Koda Update
As many of you know, Koda has been a little under the weather. With his seizures getting worse and his post-ictal stage also getting worse, the Vet decided to retest his phenobarbitol levels. Well, this vet is not the one I normally go to. He seemed nice enough but was really wishy-washy about the medications and whether or not to put him on a new medication. So finally after Koda had three seizures within a half an hour then less than a week later having three more seizures within an hour and a half, I put my foot down. I flat out told the Vet I wanted to try this new medication called Potassium Bromide. So the vet says he will figure out a level and get back to me. In the meantime, Koda has another seizure and the vet finally calls a few days later to give me the dosage levels.
Dad goes and picks up the new medication. The vet prescribes 3cc twice a day. We inquired as to whether or not he would be putting Koda on a loading dose and he said no that with Koda being on Phenobarbitol already, there was no need for a loading dose. So over the past week and a half, Koda has been getting 3cc twice a day as ordered plus his regular 1.5 grains of phenobarbitol twice a day.
As the week progressed Koda started acting "drunk" and he developed allergy symptoms. I had called the vet once to report his lethargic state and his "drunken stumbling." By now my old vet is back and I am able to speak with her. She says that having these symptoms is normal.
Well, Koda continues to get worse to the point where he doesn't even get up without someone dragging him up. He would act like a wet noodle, a very heavy wet noodle, when I would try and get him to stand.
So we called the vet back. She says to bring him in (of course because they get more money that way) and they would look him over. Well low and behold, we find a reason for his drunken, lethargic state. Remember that 3cc twice a day dosage? That is actually a loading dose that dogs are only supposed to get for the first two or three days of being on the medication. A dog his size is only supposed to have 1cc twice a day. End result, the vet almost killed my dog. In the online references mom read, an overdose of Potassium Bromide can be fatal.
Funny thing is, we still had to pay for the vet visit.
I'll keep you posted on the "drunken dog's" progress.
Dad goes and picks up the new medication. The vet prescribes 3cc twice a day. We inquired as to whether or not he would be putting Koda on a loading dose and he said no that with Koda being on Phenobarbitol already, there was no need for a loading dose. So over the past week and a half, Koda has been getting 3cc twice a day as ordered plus his regular 1.5 grains of phenobarbitol twice a day.
As the week progressed Koda started acting "drunk" and he developed allergy symptoms. I had called the vet once to report his lethargic state and his "drunken stumbling." By now my old vet is back and I am able to speak with her. She says that having these symptoms is normal.
Well, Koda continues to get worse to the point where he doesn't even get up without someone dragging him up. He would act like a wet noodle, a very heavy wet noodle, when I would try and get him to stand.
So we called the vet back. She says to bring him in (of course because they get more money that way) and they would look him over. Well low and behold, we find a reason for his drunken, lethargic state. Remember that 3cc twice a day dosage? That is actually a loading dose that dogs are only supposed to get for the first two or three days of being on the medication. A dog his size is only supposed to have 1cc twice a day. End result, the vet almost killed my dog. In the online references mom read, an overdose of Potassium Bromide can be fatal.
Funny thing is, we still had to pay for the vet visit.
I'll keep you posted on the "drunken dog's" progress.
posted by Stephanie @ 9:01 PM
1 Comments:
At 1:48 PM,
Anonymous said…
Maybe you should seek employment as a vet. From my experience, ya sure as hell don't need alot of formal education--just a ouija board, a magic eight ball and an office with a lot of fancy equipment. And you can charge concerned pet owners exhorbitant fees and pretend to know what you're doing. Damn. I hope the poor little guy is doing better. He's lucky to have such a dedicated mommy (and grandma).
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