CEN

Hi,
I'm the owner of "Ali" as 7 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
He Fitted for the first time about a year ago, having knowledge of epilepsy it was not to distressing and Ali got over this first fit very quickly, the second came Nine Months later and again he got over this fit very quickly, then it really started, 2 fits in 2 days. So we booked an appointment at the vets who in my opinion quite rightly said if it carries on we will get him onto the drugs, well it did and without hesitation he went onto EPIPHEN with great success, the fits stopped within 24 hrs and have not come back to date but Ali has changed......

Ill miss the middle out as its long but now he just howls like a wolf ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT with the exception of 6 hrs when he just instantly goes to sleep. The vet has taken him off EPIPHEN and put him on POTASSIUM BROMIDE (normally a back up drug used in conjunction with EPIPHEN) He still has not fitted but his Howls if anything are worse.

Possible brain tumor? Vet has said no neurological signs of this but it is possible.
Side effects of Dugs? Well we are now on new drugs so looks unlikely.
Brain disorder of some sort? Very possible.

I would love to know if anyone else has ever heard of a similar case, as to be honest if it carries on it looks as if we will have no choice left!

Goodness! I have never heard of that happening. I hope someone else will chime in and be able to help. Have you tried searching on the internet to see if others have had this problem and a resolution?

Good Luck!
Keep us posted.
Barb & epi-Sampson

We have looked in all the places, the books,etc, etc.

We have had a better night last night 9 clear hrs but this morning his howls have started again. It's almost a "madness" in Ali.

I am now thinking has he had a stroke but if he has the signs are not there??

Ill visit the vets again today but I do not hold out hope. We love our animals to bits, 2 dogs a cat and chickens which all live in harmony but how long can we deal with this.....................

Have you done a search for howling here? If you just type in "howling" there are several past posts. I remember reading someone else's post a while back that had a dog with howling issues but I don't know the exact post.
Good with Ali.

Lynne

Well, it was inevitable I suppose but Ali has passed. This is a very difficult time for us but I feel I need to write this.
He was fading and had no emotion left in him, I rang the vet who heard him howling in the back ground, she came around to our house and agreed it was time, if you believe in anything from above then just maybe they were looking down because Ali went into his quiet mode and fell asleep, he awoke for a short while and our vet did what they needed to do, it was so peaceful he just fell asleep again and for the first time in a while he was in peace.

The vet and I both think he had a brain tumor, due to his total personality change, an MRI was an option but it would only have told us what was wrong, a cure would still be required and the costs would have been tremendous.

My heart is broken, my mind is shouting at me, this has been the hardest day.

I'm so sorry for your loss...

Lynne

I am so sorry for your loss. Do not feel guilty. You had to do what you thought was right and I know the decision was a heavy one to make. I'm sure you were the best mom Ali could ever have.

Barb & Sampson

I'm so sorry for your loss. Such a cruel disease, another epi baby gone

Thinking of you at this time.
Mandy