Frenchie health...

Rleonard91 · Jul 18, 2017

Hi all new to the site and im lookimg for some information and help from my fellow french bulldog oweners.
My boy buzz has had 2 fits (seizures) over last few weeks both at night whilst it has been hot both lasting no more then 5minutes.
He has mo breathing issues during his day to day life and is happy go lucky and is perfectly happy in the heat during the day and has been ober passed 2 years at night.
He is 2 and half now.
Im not sure if its the way he is sleeping and he possibly chockes in his sleep.
Hoping someone mat be able to shed some light on this or has experienced something similar.

Thanksm in advance

davidh · Jul 18, 2017

You said he is happy during the day in the heat, I hope you have him inside and needs to be in A/C. Frenchies are not outside dogs. If he is inside, then I would put a fan on him, he could having problems because of the heat.

Rleonard91 · Jul 19, 2017

Im uk based and weathers not as hot but he is kept inside and this is happening at night. Seems to be only when he gets into a deep sleep then it happens.

Mavis · Jul 19, 2017

How warm is it in the house at night? If too hot, maybe you can purchase a cooling mat for him to lay on.

Cbrugs · Jul 19, 2017

Have you taken him to the vet? If he is truly having seizures, he may need to be put on medication.

Rleonard91 · Jul 20, 2017

Thanks for the replys. Been to vets and as of yet still not sure why may need an mri scan and they think its epilepsy &#55357;&#56862;
Also has an pancreitis issue.

2bullymama · Jul 20, 2017

Rleonard91 said:
Thanks for the replys. Been to vets and as of yet still not sure why may need an mri scan and they think its epilepsy &#55357;&#56862;
Also has an pancreitis issue.

Can you get video?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Jakeyjake · Jul 20, 2017

Are you sure it is a seizure he is having or could it be sleep apnea? If it is seizures, epilepsy is usually diagnosed when there is no other explanation for the seizures. Stella had seizures as a very young puppy and was put on phenobarbital. My vet and I did not see eye to eye about the cause of her seizures and I weaned her off of the drug and she has been fine for 3 1/2 years.

Nu2frenchie · Jul 20, 2017

Have you given any meds to him recently? Flea and tick, etc?

King Louis VIII · Jul 23, 2017

My guy just had his 10th birthday on July 11th, and in late June, he started having seizure-like episodes, sometimes once a day, several days in a row, but there have been multiple days with no incidences at all. The episodes last 1-3 minutes, tapering off with heavier panting sometimes for a couple minutes beyond that timeframe. I've kept a daily log of his mood, appetite, potty habits, etc, and thought I had noticed some patterns, until we had 2 mornings in a row, where he seemed to wake up into smaller episodes. He loses memory of us, and becomes timid after the bigger episodes, but we have seen him seem to return to himself after a few days where he has no episodes at all.

Blood work showed nothing special for an aging Frenchie, so our next course of action is to see a neurologist and have some brain imaging done. He is starting a 2x daily dose of phenobarbital to treat/control the seizure symptoms today.

I would definitely recommend seeing the vet if you think your Frenchie is having seizures. When the seizures occur with my guy, he stiffens up like a board, and either breathes rapidly like a very loud snore, or appears to be choking for a bit and then resumes the loud breathing, and the legs will begin to cycle some, or a lot.

100% agreed that you must find every way possible to keep bullies in a cool environment. Sometimes when you feel it's an okay temperature, it's actually too warm for your Frenchie, so agreed, even just a fan directed at them in those cases can work wonders for their comfort and mood!