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Are Chihuahua's prone to seizures? If so, is there a way to...

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Answer by chimama
Submitted on 10/13/2003
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Chihuahuas are not known to be prone to seizures any more than other breeds, except, chihuahuas have a greater tendency towards 'water on the brain'. This is often seen as wandering eyes, they don't track with each other, they will be cross-eyed or look out the far corner of each eye. This cannot be corrected, it is brain damage, the only way to prevent it is through careful breeding. The pups usually don't live long and often are euthanized humanely, as they are not enjoying a good quality of life. Sad, but true, sometimes the kindest thing to do is to help a very sick animal to die peacefully and without pain. Any chihuahua you purchase should have been thoroughly checked out by a vet first. A reputable breeder will allow you to return a puppy within the next few days if your veterinarian finds any problems. This is why I stress reputable and really insist that you should minimally meet the dog first, even better see the parents and if possible the whole litter and any pups from previous litters by that mother dog.

Answer by prancersmommy
Submitted on 2/6/2004
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As per my chihuahuas vet, they are geneticaly predisposed to having seizures, and they typically start having them around 2 years old, which mine did. The drug of choice for Chi's is phenobarbital. Prancer is on 30 milligrams of phenobarbitol twice a day and that manages his seizures quite nicely. The only time he has a seizure is when he misses 2 doses in a row, so I am sure to always give him his medicine without fail! Once they are diagnosed with Epilepsy, most chihuahua'swill require daily medication, without meds and continued seizures, they will surely go into whats called status epilepticus and that is fatal if not treated immediatly! The good news is, they can live happy and normal lives with medication and proper veterinary care. Prancers Mommy

Answer by eBANQ
Submitted on 4/9/2004
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Last night my adorable toy chihuahua Casper (4 mo old) suddenly wouldn't wake from a nap, and was so lethargic and non-cognitive of anything (eyes rolled back in his little head). I did the wrong thing and PANICKED, at which time Casper began "screaming" in a shrill voice. I have to be honest: A day earlier I was taking a neuro pain threshold management pharmaceutical called Neurontin, and the corner of my eye thought it saw a stray capsule fall. I proceeded to analyze the area thoroughly and found no capsule (assumed I just "thought" I saw one fall to the floor erroneously out of my peripheral vision. So last night after experiencing Casper's sudden lathargic and quite odd mannerism surfaced I immediately rushed to the animal emergentcare. He went through a "screaming" episode when the vet examined his condition, but then they sedated him. 5 hours later (at 1 a.m.) the emergencare vet informed me via telephone Casper had become alert, was eating, defacating and eliminating urine whilst displaying an overall normal presence. He said I can pick him up a 7:00 a.m., so we are to assume he's recovered from a blood-curdling episode in less than 16 hrs and is coming home "biz-as-usual". My question is this: With the understanding that Neurontin contraindication notes indicate the drug causes temporary non-fatal reactions resembling some described as characteristically epileptic: Is it probable that he is epileptic and the vet can control it pharmacologically, or should I put significant attention into determining if he may have swallowed a Neurontin cap? He appeared to hardly be breathing on the trip to the hospital, and he regularly "hacks" as if he's trying to get a piece of hair off the back of his tongue. I dont know if that means beans or if it means he's just eating cat hair off the floor cause he seems to suck up just about any small object off carpet like an arrdvark (BTW: is that normal?). Any feedback is appreciated. GOOD forum! Props to you all. ~Sondra Brown ebanq@verizon.net

Answer by tiki's mom
Submitted on 5/4/2004
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My baby is 14 months old. She had two seizures about a week apart when she was 6 months old. The vet told me to neuter her because it was probably a hormonal problem. I did that and no more seizures. She has had 2 seizures in the last three days. All four seizures have occurred upon waking, the first two after she got up and the last two while still in bed...the last one appeared as though she were stretching and then went into the seizure. She also has been coughing and I know that chi's are prone to tracheal collapse...i'm wondering if this or another trait with malformed bones in the neck could be causing her problems...her blood work is fine...sugar a little high but the vet thinks this could have been stress. She also has open fontanels but never a head injury or water on the brain. I'm so worried about her...she is my world...any answers would help me and my vet figure out where to turn for tests. thanks

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 5/7/2004
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Sondra, If the problem has not recurred, then likely he got hold of a stray capsule. As you already know, if it's on the floor, it's theirs, especially if Momma has eaten them too. Chihuahuas can be prone to seizures, it's a genetic problem, so dogs with this problem should not be bred. If your vet has given you a medication that is working, don't worry about whether it's Valium or Neurontin or Prozac or Tums or sugar water. The veterinarian should be trusted, they're the one with the medical degree. Tiki'smom, take your baby back to the vet, something else is going on. Describe specifically the circumstances surrounding the seizures, time of day, activity level of dog, last feed, etc. General answer to several questions: Both my chi's occasionally hack, sometimes it's fur from the floor, other times it's excitement. A way to stop the hacking is to pick the dog up, speak soothingly to her and put your fingers over her nostrils so she has to breathe through her mouth. That opens the trachea and stops the spasms. It sounds cruel, it isn't, many people have used this technique. If this doesn't stop the hacking, then you may indeed have a dog with a weak trachea. Best thing is change to a halter instead of a collar and seek options from a vet who specializes in toy breeds and/or chihuahuas.

