My foster mom has been doing a lot of research on the computer recently. She told me I may have something called OCD which means "Overly Cute Disorder." (Duh!!! Everyone knows I'm the most adorable dog in the world... in addition to being the fastest). Apparently the symptoms are that that I run around in circles a good part of the day (Hey, I'm happy and running in circles makes me feel good), I like to chase my tail often (I'm like Peter Pan. I'm never going to grow up!), and I do something my foster mother calls "air biting." She describes me as looking like a little "Pacman." I'm not sure exactly what that is, but she said it's a computer game she used to program on her first computer.
She's currently trying to find out information about this. She's very concerned I get the proper treatment and that my forever home will be able to help care for me as best as possible. I'm really not sure what this means. I guess this all just confirms I'm very special which is something I've suspected all along. I don't think there's anyone on this earth happier then me.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Story of an unwanted sheltie....
Blog Archive
About Me
- Crazy Sheltie
- SoCal Pooch Pimp
- Helping match shelter animals with loving homes.
3 comments:
Hello,
I highly suggest that you see an animal neurologist. I rescued a 6 month old male Sheltie in 2005. I thought that he had OCD....fence running, constant pacing, running in circles, fly biting.
My veterinarian said that it might subside a bit after I neutered him. It toned down a bit, but not significantly. I decided I would just walk him more and we started walking about 2 miles daily(two one mile walks a day). Helped a little bit.
In the summer of 2007, he often started getting a runny nose, head pressing against his dog bed, started drooling a lot, had stiff limbs, labored breathing and one morning I woke up to him with his chest covered in drool. He was extremely hyper and pacing and he had deficated in the house which was highly unusual. After about three of these episodes over the course of two weeks and constant visits to the vet to determine the problem, I witnessed him have a full blown seizure. After his seizure he would become disoriented and pace and lose control of his bowels (sometimes temporary blindness and deafness).
Long story short, what I thought was OCD turned out to be an auto immune disorder, and uncontrollable seizures. We were in emergency every month trying to adjust the seizure medication. It lasted for a year. In August of this year the emergency veterinary specialist that had been treating him every month could no longer control his seizures, even on a valium drip while in emergency. They strongly believe that he may have had a slow growing tumor which was causing his uncontrollable seizures, runny nose, head pressing, constant circling and pacing and stiff limbs.
I really hope and pray that Clover is just high strung. She displays the same behaviour that my poor little boy had from the time he was a puppy. What I thought was OCD was actually PSYCHOMOTOR SEIZURES. This type of seizure is predominantly behavioral involving involuntarily howling/barking, snapping, circling, etc.
I really kick myself and regret not taking him to a neurologist from day one. I didn't know they even existed. I was also told that a simple eye exam from a neurologist could have answered a lot of questions regarding a possible tumor, brain trauma, infection, etc.
I really do not mean to scare you, but a visit to a neurologist might save you a lot of time. Regular vets will just medicate your dog and tell you it's OCD. A neurologist can rule out any type of brain damage, tumors, or central nervous system disorders. Best of luck to you.
Dear Maria,
Thank you for sharing that. My mom has been doing more research. She sometimes cries and hugs me. She has decided I will need to see a special doggie doctor afterall. She's hoping once I get a diagnosis and medication I might feel much more calm.
Again, thank you for your concern and sharing this information. My foster mother really appreciates it.
Love,
Clover
Hello,
I felt pretty horrible after leaving the blog regarding psycho motor seizures. I just want you to get the special medical attention from a neurologist that I should have been able to give my little boy, Chewie.
I thought I was doing the right thing by taking him to the best veterinarians in North County San Diego, but it was a cancer specialist that finally clued me in and by that time my poor Chewie's seizures were uncontrollable even with medication. I didn't even have enough time to get new blood panels and neurologist xrays because I couldn't stop seizing.
Please let me know if you have any questions at all. I've done a year of research and continue to research on a nightly basis.
Chewie passed away on 8/02/08, and I just recently believe I found the answers I was looking for that could have greatly helped him.
Whatever you do, if any doctor tries to prescribe Clover Phenobarbitol...pls don't give it to her. I regret giving it to Chewie because it's just a quick fix that has bad side effects. It's a barbituate so it addictive and digs build a tolerance to it so it eventually stops working until you increase the dosage and it is detrimental to their liver. It's the first thing a veterinarian will prescribe for seizures and I wish I had researched it before Chewie became addicted to it. By the time I tried to ween him off of it, he would have seizures from withdrawal.
If it is suggested, ask for Potassium Bromide or Sodium Bromide instead. It's a lot more effective and it's not addictive and is not processed by the liver. I had to switch Chewie to Sodium bromide because the Potassium Bromide really caused stomach upset and loose stool. He continued taking Phenobarbitol with it because he was addicted and would have seizures if we tried to reduce the dosage. Very unfortunate!
Something else that did help Chewie's behavior was switching him to a grain free food. I switched him to Wellness Core and added enzymes to his food. His skin, coat, temperament and energy changed for the better. Unfortunately, it didn't help his seizures and this is most likely because he may have had a brain tumor, brain disease, or his liver was failing and becoming toxic due to phenobarbitol.
He had so many health and behavioral problems. I just know if I had been more equipped and had the knowledage about his psychomotor seizures before they progressed to full blown seizures, he would still be alive.
Please feel free to email me or call me if you have any questions. I have a ton of really helpful links and just changing my dog food to grain free and adding enzymes made a world of difference for Chewie the last couple of months he was on the diet. My two Corgis are still on the grain free diet and they shed about 95% less and no longer display allergy symptoms like paw licking and teary eyes. They're the healthiest they've ever been and their behavior and energy is so much better. I guess it's like cutting gluten out of a child's diet.
If you have any questions, my e-mail is pitpitm@saic.com and my home number is 760-471-1513 cell is 858-245-1352. I would love to share any info that might help if you need it. Clover is adorable and I can see how easy it must be to fall in love with her. All the best, Maria :.)
Post a Comment