.

How scary for you.... Rileys sister Maggie has had several seizures. I don't know all the details, but I have emailed her owner to see if she has any good information to share. As far as I know Maggie has always been a healthy dog, and I don't think they ever have figured out what causes hers.. I will let you know when I hear back from them. Please let us know what the Vet says. We will be thinking about you

I just got an email from Maggie's owner. She has had a total of 4 seizures . Although they do not know what has caused hers, the Vet said they don't typically do anything unless she would have 5 within a years time. Then they would put her on medication. And other than that she is a perfectly healthy girl.

She did say that Maggie would be out of it right after, but then would be fine like nothing had happened.

Again....Please let us know how it goes at the vet
.

I have no experience but want to say I wish Jasper all the best and yourselves of course.

Jasper is very handsome.

Many years ago we had a small dog that started getting seizures out of the blue. No reason known. They mysteriously just stopped after about 2 months.as far as we knew they never happened again

__________________
Used to known as LYNN but now Forum doesn't recognize my sign in
LMAO... nevermind..... I WAS LIZA... no wonder I couldn't log in

I am so sorry to hear about poor Jasper.
The food you are feeding is very high quality and is very much recommended by many in the Berber community in my area including a reputable breeder as well as a lady who has 2 rescue berners and one she adopted as a pup. All are 8 years old and healthy.
Now have you tried metamucil in his food? Just a spoon full is all you need and you'll notice nice firm stools! Are you supplementing him or incorporating some raw food? If not very beneficial supplements include omega 3&6s (good for fur, brain and cancer prevention), fish oils (deep water fish! Also cancer prevention) and glucosamines for joints and bones. Now it you research you'll find many more but careful not to over do it.
Now the main causes of seizures in most dogs can either be genetic, tumor on the brain, or exposure to a house hold toxic (rat poison, etc).
I hope you find the root of the cause because it
makes it much easier to treat and deal with.

Don't give up, and enjoy jasper now. Make every moment you have with him happy and count. It's hard but you just need to take it a day at a time, and you've got the best person with you along the way-- Jasper.


Hugs to Jasper and yourself!

I am sorry you are dealing with this - this is never easy. I am also sorry to say that I have seen more seizures in dogs than I can count. It is relatively common in Berners and I know many on my Natural Berners list who have dealt with these. They always treat this with chinese herbs and homeopathy however and avoid the heavy drugs like phenobarbitol that causes so many other problems.

As for cause - I have posted so many times about the immune deficiency in this breed - the intense sensitivity as a result and high proneness to auto-immune conditions. Seizures are within this realm if they endure a level of assault on their immune system greater than they can handle.
It is fair to say this is a underlying genetic predisposition and this is why I try to say it as much as I do.

Heavy metal toxicity is the best known cause of seizures in most creatures - studies abound showing this. Certain vaccines contain heavy metals and this is thought to be the #1 trigger in dogs - MLV vaccines have the highest risk of triggering the seizure threshold.

The following is an excerpt from a seminar paper presented by Dr. Dodds
entitled: "CLINICAL APPROACHES TO MANAGING AND TREATING ADVERSE VACCINE
REACTIONS," in which she references this study. She has many documented cases of
the rabies vaccine triggering an autoimmune response in predisposed dogs.

Here is one source by Dr. Jean Dodds, canine immunologist:

"Adverse Events Associated with Vaccination

The clinical signs associated with vaccine reactions typically include fever,
stiffness, sore joints and abdominal tenderness, susceptibility to infections,
neurological disorders and encephalitis, collapse with autoagglutinated red
blood cells and icterus (autoimmune hemolytic anemia, AIHA, also called
immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, IMHA), or generalized petechiae and ecchymotic
hemorrhages (immune-mediated thrombocytopenia , ITP). Hepatic enzymes may be
markedly elevated, and liver or kidney failure may occur by itself or accompany
bone marrow suppression.

Furthermore, MLV vaccination has been associated with the development of
transient seizures in puppies and adult dogs of breeds or cross-breeds
susceptible to immune-mediated diseases especially those involving hematologic
or endocrine tissues (e.g. AIHA, ITP, autoimmune thyroiditis) . Post-vaccinal
polyneuropathy is a recognized entity associated occasionally with the use of
distemper, parvovirus, rabies and presumably other vaccines. This can result in
various clinical signs including muscular atrophy, inhibition or interruption of
neuronal control of tissue and organ function, muscular excitation,
incoordination and weakness, as well as seizures.

