Sunny (Sunkist)is a 7.5 yr FS who is the sweetest dog I’ve ever met. Goes to children’s Hospitals, nursing homes, VAs to truly bring joy to these people’s lives when there isn’t much to see on a day to day basis. She is very good at her job, but I believe she is such an empath she truly takes in peoples pain/sadness. Her seizures started about a year ago and we on Zonisamide as seizures were not Gran Mal and appeared to be focal. Seizure occur mostly in the morning but can also be triggered by loud noises. Seizures have progressed despite zonisamide 200mg bid Tian Ma Gou Ting Yin for Blood deficient seizures and Si Wu Xiao Feng Yin for Blood deficient dermatitis. I have also added 750 mg Keppra tid and recently 1250 mg KBr sid. Also on ElleVet CBD With no discernible improvement in seizures. They were certainly worse in late summer early fall (number and frequency) but not sure if meds are reducing seizures, though I’m sure they would be worse without ? Sunny has some of the worst large flakey dandruff I have ever seen. Not responsive to Omega 3s or herbs. She has lichenification on her abdomen and groin with large dark to pale flakes but also on dorsal surface as well. She has been on kibble with home cooked food for the last year with no noticeable improvement. I recently got her to switch to all non processed diet (mixture of commercial raw and home cooked and we are seeing some improvements with flaking. However, she is getting more and more anxious around the owner as an almost preictal type event and will clear obstacles to get next to her owner..often before a seizure but not always.
Her tongue is pale to lavender but more moist than dry with no coat.
Pulse is broad and toneless and short. Deeper I could convince myself it is a Ge Mai pulse as it became toned middle deep with tonification of GB 30. Tonification of SP4 extended the pulse. I sedated ST 36 and tonified GV3. Blood was then drawn for KBr level Which are acceptable and cbc/profile all normal. Not even a hint at liver dysfunction. After treatment, patient became anxious and you could see Wind invade the GB median starting around the ears all the way down to rear legs with quivering of semi’s, gluteals, biceps femoris. I applied pressure to the point on the ear for seizures (which I can never remember the name and haven’t been able to locate) and sedated BL15 as she became tachycardic. Seizures resolved within a minute.
Sunny doesn’t do therapy stuff anymore as any kind of stress (even trip here to clinic) seems to precipitate more seizures. Especially with AP/VSMT-we had elected to minimize treatments to not poke the dragon.
Would Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang seem appropriate? I always have felt like these were Blood deficient seizures, but with majority occurring in the am, that would indicate more Damp? She recently had an evening seizure so there’s that. Tough case. Thanks for the help!!