Dolly

[CarolC]

I don't know. Maybe if I had the large sized carrier. I use a top-open Petmate with her and those are all medium. I don't have a top-open large-sized one. I could look and see what's out there. When she's having the seizure she's lying on her side, but when she comes out of it she's sitting up and circling, which there isn't room for her to do in her Petmate carrier (can't even sit all the way up). The best thing might be something that would fit on the floor of the passenger side, even just a box the right size. She could sit up, not tip it or fall off the front seat, and I could see her well.

We are adjusting to the new schedule where I have her medicated, diapered, bed changed, and breakfast served by 7:45 am. She gets her last dose at 10:30 pm. That's still 9 hrs 15 min apart for the bedtime dose and breakfast dose. I'm getting 8 hrs sleep from 11:30-7:30. I don't know if this is good enough. I know on some meds you can flex up to 2 hours, but I don't know if the 2-hr flex is only for once-a-day or twice-a day-meds, or how much you can flex a 3x/day med, if at all. On the current dosing schedule I'm flexing 1 hr 15 min. I also don't know if seizure meds have to be more exactly on time. From what I can tell it is probably (?) a "time critical medication". I haven't found anything that says that plainly though, and Keppra/levetiracetam is not in either of my pet meds books, they are too old.

Humans seem to get Keppra 2x/day, so that's different. There is an extended release tablet, only available in larger sizes. Dolly is small and not getting extended release. Did not realize they have an injectable form that could be given during a seizure. I will ask about that if we continue to have problems. The neurologist increased her to 0.7 ml for her 3x/day dose a few days ago.

I could get her down to exactly 8 hrs apart if need be. I'm still taking naps most days anyway.

[critters]

I’d think that little bit of flex would be fine; the level won’t be 0 at the stroke of the hour. They might also be able to do a suppository for during a seizure.

[CarolC]

EDIT TO ADD:

It is okay to be an hour late or an hour early, but consistent timing is important. Regular Keppra is given three times a day, and Keppra XR/ER (Extended Release) is given twice a day with food.

I've been keeping to the schedule as precisely as possible. She has had seizures on 3-7 and 3-17. I think I've got to where I can recognize a look on her face. The one on 3-17 (I think) was low blood sugar. She had eaten extra for dinner, then didn't eat breakfast. She's had them several times midafternoon, like 3-4pm.

Yesterday we had the same situation where she looked like she wasn't feeling well, and I gave her some Hill's w/d stew, which she will lick the soup part and leave the meat, and it doesn't agree with her (she gets messy-bottom) but I thought it was better than a seizure. After the little bit of stew she ate hopefully averted another crisis, I tried everything I could think of to get her to eat a real meal. She wasn't even very interested in her homemade Gerber turkey and rice.

So last night I went to PetsMart and looked for senior canned. When I tried Authority Mature 7+ chicken and vegetable, she liked it. It's very pureed like a/d. She had half the can last night and I gave her the other half this morning. She ate about half and is sleeping. Oh, and she woke up clean this morning. Now I need to go back and buy more. Just happy we found something!

EDIT TO ADD: I am going to try giving her 3 smaller meals a day instead of 2 like the other dogs. I gave her some more Authority Mature 7+ chicken and vegetables when we did her 3 pm Keppra. The Authority she had for breakfast also agreed with her, clean blankets. I hope she keeps liking it.

[critters]

Very creative!!

[Christine]

Wonder how something like this would work when you have her in the car? It is open on top, straps to the seat so it is secure, soft enough you wouldn't have to put extra blankets and you can touch her. It also looks like it is washable.

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Booster- ... =8-25&th=1

[CarolC]

Hi Christine,

Oh, that looks so comfy. What a nice ride for some little doggy princess. Something like that but with deeper sides might work. The seizures throw her around, which is the main reason I hold her in my arm when she has them. She'll be thrown against the side of the crate or twist in uncomfortable contortions, then suddenly flip another way. Many years ago I knew a lady with a miniature schnauzer and when he had a seizure she would take a pillow off the sofa and hold him down so he didn't get flipped all over the place. When I tried that for Dolly with a thick folded blanket pressed down her, it didn't really work. I think she needs something with high sides to be contained safely.

She's doing fairly well. The main issue this week is she's a bit messy, and she's a very clean natured dog and that distresses her. She's stopped eating her w/d dry kibble that gave her quality stools. I'm not sure why she quit eating it. She's eating a senior canned food because we're in "anything she'll eat" mode right now, and if we don't keep something in her stomach i *think* it makes her more prone to seizures. I don't know for sure, just seems that way. Anyway, we're washing blankets a mile a minute here to keep up this week.

Thanks for your continued support of little Dolly. I'm sure she'd tell you herself if she could!

[CarolC]

She's eating her w/d again.

[critters]

[CarolC]

Dolly isn't feeling well. I think the Heartgard chewable 7/19 upset her stomach. She hasn't wanted to eat since then. I'm syringing water. I took her outside this morning because the cicadas were singing up in the trees and I didn't want her to miss it. She used to like to eat the shells if I found one.

[critters]

Aw, that’s not good. Eew on eating shells though!

[CarolC]

We're doing a little better. I think what happened (layman's guess) is the Heartguard chewable upset her stomach or possibly caused pancreatitis. She had it Saturday, then she didn't eat Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or yesterday. Monday was her neurology recheck to get her Keppra reauthorized, and she had the stress of the vet visit, plus the a/c is out in my car so we drove over and back with the windows open but it was probably hot for her. The vet exam didn't find anything, and she has gained a little weight since her last check.

During the past couple of weeks I've noticed she is having trouble getting up on her front feet from lying down. I don't know if it's age or the Keppra, I would think age. She's been on Keppra since December and this just started. The problem is they slip out from under her on the blanket, even though I have the plushy side on the bottom. I don't know of a good surface for her. Something she can dig her feet into better, but it has to be absorbent and washable. We have some large bath towels but she has the same problem. Then if she can't get herself up, she can't get to her water or food in the middle of the day or during the night when she often eats. Plus it frustrates her. Right now we are doing assisted feeding of water and baby food. I hope she'll accept regular food by hand soon. When I tried the past few days she didn't want it, but I think it's because of the pancreatitis. I'm scared to say it, but she had most of a jar of baby food at 3 and now she's sleeping and we'll see how she feels when she wakes up.

[critters]

I’ve seen washable pee pads with silicone nubbies on the underside, like paw prints or something. I wonder if they make something with nubbies on both sides?

[CarolC]

Dolly drank water from a bowl for the first time in days. I was giving her water by syringe every 2 hours the past few days, which is a piddly amount, but if I offered the bowl she didn't drink it. Today at 8:15 pm she did. She was very thirsty.

I found some quilted mats to protect a couch that are cotton with non slip nubbies on the back and ordered 2. If they don't work for her, Millie can use them. They should sell something like this. I've had one after another senior pet (cats and dogs) where their feet slip out when they try to sit up, and boots aren't always the answer.

This afternoon I saw what looked like very slight wagging. Dolly has always had the cutest thing, where she wags when she's concentrating. I think it was something like that.

[critters]

Sounds promising!!

[CarolC]

Dolly went to Heaven Sunday night after a combination of old age and a long seizure caught up with us. She would have been 17 next month. Sympathy not needed, I have peace about it. This last week was lousy for her, but her life was pretty good till then.

Eternal heartfelt thanks to members here who have cared about her. I keep thinking of that song.

From this valley they say you are going.
I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile.
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathways a while.

Dear Dolly
Aug 23, 2008 - July 27, 2025