10 years old miniature schnauzer cluster seizures

Hi all,

We have a male Miniature Schnauzer which is 10 years, 7.3kg. It had its first grand mal seizure on last month 23 April at 11pm. And following by some cluster seizures around 2am 24 April, 6am 24 April. We managed to take it to the vet on 24 April morning. And he had another grand mal seizure at the vet which is around 11am, and the vet treat with a rectal Diazepam. The vet first suggested a blood test, and the result showing low on red blood, hemoglobin count, and slightly high on calcium but within the upper range. The vet had mentioned about brain tumor and many other cause that might cause the problem. Also might be a tick fever come back, which it had tick fever once like 5 years ago. During the time waiting for the blood test result my schnauzer is on a treatment of Doxycycline (3/4 of the pill per day) for 6 days. It has another petit mal seizure on the same day at 11pm, which we treated with the same rectal Diazepam we got instructed from the vet. And it seem completely back to normal in the follow week, the blood test result for tick fever is negative.

And suddenly this morning 05 May it had a petit to grand mal seizure again, which last less than 1 minutes like all previous seizures (but this time he is also vocalizing), we haven't give him Diazepam cause by the time we got the medication it already back to normal. We are planning to give a visit to bigger hospital and get a more detail check, but we're not sure the cause yet. The vet we had last time suggest a MRI, which when i compared the symptoms on brain tumor online. It just doesn't really match, it haven't show any behavior problem at all. So I would like to get some advise if it show take a MRI or is it better to consider testing on other organ? the thing i concern is the low red blood cell count, which it haven't perform another blood test after the treatment. I'm not sure if it went back to normal or still low.



It had no prior sign of other disease, only had tick fever once like 5 years ago (cured with treatment)

It having same diet for many years, Canidae, home made boil beef shank unseasoned, raw chopped carrot and broccoli. no problem at all

Vaccine: Rabies, heart guard, front line plus


Thank you very much and very much appreciate if any of you can give some advise or share similar experience.


Hayes

Hello Hayes and welcome .

I am sorry to read about your Mini, I am afraid I can't really advise you .

The symptoms sound like epilepsy but it could be other things and I really don't know where the low red blood cell count fits in here

The MRI scan can rule out certain conditions but can't confirm others so it is really a process of elimination isn't it to find the cause of your little dogs problems . If the blood test is repeated and the blood cell count still low I would really want a series of tests including looking at the organs to make sure there is no bleeding going on anywhere.

I am sorry I can't be of more help, you must be so worried..
All I can suggest is be guided by your vet..

Please let us know how things go . Be assured we will be wishing your little dog well..

Hello Hayes Welcome to the forum from a fellow Miniature Schnauzer owner.

I can't help you either but there is a forum dedicated to Schnauzers where you should be able to get advice from other owners of epileptic Schnauzers.