I know I’ve talked about our struggles with Cooper’s allergies probably a dozen times (more if you count Facebook posts!), and this post is only tangentially related to that situation. First, though, a quick update: It seems he does have a food allergy, probably chicken, and the duck and potato food has thankfully cleared up all his stomach issues. His fur is still falling out, he’s still super itchy, and his eyes are faucets. His vet was thinking it was an environmental allergy, too, so two Fridays ago we started him on an antihistamine.
Which brings us to…
Last Wednesday, I was in the kitchen making my lunch. I saw movement from Cooper’s bed, and when I looked over, he was convulsing. I dropped everything and dashed over to him. He got out of his bed and started pacing around the kitchen. His head was shaking uncontrollably. I called John. “Something’s wrong with Cooper. I think it’s a seizure.” He said he’d meet me at the vet.
As I sped drove cautiously to the vet’s office, he calmed down, and by the time we got there, he was wagging happily and smiling at everyone in the office. The vet examined him and decided to do a blood test and urinalysis.
Incidentally, that morning Cooper had eaten something green and gooey in the park. So, his vet seemed to think he might be having a reaction to something toxic, so she gave him activated charcoal.
For fear that this post is getting painfully long, I’ll sum up the next few days: Wednesday night, another round of tremors; Thursday, back to the vet; blood test and urinalysis came back clean but she suggested it could be a reaction to his new antihistamine so we stopped giving him that altogether; Friday night, another round of tremors; Saturday afternoon, another round of tremors and a call into the vet’s office, but his vet wasn’t in, so the tech just said to keep him off his antihistamine (duh); this morning, another round of tremors.
I’m waiting for a call back from the vet.
The particular antihistamine he started the Friday before the tremors started does have rarely reported side effect of tremors. It seems likely that that was causing the issue, but he’s been off it for almost 6 full days now but is still experiencing the tremors.
On top of that, without taking any allergy medicine, his eyes and skin are a mess, and he’s incredibly itchy.
There’s no real point to this post, I suppose, except to vent. It’s killing me that he’s so miserable from his allergies and this head tremor thing is terrifying. Each time it happens, my heart stops and my hair gets a little bit grayer.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before?
Is he able to respond to you when he has tremors? If it is a seizure he won’t be able to respond to you.
Bella has tremors almost everyday. Sometimes this is in response to anxiety. Sometimes, well, we just haven’t figured it out. We do know its a side effect of her Prozac, but she did it before the Prozac too.
Daisy never had tremors when he was on her antihistamines. She has some sort of allergy too. Pretty sure it is environmental. Which is hard, but right now her itching is at a low-steady level so I am letting it be.
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your experiences with Bella. No, it’s not a seizure. He does respond, and he’s 100% fine immediately afterward. Plus, his blood and urine tests were totally normal. And the tremors are pretty localized to just his head. It’s all very bizarre.
Keep us posted on Bella!
We are still trying to find a way to keep Pauley’s itchies to a minimum. We have not had any experience with tremors; can’t imagine how terrifying they are for everyone. Hoping that they stop soon 🙂
Poor Cooper! You guys have been through a lot with this little guy. I hope the tremors stop soon.
Oh Maggie, I’m sorry this is still going on. I had really hoped it would stop when you discontinued the meds – but now as you say, he’s itchy and the original problem remains, with the new twists. Call me anytime if there’s anything I can do.
Thanks Heather and Sarah. I think Cooper might be suffering less than I am though! 🙂
@Ann, I may be giving you a ring here pretty soon…
Yikes… I am REALLY sorry to hear about this! We have been extremely lucky in that the only one with significant allergies is Greta, and she gets ear infections pretty frequently, and itchy butt/belly/legs from seasonal allergies and we can give her Benadryl on occasion. I’m glad at least the tummy troubles are better. This is a rambling post, I’ll blame my own sleepiness, but please let me know if there is anything we can do to help out!
Yikes. That has to be terrifying. I really hope it gets straightened out soon.
Diamond has had her own trials and tribulations with allergies. We’re actually going to start doing allergy shots when we get back from our vacation in the fall. (Didn’t think it was fair to ask friends who were dog-sitting to give her shots.)
Since Diamond’s issue is dust, we’ve been trying to mitigate it by vacuuming and dusting more, wiping her with grooming wipes between baths, getting a better vacuum and air filter, and generally trying to make our house less hospitable to dust mites. With the environmental stuff, maybe giving him a quick wipe-down when he comes in from frolicking outside would help. Maybe also try to keep him away from weeds or tall grasses? Diamond will often bury her face in tall grasses and power sniff–and then look surprised when she starts sneezing.
Thanks, Julie! I’ll keep you posted for sure!
@Kelly, I’m sorry to hear about Diamond’s allergies. no fun. I think grooming wipes are a great idea. I’m willing to try anything, for sure! Funny thing is he totally does that power sniff thing, too, then gets these huge sneezing fits. If only we could explain it to them…
That is so terrifying! I am so sorry things have been going so poorly for you and Cooper. First the nasty allergies and now scary tremors. It’s crazy this is still a problem even though he’s been off the medication. I really hope by now the vet has gotten back to you and come up with a treatment plan. There is nothing worse than not knowing. You just feel so helpless. I will be thinking of you!
Thank you, Kristine. You are so right: It’s the not knowing that’s the hardest. I have a (wildly) overactive imagination. It’s great since I’m a writer. It’s not great as a pet parent. My thought process quickly spirals into… he has a parasite on his brain stem. Or something.
Sigh.
Oh no! Your poor baby – and poor you and John, too! Dealing with these health issues is so stressful. Have you looked into a holistic vet at all? Perhaps a natural alternative to the antihistamine is available. Also, is it possible that his new food has relieved one allergic reaction but created another? Perhaps putting him on a home-prepared diet for a while, so you can monitor all the ingredients, would help. I sure hope the tremors end soon. Buster is a seizure dog, and though he hasn’t had one since he’s been medicated, I still remember how terrifying they were to watch. Hang in there, and good luck!
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear about Cooper’s allergy problems – my dog Cali is 12 and she has had allergies since she was a pup. We have seriously tried EVERYTHING and my vet has actually told me that he has nothing left in his bag of tricks
Cali is allergic to chicken, beef, fish, dust mites, down feathers and weeds! We did allergy shots for several years, which seemed to help a little.
Oatmeal baths with cool water help too. I know how frustrated you must be, and worried 🙁 I hope you find some resolution soon!
So sorry he’s having such a hard time! Such frequent episodes ought to have a discernible cause. I would also think that if the antihistamine was to blame, they should subside after several days of not giving the medication.
I think I would really consider a consultation with a holistic or TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) vet.
Maggie!
Our dog, Riggins recently just started the head tremors. After freaking out, rushing him to a vet, and then a Neurologist, he was diagnosed with Idiopathic Head Tremors by the Neurologist… maybe this is what Cooper is experiencing? The Neurologist said that it just comes on, but there is no treatment. It does not harm them nor affect their quality of life… its just something that they do. His blood work also came back normal. ANDDDD, he has awful allergies- we feel your pain!