A BERNEDOODLE’S BIG JOURNEY TO HEALTH In February, Bernie — a sweet, little bernedoodle — was brought to us after experiencing unusual episodes of foaming at the mouth, snapping his jaw, and seeming agitated. He was only 18 months old at the time. His first episode was in April 2024, when he was excited over a new toy. A second episode happened in October after grooming. The February episodes were more frequent and occurred over two days, so his mom scheduled him for an exam with us. His exam in February was normal, and it was difficult to tell if he was lip-smacking from nausea or pain or if the unusual activity was due to focal seizures. We sent out complete bloodwork to ensure that his blood counts, electrolytes, and organ functions were okay. Over the next several hours, Bernie started having more frequent and worsening episodes. His mom sent us videos of the episodes, and I was consulting veterinary neurologists over this increasingly concerning seizure activity. FROM DROOL TO DIAGNOSIS
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CAT NAPS A
Yawn!
Please excuse my sleepiness; I’ve been pretty lazy lately. If I didn’t have to write this article, I’d still be napping on the windowsill.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that your cat has been more lethargic than usual these days. Before you panic, let me assure you that summertime is typically a very sleepy season for feline friends. Generally, cats tend to sleep more during warmer months, sometimes up to 16 hours a day! It’s common for me to be in the same spot in the evening when my human mom returns from work as I was when she left in the morning! In most cases, this tendency for cats to sleep a lot in summer is completely normal — it’s something we inherited from our ancestors to conserve energy and regulate our heat during the warmest times of the day. We may also eat less on really hot days.
In August, you’ll likely find us lying near a fan, in a sink, on cool floor tile, under
Bernie ended up going to the emergency clinic and was hospitalized for two days to get his seizures under control. He was started on oral anti-seizure medications, which he will need to take for the rest of his life. There are many causes of seizures, but he likely has epilepsy given his normal bloodwork and toxin- and infection-free history.
Bernie’s mom was very astute in noticing the unusual behavior. She was invaluable in sending the videos that we and the neurologists were able to assess to determine that seizures had caused his behavior. Videos can be very helpful in situations like Bernie’s, as his seizures weren’t apparent in the exam room. Seizures can look like the stereotypical grand mal seizure — where dogs fall over, paddle, and lose control of their bowels — but can also be less obvious, like Bernie’s, where his facial muscles were twitching, his mouth was chattering, and he was fly-biting and drooling. Bernie is doing great on his anti-seizure medications, and his seizures are currently under control. We have to keep a close eye on him for any breakthrough seizures and monitor his bloodwork, but he’s living his best life! If you notice any unusual behaviors in your dog or cat, take videos and let us know! We’re happy to help.
—Dr. Sarah Young
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