[Dennis M]

Hi Wendy,

I wouldn’t say the seizure “turns into” coughing and retching. His seizures typically last up to 48 hours (untreated) and during them, he would occasionally cough (and sometimes vomit if he eats something he shouldn’t). The coughing might come from licking carpet fibers etc and gets a tickle in his throat. Or also could be from the rapid swallowing that causes a gagging-like effect. It’s awful to watch, but glad we have a treatment now and knowing what it is brought us so much peace. The not knowing was the worst!

From what I know about seizures, a reverse sneeze itself probably wouldn’t trigger a seizure to begin — since a seizure is a neurological event. But if your dog is having a seizure, it’s possible that a reverse sneeze-like symptom is part of it. Seizures can take many forms — I always thought seizures meant being unconscious, but I was wrong. Dogs can be having a seizure and be totally conscious and look at you when you call their name. Ours just happens to be a gustatory, meaning rapid swallowing over and over again, and looking for anything to eat.

Sometimes right before a dog has a seizure, they have a “pre-ictal” stage — our dog doesn’t do anything that noticable, other than being somewhat lethargic. Hope that answers your question!

[Dennis M]

Rita,

Hi — totally agree with anon101 above. You definitely should consult with a neurologist. Sounds like the same thing our boy struggles with, and we finally got a “gustatory seizure” diagnosis. Our regular (general practice) vet was stumped for years, and it’s really best to go to a neurology specialist. If you can, take a video to share with the doctor — that helps with diagnosis. Also if you can keep a log of when it happens, how long, what was your dog doing just before it starts, etc.

If your dog starts to have a seizure and you can’t stay home to supervise, although it seems harsh, you definitely want to crate your dog with no blankets, beds, or toys. If it is a gustatory seizure, it makes them eat inedible objects, which can be extremely dangerous. Please keep us posted and good luck!

Dennis

[Dennis M]

Hi Christie / Joan / Susan,
You might not have seen my post somewhere in this thread a while back, but I would strongly urge you to take your dog to a neurologist. Our dog has the same gulping and swallowing issues reported on this message board, and for years (close to 7 to be exact) we thought it was either IBD, allergies to food or environment, or reflux, that was causing the gulping episodes. Our regular vet couldn’t definitively say either. Since we operated under the aforementioned GI diagnoses, we unfortunately made all these false correlations with various changes in his diet and with GI medications — this food or that med (i.e. Pepcid, Sucralfate) would “work” but then he’d have another event and we’d hit a setback. Since our diagnosis of partial complex seizure was made, it all makes sense now. The diet and drugs never had any impact on his seizures — it was the seizures that would go “dormant” for a while which gave us false hope we had found the right combo of things.

Please know I’m not attempting to diagnose your dog, but based on the descriptions of these events, seeing a neurologist might be the best decision you ever made. It was for us!

[Dennis M]

Hi Geri,
Sounds very much like what our wheaten has experienced. Please feel free to email me directly and I’m happy to tell you what we did that worked.
Dennis_Murphy_77@yahoo.com

[Dennis M]

Hi Robin,
So sorry to hear of your dogs’ troubles. It’s been a while since I posted my experience but here’s what I can tell you. After over 8 years of seeing our wheaten terrier experience this gulping issue, and trying to treat as a GI event with all sorts of meds and different foods, we finally found a remedy. We took him to a neurologist and after an exam, discussing the history with me, and seeing a video of the event, the doctor felt it very well was a partial complex seizure. We have been treating him with Keppra over the past year and it works. It’s possible the presentation of these symptoms could be other things, but I’d urge you to consult with a neurologist for the possibility of seizure if nothing else you’ve tried has worked. Happy to provide details etc if you or anyone else has questions. Hang in there!

[Dennis M]

Hi Susie,
What causes these gustatory seizures is not easy to say. I definitely would keep your dogs body temp down and not let him/her get overheated. Neurologist said there might be a correlation between being over tired and seizure (as with some cases in humans) but not definite. My heartfelt belief is that all the monthly flea and tick topical treatments and possibly vaccines could all add up to these seizures starting. We no longer vaccinate our dog for anything nor do we give him flea and tick treatments. We use organic diatomaceous earth, and natural repellent sprays for bugs. While he does still have seizures, they have been less intense for sure since we went the natural route a couple years ago. I can say at this point we will still deal with these seizures for how ever long we have left with our beloved Jake, but glad we have a treatment option and aren’t hitting our heads against the wall with trying to treat as acid reflux/ulcers/GI related problem. Let me know you have any other questions — happy to share knowledge and ideas!

[Dennis M]

We had two options – Keppra extended release to be given every day twice a day to prevent seizures but the trial period to see if it helped was three to four months. Doc said efficacy over time decreases. Jake can go a few months at times between seizures so we opted for giving him Keppra regular (rapid release) only when he has a seizure. It has worked well the two times since April that he’s had these seizures. It takes an hour or two to start working but it eventually does and we dont have to stay up all night with him. He literally wouldn’t sleep with these seizures and would be up all night gulping and swallowing, sometimes vomiting. And then usually more gulping into the next day and gradually stop – lasting a total 48 hours of varying degree. Just awful. The side effect of the Keppra is it makes him very drowsy and he isn’t very coordinated “on his feet” – but doc said that is normal side effect of the meds. So he sleeps really well during the night. We have to watch him carefully due to the drowsiness but it’s a better alternative. If the seizures you experience are only a few minutes or less than an hour that might be consideration for the preventative route rather than the “pulsed” therapy we do.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Dennis M.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Dennis M.