Answer by Selva
Submitted on 6/28/2004
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Two weeks ago Wednesday I adopted a lovely little Chihuahua form a woman who was about to turn him into the pound because he pooped in the house. She told me she had him for about 2 1/2 years and had acquired him when she found him in the street and his original owners (who reportedly had him for about 4 or 5 years) did not want him back. He was a bit stumbly on his feet but generally fine. I had read that Chi's have delicate blood-sugar and have been careful to feed him several times a day. A week ago yesterday he had a couple of small seizures (a minute or so in duration) but soon he went into a seizure and did not come out and we rushed him to the emergency clinic. The has him on phenobarbital twice a day and so far it seems this is keeping the seizures down. I suspect he is still having small seizures as he continues to have periods where he is dazed and stumbly and trembly in him sleep. I am trying to decide what is best for this dog. What advice or information do you have for me as I am trying to make this very difficult decision regarding this precious life?

Answer by klvwc
Submitted on 9/22/2004
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My 4 years old Chi started having a hard time waking up. One morning she had a seizure. Luckliy we have a top neurologist an hour away. M.R.I.,spinal tap and blood tests were normal.He said because of breeding, Chi's are prone to seizures in their sleep before the age of 3.This is missed by alot of owners because they happen in their sleep.I can't tell you how many Chi owners find their dog dead when they try to wake them in the morning. PADDLING is never normal! She was diagnosied with encepthlitis. Isabel takes a small does of phenabartol 2X daily. It has been over a year since her last seizure. Bottom line, seizures can be caused by several different resons. Don't give up.

Answer by Erin
Submitted on 11/21/2004
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This is not an answer, just another seizure story. In late July we found a skinny, unfixed stray Chi in our yard. After 2 months of no responses to ads, we named him Flaco and brought him to the vet for shots. The vet said he had very dirty teeth and that would cause his glands to swell. The next day his behavior changed from submissive to very irrational & aggressive. Within a month he had his first apparent seizure. That was in September and now it's mid-November. Two nights ago he suddenly stiffened, fell over and would have fallen off the couch if I hadn't caught him. The seizure lasted about 5 minutes and was very alarming. His claws were totally extended, he was trembling violently, his saucer-like, watery eyes were wide open and he couldn't move at all. We really though this was the end! I called the emergency vet and she said it could be several things: epilepsy, a brain tumor, or swollen glands pressing on nerves or something like that. I'll be making a teeth-cleaning appointment and maybe this will help eliminate the seizures and perhaps even some of that aggressiveness which may be caused by discomfort....? I'll keep y'all updated. Good luck to all.

Answer by lovemyginger
Submitted on 11/23/2004
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Peggy, I realize it's been a few months since your posting. How is your little one? My Ginger is 2 mos old and just had a few seizures in a 36 hr. window. The first signs were her foaming at the mouth and licking it up. She seemed normal and continued playing...so I dismissed the signs. The next day she had a seizure. She began licking rapidly, salivating. She tilted her head back and tipped over on her side and yelped. She also urinated and defecated. Her seizure lasted just a few minutes, right before coming out of it, she aimlessly trotted around the house. The seizure lasted a few minutes, but she kept salivating on the sides of her mouth. I was worried and took her into the emergency vet. She seemed alert as the vet started to examine her. All her tests came back normal, except her sugar and liver level were a little higher. My vet said it might be from stress and post-seizure symptoms. He kept her overnight for further examination. When I came to pick her up at 11:30am the next day, she seized again and the vet witnessed it. He confirmed that they were seizures and the cause is still yet unknown. She had another seizure after I took her home around 1pm, same reaction as the two before. I'm keeping a log of what she eats, her surroundings, and frequency of the seizures. For the time being, she's on phenobarbital. She's also taking antibiotics just in case it's just parasites not found in tests. I'm hoping it is just something sporadic and isn't long term. I hate to see her go through those seizures. If anyone else has comments through experience, I would love to hear them. Thanks!

