Glory health update and energy request

[trystinn]

For the last several days, Glory has been super friendly and clingy. Not at all her usual personality, which tends to be rather aloof and independent - like a lot of collies. I'd also noticed the nictitating membrane of her right eye is raised up a bit. Not irritated, no glands showing, etc. and its not bothering her, so I figured we'd give it a week or two to resolve on its own since she hates car trips and gets scared in new environments. No doubt due to her deafness and senility.

"Today, she had some kind of stroke or seizure. Her legs were shaking violently, as she staggered around the living room slamming into furniture and walls, head whipping about. I ran to her and supported her, so she wouldn't hurt herself. Her eyes appeared to roll back a bit, but corrected instantly, and she continued to violently shake for several minutes. I pushed her to a lying down position, which seemed to upset her more, so I let her back up and just held her until it subsided. After several minutes, and of course, after I'd called in the calvary - she got up and is walking around perfectly calm. Super friendly, interested in everything (again, not like her normal personality), panting a bit and stiff legged on her right side (especially her rear leg). After another ten minutes, I gave her a baby aspirin for the stiffness and although she's very tired, she seems fine.

I have no idea what these are. I called a few vets, who insist its NOT an emergency unless she keeps having them (gee, thanks) or doesn't recover from the episode and so we've got her scheduled for an appointment next Tuesday am. One kindly explained that given her advanced age (14), there's not much he could do test-wise or treatment wise and at this stage so an emergency appointment will just upset her and cost $$$, and suggested that keeping her comfortable is all we can do for now."

I know she's getting close to the Bridge and we're as ready for that as we can be. I'm enclosing an older picture of her sleeping comfortably, as that's what we'd like the focus to be for her.

Comments

[gentledaddy.livejournal.com]

Is she still able to have full function of her right side? I wonder... with seizures we don't usually see them trying to walk, and there are different types of seizures that we can see - from mild to the more violent grand maul type. Unfortunaltely with seizures, the only thing that can be done is when it is happening, which is give them something like valium to stop the seizures. If it's recurring seizures there are antiseizure meds out there, but that would be best determined after blood tests are done to check for any liver problems. If it is stroke, or a brain tumor, an MRI/CT scan would determine diagnosis.
I am glad she is still eating well though, and that she has you to care for her. May her last days be full of food, comfort and lots of love.
My thoughts are with you.

Thanks, sweetie

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

She's very stiff on her right side, especially her right (rear) leg - not bending her knee and ankle much, but not really limping, either. Sort of pulling from the hip, if you can visualize. I have valium (my script for dental visits - I bite), though.

The vet already ruled out MRI/CT - she's way too old to risk the anesthesia. We only rescued her a few years ago so we don't know her full history, its estimated she's almost 15 and we're told most likely a rescued breeder from a puppy mill they shut down ten years ago.

She's napping comfortably now, the other dogs are staying close to her. I'll keep an eye on her and sleep on the sofa tonight to be close to her, too. If it does happen again tonight, I don't want her alone and in the dark.