[Dennis M]

Hi Jane S – I sure feel for you as we have had the same issue with our boy. I know you mentioned your dog has seizures and is already on phenobarbital. But I’m wondering if this gulping your dog is doing is a different seizure. Our neurologist diagnosis was a gustatory seizure which manifests itself as rapid swallowing over and over and the dog believes it needs to start eating – thus eating inediable objects which is extremely dangerous. Maybe either an increased dose of pheno or perhaps a combo/ different drug (ours takes Keppra but not everyday) to combat the gulping? My suggestion is to take your dog to a neurologist and show him/her the video. Keep track of how often they occur and how long they last. General practice vets, in my experience, won’t be able to help you. If it’s not a gustatory seizure, then you can at least rule that out. Good luck and don’t hesitate to ask me any questions!

[Dennis M]

Hi Vanessa,

Thanks for your post. Long story short, since we weren’t getting anywhere with our regular vet, whom we really do like, I took our boy into a neurologist today. Based on physical exam, watching a video of an episode I taped, and a lengthy question and answer session, including the fact that all the GI meds made no difference, the official diagnosis was partial complex seizure. I felt somewhat vindicated, as I slowly started to lean that direction over the past year or so, since I read an online post of this diagnosis in another dog. Partial complex seizures don’t mainfest the same way in all dogs — our boy happens to be the rapid swallowing and gulping, and looking for things to eat. We did not do an MRI or electro-something as the Dr didn’t feel they would yield anything. In the Dr’s 40 years of practice, he’s only seen this swallowing disorder a dozen or so times, so it’s pretty rare — but not unheard of! He most recently successfully treated a dog with the same issue — seizures went from several times a week, to a couple times a year.

So leaving the office I felt mixed emotions — hopeful — that maybe after 8+ years, we’ve finally found the answer. Sadness, that I felt like I’ve let my dog down all that time. But I have died trying! My advice to everyone who has this issue — trust your instinct. You are your fur-kid’s best advocate. If GI meds are not working, and your pet’s behavior fits this description, it’s worth investigating with a neurologist. General vets can be wonderful, but they don’t have the knowledge or clinical practice that a neuro has. My personal opinion, is that all these fur-kids struggling with seemingly seizure disorders might have a link to either vaccines and/or monthly flea/tick products. From everything I’ve read, we sometimes over-vaccinate, and I don’t want to put toxic pesticides on my dog, if it’s harmful to my own skin. So a couple years ago, we went natural with those things. Diatomaceous Earth and sprays to keep bugs off him. Again, just my personal feeling.

I’ll conclude with treatment regimen. We got a prescrption for Levetiracetum (Keppra) extended release. It has less side-effects than phenobarbital, but is slightly less effective, especially over the long-term. But better to start with the least side-effect option, especially for an older dog. The “trial” is 6-9 months and we need to continue to monitor and track. If that doesn’t work, we could then go to phenobarbital, which I am concerned about. Alters personality for a couple months until the body adjusts. So have some real thinking to do, but feel like we finally have some answers. I’ll re-post with any developments. Please let me know if you have questions. Best to you all!

[Dennis M]

Hello All,
We have an 11-year old Wheaten Terrier who has struggled with fits of gulping/rapid swallowing since he was a year or so old. I have read more and more of folks saying their vets are diagnosing this condition as “complex partial seizures” or “limbic seizures.” Something that causes a rapid — almost involuntary — swallowing. But he always remains conscious — buy clingy. It can happen weeks apart, or a few months apart, but always several times a year. And when it starts, it continues overnight (he doesn’t sleep) and into a second or even third day, gradually dissipating. He swallows so hard that his neck/head lurches forward a little bit each time — almost like a hiccup. Our vet and GI specialist we saw were convinced he has IBS / reflux issues and we’ve tried all sorts of remedies around that diagnosis, but nothing seems to help. The specialist indicated food allergies, but doesn’t make sense if he eats the same thing each day, and fully recovers on the same food that purportedly causes the issue. Here are the reasons we are leaning toward seizure (from putting pieces together) and not reflux: happens on all sorts of food brands (high quality), protein sources, canned and kibble; totally random; happens even feeding three small meals; two Pepcids given before each meal doesn’t prevent, nor does Pepcid, Cerenia (anti-nausea), or Sucralfate (Carafate — a anti-ulcer drug) combination help to prevent, stop or shorten an episode once its begun. We immediately withhold meals during an episode and give him the above meds — but he still continues to swallow/gulp and not sleep all night. We ask ourselves if reflux/GI related why wouldn’t these meds help within a few hours?

He really doesn’t have any diarrhea or straight vomiting issues. Maybe once or twice a year, he might vomit out of the blue, but it does NOT involve a gulping episode – so it seems gulping and vomiting are not the same. Simply being nauseous shouldn’t cause the involuntary rapid-fire swallowing and licking we see. Reflux would cause burning sensation and discomfort up into the esophagus, but again, if a double dose of Pepcid does nothing, I again lean towards seizure. As one member wrote — it’s so true — it seems like it’s something happening to them they can’t control, even though they are fully conscious.

Can anyone say if they’ve had success treating as a seizure? How or what tests did your vet do to make this diagnosis? What seizure meds have been used and any bad side effects? We’d be the happiest parents in the world if we could finally solve this mystery — and educate others having the same problem! Thanks so much!

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