Answer by SOUL
Submitted on 12/2/2004
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My Chi had a seizure last night and now this makes two of my babies that suffer from seizures. The vet told me today, which I already knew because of my other dog, that there is basically nothing you can do to help them. Phenobarb can temporarily help, but you have to watch your fingers and make sure that once you get it into their mouths, that they do not choke on it. Not to mention, that once you start phenbarb, you have to keep giving it to them, as it is not somthing that you give them and then take them off whenever. It's serious. My Dachshund is eleven and has been suffering from seizures for the last 8 years and is on Phenbarb. It's hard. My Chi, well, like I said it was his first seizure last night, and all I could do was sit and hold him and talk to him. It broke my heart. My conclusion, is that one should never panic. The dog needs your comfort, not panic. Spending loads of money, will not stop nature. All you can do is pray and love them with all you have with the time you have with them. That is a conservative, clean, honest, experienced answer for all of you CHI parents. God Bless.

Answer by Lacey
Submitted on 7/11/2005
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i have a chi/61/2 years old. she started having siezures about 1 year ago, and they were controlled with phenabarbital, and it seemed to help, then she had a massive seizure, 15 in 4 days she was in the E.R vet the whole time, and they finally got then to stop and also prescribed her potasium bromide, so now she is taking the two drugs together. after those last seizures, she has not been herself. she has forgot all commands and is just not the same dog, it is very hard to explain. slowly but surely she gets alittle better everyday. but the phenabarbital is causing severe liver damage. be careful with that,and have thier liver checked reg. if they take phena. we love angel, and they are the best dogs. i have spent thousads of dollars trying to get her well, and there is not a price that i wouldn't pay to make her better. thanks for all the advise

Answer by chalupa
Submitted on 7/25/2005
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hello, I recently purchased an 8 week old toy chihuahua for my little girl and "Chalupa" started having seziures yesterday and then one today. Yesterday's experience was totally frightening, so I googled for help and sure enough I read that one should feed him some sugar immediately and after that, make sure the puppy has enough food every 2 or 3 hours. Today she had another one, but this time I reacted calmly and she seems to be sleeping it off right now, nevertheless, it is a frightening experience. Here's what I do, I soak my hands with water and poke the sugar jar enough so that the tip of my finger has sugar, I force her little mouth open and insert my finger in her mouth and she'll start munching at that sugar and it seems to do just fine, no medication and no valume, just make sure to feed her after that. Good luck!

Answer by Noodleheadpig
Submitted on 8/20/2005
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My Chi, PigPig had a seizure today. She's about 2.5 years old and never had any serious health concerns-- cherry eye and a clipped toenail or two-- and I came home today-- normal routine, excitement. I dialed the phone and looked down to say hello to her and she fell over and started seizing. She came out of it pretty quick-- 20 seconds and I believe it was related to blood sugar. I was gone for about 6 hours and she had food down from the morning. It didn't appear that she had really eaten any of it. I think the change in activity and missed breakfast just sent her over the edge. She immediately drank a spot of water and ate her dinner about an hour later. She's sleeping next to me now. God bless the chi.

Answer by angi
Submitted on 9/27/2005
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I am sorry to hear so many of you are having these problems. my little chi died at 6 years old from a severe seizure about 7 years ago.tablets controlled the fits for about 4 years but she entered a fit one day she couldn't come out of. she was on a type of vallium medication which if she missed even one dose she would have a fit. it was very heartbreaking. the little chi's are far more prone to have problems (she was very small) which is why breeders are so against all the 'teacup' nonsense at the moment. a very small chi is never as strong as a normal sized one and will always have more problems. the 'hacking up' thing is normal and most chihuahuas do it. Chimomma is right a way to stop it is to cover the nostrils for a few seconds, but i prefer the other method which is to stroke the front of the neck downwards until it passes. it is not dangerous and all my chihuahuas have always done this. my chi pip lived until he was 17 and did it almost every time he got excited.

Answer by Logi
Submitted on 11/2/2005
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My parents chihuahua has siezures.... It's really upsetting... I thought she had quit having them when I moved out, but now I find out that she is having them again. The vet says it's hypoglycemia and my parents accept that and give her syrup per the vet everytime she has one. She's 11 years old and has had them ever since I could remember. She gets along fine and is spoiled to death. The one problem we have is she doesn't like to eat. We think we find a good dog food because she will eat it for a while, then she quits, so we switch and she eats it, then it's all over again. She's the older of three. I think that is her problem, she's spoiled to death. She was my grandmothers before she passed.

