, he confirmed that he has a brain tumor and started him on medication for his seizures.

The seizures have stopped at this time but he has not been able to walk since Tuesday morning and his condition has been critical. Last night he stood up and walked for the first time in three days!

My Thanksgiving blessing has been that he wagged his tail when I spoke to him today and he was able to stand while I was cooking Thanksgiving dinner.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring but I am thankful for every second that I have to spend with him. He is a wonderful pet and has been a big part of my life for 12 years.

Happy Thanksgiving Champ. Mommy loves you!

Nov 22, 2010
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I lost my doggie Baron to brain tumor
by: macadonia

I had to say goodbye to my precious doggie Baron.

I am mad as hell. Last year, as I was walking him he lost his balance. Few days later it happened again. I took him to the vet and he said that he doesn't have traction in his back legs. What a crock of bull!!!

Around Thanksgiving he walked into an open cabinet door. At times he kept his head tilted and kept scratching his ear. I checked his gums and he had a small growth which the doctor removed. He would walk into objects and doctor said that it was inflammation of middle ear and prescribed medication. When we took him for follow up another doctor in the same office said that the head tilt is old dog's disease. At times Baron would make a squeaky sound as if in pain and vet response was that it may probably be arthritis in his back leg.

Through all this time my doggie was grossly diagnosed, and only after we had to carry him into an emergency that somebody mentioned a possible brain tumor. I don't know where those doctors got their degrees from, but I am certain of one thing - I will never again take my pet to their facilities.

It is unfortunate that I can't sue them with gross negligence because law refers to dogs as personal property. I will dedicate my life to change that stupid law. Some years ago slaves were considered personal property. This country is so advanced in so many areas, but so backwards when it comes to God's creatures like dogs and cats!

Sep 27, 2010
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Bianca my wonderful doggie
by: Sharon

My Hungarian Kuvasz Bianca is now 6 and was diagnosed with canine seizure disorder at age 2.

When I got her as a pup, she was the smallest in the litter and clamored for my attention. I picked her because I "knew" she needed me. I am a Registered Nurse and she probably "knew" that I would take care of her if she ever got sick.

She has been on medications for 4 years but now she has had two episodes of unexplained yelping and looking like she was out of it, I feel that it is more than just seizure disorder as she has had her meds increased.

I totally understand where you all are coming from. We took her on vacation up north and she enjoyed swimming and spending one on one time with us back in August and I said to my husband back then that this may be the first and last time she will ever go away with us. Intuition is a powerful thing...

Sep 18, 2010
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Savanna from Buddy
by: Anonymous

I am so sorry for your family and Savannah. Enjoy each day that you have left.

Our Buddy had three more seizures within 24hrs and I had to take him and have him sent to heaven on Sept 11.

My heart broke at watching him in such distress and I didn't want to see him go through it again. I met the vet at her office and held my boy while she anesthetized him and he never woke up. He was finally at peace.

I am a mess and miss him so badly that I called his breeder and have a 4-week-old male wheaton puppy coming home at Thanksgiving.

God Bless you and your family...the puppy sons in our family give us such joy and unconditional love. So don't wait too long to get another one to love.

Sincerely

Debra Denike

Sep 09, 2010
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My poor Savanna
by: Anonymous

Im am so sorry! Our 11 year old lab had her first seizure 3 days ago. I too thought she was having a bad dream. It lasted a couple minutes. She had foam in her mouth, went to the bathroom and was pacing non-stop. She finally settled down and went to sleep.

I had hoped the seizure was becuse of her old age and she wouldn't have another one for a while. The next day she had another one and never came back to being herself. We had her blood tested yesterday and are waiting to hear back today, but we are pretty sure it's a brain tumor.

Savanna had another one this morning and is just looking lost. Our hearts are broken. The vet said we could give her steroids which would hopefully get her back to herself for a few more months so we can give her tons and tons of extra love.

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