Poor Poppy is having a difficult time again... She had a couple of seizures in the middle of December, and another big one during the night of 30 December, while I was away. Poor OH had to deal with it on his own - including Poppy defecating during the seizure and then falling in it and spreading it all over the place as she was spasming, poor girl. We have upped her medication, and so far no more full seizures since that one a week ago, but yesterday she had a very bad shaky episode and I had to administer diazepam as she was so distressed and we were sure she was going to have a full seizure.
Things have not been easy, particularly since I have been ill with an Epstein-Barr infection, which has laid me low for a couple of months, and I am only just now starting to feel better. OH and I are obviously worried about Poppy and her epilepsy. She will be 11 in March, and has had the seizures on and off since she was 4, so we have not done badly all things considered. We hope we will have her with us for several more years, but I am afraid that she won't come out of one of these major seizures - they are so horrible and dramatic, and last a long time, usually about 10 minutes or more, it must be a terrible strain on her poor little heart and body. I feel like I am grieving in advance for her death... Is that weird? Do you understand what I mean?? If it were just the seizures it wouldn't be so bad, but she is increasingly anxious and with more shaky periods, and she just needs to be with us for comfort. She still won't stay with us in the living room in the evenings though, so one of us keeps popping into the study to check on her and give her hugs and love. Right now I am lying on my bed, with her cuddled up by my side.
Merlin is such a good steady boy. When Poppy is distressed or having a seizure, he is worried but knows not to get in the way.
I know we have been lucky really - lots of epileptic dogs have far more seizures than Poppy, and we managed without any medication for years. But I am sad and worried for my dear girl. It's bad enough that dogs have to get old with creaky joints and fatty deposits and all the other niggles that senior years bring. But I hate what these ghastly seizures do to her. Just feeling a bit blue about the whole business today really.
for Poppy and bless Merlin for knowing he needs to keep out the way when you are dealing with a seizure