Answer by tediah@yahoo.com
Submitted on 4/7/2006
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Our little Panini is has just turned two. She was a rescue mission just over a year ago and was punted around and tossed about in the breeders care! Sadly this has given her a bit of suspected shaken baby syndrome and she has a unique personallity. About a 1.5 months ago Panini had a grand mal seizure and whent throught the whole unballance think in the first few seconds which made our little apple head rock forward onto her front legs and then convulse with yelps and crying for under thirty seconds. We suspected that it may have been an alergic reaction to something she snarfled up from the floor. a few days ago she had another seizure which also lasted under thirty seconds. I think it is a result of her previous home and mal treatment but if anyone could offer any advice please email me @ my emial addi We are taking her to the vet this coming week but in the mean time any extra infor would be a big help! THANKS! tediah

Answer by Genevieve
Submitted on 4/18/2006
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I have a lovely little chi called mitzy, we think she is about 6 years old. She was a lost dog and came to us through a vet whose sister found her... she is a short hair and behaves like a human... hates to be put on a dog lead...and loves driving in the car... We have had her for about two years now, and she seemed to have a little seizure about once every six months... About a year and a half ago we got a mini fox terrier puppy (Toby)... who is full of beans and always ready to play... Mitzy has started having seizures more regularly. The seizures seem to last between 1 and five minutes. Her eyes are not dazed and she seems very conscious that something is happening beyond her control. The seizures are like spasms that work their way through her entire body. I have taken her to the vet and they say it is not possible to tell what is wrong without a series of very expensive tests.... which I would do, but I worry about putting her on medication when she is such a bright and alert little princess.... Can anyone help with natural therapy recommendations? ... These fits do not seem like epileptic attacks, because she never loses eye contact with me during one, but she is very distressed while in the middle of one. She never urinates during one, but once she threw up, during an episode, but only that once.

Answer by Niko's-mommy
Submitted on 4/19/2006
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My poor little Niko seemed to have a seizure early in the morning while we were sleeping. He is almost 4 years old and around 5am I heard a muffled screaming coming from under Niko's blanket and when I ran to see what happened (within seconds of hearing him) he was in a stretched out type seizure pose, crying. It lasted for about 15-20 seconds and he urinated during this strange episode. He was wobbly for a few minutes after and seemed to be warm (well, warmer than usual)I just tried to relax him and when he was able to stand and walk he followed me and I gave him some water. I could tell he was scared and so was I... Normally he would look to me for reassurance, but he just went to lay on our couch and seemed to want to comfort himself, and I could see he wanted to tend to me but was just tired and scared. His vet appointment is in an hour and hope he is going to find an answer. I think I am more afraid of no answer. He is a bubble top and his soft spot (fontanel) is fairly large but he only weighs 4 lbs. We love little Niko so much and would really like to know how to help him. I don't want to say he has been unhealthy, because he is a very active, loving, fast-on-his-feet member of my family. Please someone, help with my concerns for my little guy. Thank you for caring.

Answer by purpleshammrock
Submitted on 5/3/2006
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My Chihuahua (6lbs), 2 yrs old has been having something that looks like a seizure. His body would be shaking and all his paws would curl and be stiff and couldn�t stand on his own. His eyes seem to be looking at me, but not moving around. So I rubbed his body, arms and legs for about half an hour and he seems to be fine. I was really scared, when he has this and he has about 3-4 of this kind of seizures in a year. The vet said it�s common and not to worry. I�m really scared when he has one of this episode and from what I�ve noticed he seems to be having this when the weather is cold. He does wear sweaters. Yesterday it was hot so I removed one of his sweaters, but this morning the weather changed to cold so that�s when he had his seizure. Also, he eats a lot, but I don�t see him getting fat, he�s just regular size not fat or skinny. Does anyone know if this is normal in certain Chihuahuas?

Answer by yuki
Submitted on 6/6/2006
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I have a 6 month old chihuahua and last month, one of his eye was stuck to the outer corner. 1 week later, it popped back to normal and then he started to squint both eyes. I thought it was cuz of allergies but it got worse so I took him to the vet and they prescribed antibiotics and and ointment for his eyes. It's been a week now and his eye's are still squinting but now he's not acting normal. At first he could still jump on my bed and lay cuz it's a really low bed but now he can't jump up at all. He will lay on his pillow all day and cry and whine alot unless he's sleeping which he does alot lately too. I think he had a seizure the other day cuz when I was trying to give him his meds, he bent his body back and squealed for a minute or so and wouldn't move at all. I didn't know what happened but now that I read all the comments above, i think he did have a seizure. Also, he hasn't been eating his regular food. I'm buying him canned food now so it's easier for him to eat but he still doesn't eat very much. The doctor says he thinks it's neurological and I haven't taken him to a specialist yet. Does anyone know what these symtoms may be????