QUESTION

Our 1 year old Bassett recently suffered a massive seizure which landed her at our local vet. Belle came home yesterday and we immediately noticed that she is noticeably weaker on the right side, dragging her front paw, can't seem to hear from that side and also believe she can't see from the right side either. I have read some of the articles listed and believe she has suffered a "stroke". She circles to the left, her good side and when called always responds that way to the left. Our vet has treated her with Decadron and antibiotics, Cipro and Doxycycline for possible bacterial and fungal infection. Lab work is pending to also rule out certain protozoans. Because she is so young the possibility of the stroke was not believed to be the problem. But after reading some of your responses and seeing her symptoms I think we may have been wrong. I am a RN by trade and have worked with many human CVA patients, reading some responses I have hope that Belle may be able t o recover from this if she is started on the right course of action. I realize that medicine is not an exact science and it is rule one thing out at a time, but after describing her symptoms to you what is your belief in what is going on. Thank you

Blaise Schreyer

ANSWER

Dear Blaise Schreyer,
It is likely that the dog has suffered an oxygen deficit due to the fit or that the fit has been brought on by an infection and meningitis which can lead to one sided problems.

The oxygen starvation is by far the most likely and this can be due to a severe fit or combination of drugs used in sedating to bring the fit under control.

I have seen this problem in a number of young dogs that have suffered fits and tend to associate it more commonly with infectious causes but most will make a full recovery but could take months in doing so.

The treatments that I have previously mentioned with Vivitonin and Aktivaite would also be beneficial but I would also make you aware that by increasing the oxygen concentration within the brain there is always a worry that you could increase the rate of brain activity and hence go into another fit.

I always warn anyone in this sort of situation that that could occur but have never seen one have further problems yet.

Paul Wilson