Dog Illness - Epilepsy or Toxic Frog?

by Lorrie Davids⁽⁶⁷⁵⁾ Blue Star

About a week ago one of our dogs woke me up whining; her way of alerting me that she either has to go outside or something is wrong. Usually, she has to potty, but not this time.

I went to the back door calling both pups to go outside but only one came to the door. My almost 13 year old pup was still laying on her bed. She was having great trouble getting up and had vomited bile. I kept encouraging her as our Husky, the alerter, goaded and snipped at her. At first I called off Sasha (the Husky/alerter), then realized she was doing her job; getting RiCA to get up and walk.

RiCA got up, walked a couple steps and would fall to her left. Her left leg was as if it was asleep and her head dipped to the left also as if she had severe vertigo. As she attemped to walk in the yard, I got my camera and made a short video. Finally RiCA just laid there with thick, frothy saliva dripping from her mouth.

I left her outside, called my husband and the vet, picked up RiCA and loaded her into my car. I was pretty upset, in fact, missed the turn to the vet and had to backtrack, but did remember to bring the camera with the video.

When we go the vet RiCA could walk on her own, but was still pretty unsteady. Our vet took a look at her, viewed the video and gave us options. We could do blood work, they could do x-rays and tests, or we could take her home and watch her. He was pretty sure she hadn't had a stroke and she had not been near antifreeze. If we took her home and there was something life-threatening, he told us we'd be back by the next morning. Because she was doing better as the vet was observing her, he said it was most likely an epileptic seizure or she had licked/nudged/grabbed a toxic frog. He leaned toward a diagnosis of the toxic frog.

From both she would be back to her old self quickly, though the initial symptoms were alarming. If she shows these symptoms in the future, he said the first thing to do is rinse her mouth.

If it was an epileptic seizure, he assured me it is hardest on the pet owner, the dog bounces back just fine, it has no lasting effect and it won't kill her. They don't even medicate unless the seizures are frequent.

By the time we got home, RiCA was pretty much her normal self. Her left leg was a little stiff, but she is older and a little arthritic, so that is understandable. She ate and drank normally the rest of the day, but I didn't take her on our nightly mile walk. She got a little more attention than usual, which she loved and I still am telling Sasha what I good little sister she was to come and get me.

That morning I really thought I would be saying "goodbye" to the pup who rescued me many years ago. I hate that in a few years that day will come, but for now, I am thankful to have my pups in my life. A toxic frog? How about that.

Article submitted Saturday, September 17, 2011 & read 217 times.

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