Help Bandit’s BandAid Fight Sabrina’s Seizures

Madame Sabrina is an 11 month old German Shepherd Dog that began having seizures in July at 5 1/2 months old. Her owner, Rebecca, took Sabrina in for blood work and other tests. The results of those tests pointed to the possibility of a liver shunt. They can cause seizures, and Sabrina exhibited other signs of the disease as well. The vet began treating Sabrina with both anti-seizure medications and prescription low protein dog food for the liver condition. Unfortunately the treatment did not stop the seizures, and the Potassium Bromide that was helping to control the worst of the seizures was also making Sabrina more aggressive.

Bandit’s Bandaid was contacted because Rebecca did not have the funds to do the additional testing needed to confirm or rule out a liver shunt. The need became even more imperative when the Potassium Bromide was replaced with other drugs that did not cause the aggression, but then her seizures worsened both in frequency and intensity.

With help from Bandit’s Bandaid Sabrina received the testing needed for the liver shunt and the results came back negative. Although good news for her liver condition, it did not explain the seizures nor why they were becoming more difficult to control. Sabrina was sent to two specialty centers and both called for an MRI of her brain and a spinal tap as soon as possible to see if Sabrina may have encephalitis or another infections that could cause swelling in the brain or if there are structural problems that could account for the neurological problems.

Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs younger than a year is rare though not unheard of. These vital procedures, along with lab testing going on now, will allow the neurologist to determine whether the cause of the seizures can be treated, rather than just the symptoms. If so, then Sabrina may have a good chance of recovery and a long and healthy life.

Please note that all donations are going directly to Bandit’s BandAid Inc., an Indiana headquartered national nonprofit corporation. Funds will only be used to pay directly for veterinary care with Sabrina’s primary veterinarian, UC Davis for the MRI and spinal tap, and to purchase anti-seizure medications.