Certain breeds or families of dogs appear to be more susceptible to adverse
vaccine reactions, particularly post-vaccinal seizures, high fevers, and painful
episodes of hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD). Therefore, we have the
responsibility to advise companion animal breeders and caregivers of the
potential for genetically susceptible littermates and relatives to be at
increased risk for similar adverse vaccine reactions. In popular (or rare)
inbred and linebred animals, the breed in general can be at increased risk as
illustrated in the examples below.

Polyvalent MLV vaccines which multiply in the host elicit a stronger antigenic
challenge to the animal and should mount a more effective and sustained immune
response. However, this can overwhelm the immunocompromised or even a healthy
host that has ongoing exposure to other environmental stimuli as well as a
genetic predisposition that promotes adverse response to viral challenge. The
recently weaned young puppy or kitten being placed in a new environment may be
at particular risk. Furthermore, while the frequency of vaccinations is usually
spaced 2-3 weeks apart, some veterinarians have advocated vaccination once a
week in stressful situations; a practice makes little sense scientifically or
medically.

An augmented immune response to vaccination is seen in dogs with pre-existing
inhalant allergies (atopy) to pollens. Furthermore, the increasing current
problems with allergic and immunological diseases have been linked to the
introduction of MLV vaccines more than 20 years ago. While other environmental
factors no doubt have a contributing role, the introduction of these vaccine
antigens and their environmental shedding may provide the final insult that
exceeds the immunological tolerance threshold of some individuals in the pet
population. The accumulated evidence indicates that vaccination protocols should
no longer be considered as a "one size fits all" program.

In cats, while adverse vaccine reactions may be less common, aggressive tumors
(fibrosarcomas) can occasionally arise at the site of vaccination. A recent
study from Italy reported finding similar tumors in dogs at the injection sites
of vaccinations (Vascellari et al, 2003). These investigators stated that their
"study identified distinct similarities between canine fibrosarcomas from
presumed injection sites and feline post-vaccinal fibrosarcomas, suggesting the
possibility of the development of post-injection
sarcomas not only in cats, but also in dogs.

Additionally, vaccination of pet and research dogs with polyvalent vaccines
containing rabies virus or rabies vaccine alone was shown to induce production
of antithyroglobulin autoantibodies, a provocative and important finding with
implications for the subsequent development of hypothyroidism (Scott-Moncrieff
et al, 2002). "

Ok, so beyond vaccination......

Spinosad, a chemical pesticide ingredient commonly found in flea treatments has been clinically shown to trigger seizures in sensitive animals.

Heartworm "preventatives" are also chemical pesticides regulated by the EPA and have been shown to have a host of side effects including seizures. These are being orally ingested by our dogs and usually show other serious organ and GI Tract issues first.

Finally, diet. We are what we eat and we are only as healthy as the quality of our food. Processed food (anything you pour out of a bag or can) carries some risk of bacteria, and after countless recalls, any potential toxic ingredient can go awry.
What truly builds health and strengthens the immune system is whole, fresh foods without antibiotics, artificial preservatives and highly processed and engineered ingredients (high fructose corn syrup).

Keep in mind that what you should focus on is your entire environment and what he is exposed to collectively over the past 2 years. It is not simply something acute necessarily, but rather could be a cumulative effect of some constant exposure for 2 years. Cleaning products, laundry detergents, formaldehyde in carpets, rugs, upholstery, and mattresses are all serious offenders (so if any recent purchases or home improvement has been done lately consider this).
Anything with toxic fumes and high VOCs should be prevented from being near him and do not allow him to stand behind a running vehicle emitting exhuast fumes.

I know this must be a tough consideration and I applaud you for thinking first about him and what you all are equipped to do for him. If purchased from a responsible breeder, then that breeder would have a clause in her contract stipulating that she will always take him back if anything interferes with your ability to keep him. So let me know if you have a responsible breeder as if not, and you decide it is best to rehome him, contact me and I will coordinate Rescue for you.

Rachel

For your information:

I found 72 records of seizures in Berners in Bernergarde. This is not a high amount relative to the total population, but this is highly under-reported as well.

Nonetheless, it provides you with some insight into the problem.

Many followed vaccination....some were the result of brain tumors or abnormal brain activity via MRI....some were associated with other auto-immune conditions or asceptic meningitis.....others were never concluded.

Rachel

Riley has ( now in remission) asceptic meningitis. No seizures thankfully. But his sister Maggie has had several. Our Breeder turned out to be more than questionable.

But I think we got Riley for a reason. I am afraid someone else may not have "hung in there" with him the way we did. And I have to give credit to our Vet as well. This was something fairly new to him, but he never once gave up on our sweet boy!. So....not all vets are bad. It is just like the doctors we choose for ourselves. You have to do your homework ! and get second opinions.