Category: Seizure

Baby Jake Crosses the Rainbow Bridge

Christine (Tina) M. ArmbrustLeave a comment

On May 25, 2022, at 12:30pm – Baby Jake passed. I miss my little boy… I miss how he would lay on his pillow in the corner of my bedroom – watching to make sure all was well; I miss how he kept Kaiden “in line” and played/chased him; I miss how he would run outside to the back… look across the yard to the neighbor’s yard and look for “Oscar” – then once seeing him they would run back and forth along the fence line barking at each other; I miss taking him to the hill; I miss him.

He had three grand mal seizures… one at 4:30a, one at 7:00a and the final one started at 10:00a. It wouldn’t stop… in spite of emergency meds given twice by me and once at MedVet. They finally got it to stop by sedating him. His temperature had risen to 108 degrees. We decided to let Baby Jake go as the seizure had lasted over an hour… the damage – they said – could be tremendous to both his brain and his organs. If it was a brain tumor – and I think it was by how he was acting the last week – it had encroached on serious parts of his brain. I don’t know if he suffered when he was seizing… but I couldn’t take the chance.

Kaiden and I were there. I held him… told him how much I loved him and thanked him for being with me for 16 years.

It took some time to put our memories together in a video to ease the passing but I just couldn’t do it and I couldn’t figure out why… In reflecting – I discovered that his passing marked “the end of an era” for me. I was so very blessed with four sweet pups at one time – Shadow (born 2001), Misty (born 2004), Baby Jake (born 2006) and Sir Lukas (born 2008)- and they have all passed. Baby Jake was the last of my babies. Baby Jake came to EVERY trial with me from 2017 on. He wasn’t a lover of agility… – and retired twice (2010 and 2018) but couldn’t stand to be home alone (he would howl so mourning and escape the fence)… so he came. He was the protector of the house… and was a kind, gentle leader after Shadow passed. I miss you Baby Jake as does Kaiden… It’s been 43 years since the last time I have had only one pup! I so look forward to the time when I see you again!

This is Baby Jake’s “tribute” video… I loved that pup!!

Baby Jake had another Seizure

My Dear Sweet Baby Jake – who is going to be 16 years old in May – had another seizure Saturday, February 26, 2022

Christine (Tina) M. ArmbrustLeave a comment

My Dear Sweet Baby Jake – who is going to be 16 years old in May – had another seizure Saturday, February 26, 2022. It was the third Grand Mal seizure (perhaps four) since his surgery on his right torn CCL. I was asleep and heard him thrashing. I jumped out of bed and ran over to him. I am not sure how long it had been going on… but I held him in my arms… with it eventually slowed some 3 minutes later. He quieted… with Kaiden laying near both of us.

As we laid together – memories flooded back. I remembered Baby Jake as a small little puppy; Jake playing with Lukas; and Jake running agility (and hating every moment). I remembered Jake laying down watching me from afar – as my protector. I remembered telling him that his job was to “guard” the house… protecting both the house and me. I remembered how lonely he was after both Misty and Shadow passed and he was left at home while Lukas ran agility (howling and jumping the fence trying to find us). He is such a good dog… he is my Baby Jake.

So as the recovery began, Jakey tried to get up. His vision was impacted as he had no menace response. When he tried to walk – he would walk into walls. He so wanted to walk… was pacing continually. I walked with him – hoping that his vision would return; hoping that he would become less anxious, hoping he would return to his old self. I wiped off the “foam” from his mouth area and from the carpet and prepared for the post seizure period.

He paced… and paced… and paced.

I took him outside on a leash so he could walk some more. I followed him in a circular fashion in the master bedroom… the carpeted area – then the bathroom area – back to the carpeted area. I can’t tell you how many “laps” we did… but I know it seemed to comfort him.

His vision returned about 45 minutes later. I shut the bedroom door and allowed him to pace as he had no desire to lay down and got very agitated when I had him lay with me. He eventually did lay down at 11:30p – 2.25 hours after the seizure. Started to walk again after some 15 minutes… and then laid down again.

Thank the Lord… he returned and slept the night. I didn’t sleep well – waking every 15 minutes. Kaiden didn’t sleep well either… with him watching Jake as he slept throughout the night.

We love you Baby Jake.

Baby Jake with Lukas and Kaiden getting ready for the Christmas Card photo.

My Dear Sweet Baby Jake

Christine (Tina) M. ArmbrustLeave a comment

Baby Jake is now 15.5 years old (October, 2021). He has all the qualities of a “protector.” He watch from afar… always keeping his eyes on me and my location. When I leave the house… his job is to protect the home. He does this with pride. He allows me to stroke him… to pet him – but not too much! He sleeps more now… but so do I!! HaHa

He most recently had to have corrective surgery on his right leg when he tore his CCL. It was such a tough decision to put him under anesthesia at this age… but I was so concerned about his quality of life. You see, Baby Jake loves to run the fence barking at his next door neighbor’s dog. In addition, he loves to go to the field looking for deer. These are the two things that appear to bring joy to his heart… We went with the suture surgery since his activity level is lower and it was a shorter surgery. Hope it was the right decision… especially since he has had three seizures since the surgery. Two I was there… grand mal seizures. The third – he came to me after the seizure. I could tell as he was very agitated, drank a ton of water, and wanted to be around me. Dear boy… I hope I did the right thing… I so love my little boy!!

Baby Jake had some “friends” over to swim in the pond. Jake doesn’t go in… but loves celebrating with his buddies! See how happy he is at 15.5 years old… makes my heart warm! Love you Baby Jake!

Baby Jake has had one round (ten sessions) of PT at MedVet after surgery. I am taking him back for another round as his right leg appear to be weaker. I need to be diligent in his exercises…

The above video is when some friends came over with their pups to swim in the pond. Baby Jake just loves their “Jake.” and will follow him as he runs… and will bark at him as he goes in the water. I see the happiness in his eyes, in his body movement, in his being and it makes me so happy to see. It’s such a different type of happiness… it is like seeing pure joy. It is a warm type of joy that actually bring tears to my eyes.

I love you Baby Jake!

Little Lukas had a Seizure

Christine (Tina) M. ArmbrustLeave a comment

My little Lukas had a seizure after over a year without… or at least I think a year without.  I now am wonder if he has been having them and I am not aware.

He had dinner at around 6:30p.m.  Everything was normal.  Went outside around 8:45p.m. to repair a board on the barn and I saw him holding up his paw like he was stiff. Got out there right away… he looked at me as if he was confused.  Kaiden reacted with sniffing and whining around him.  Kaiden has a good heart for noticing when his dogs are “in trouble.”

In any case, I put my arms around Lukas and laid him down.  He was stiff and shaking.  He seemed to be struggling some with a unawareness of what was happening.  I ended up bringing him into my lap and holding him close.  It may have been my imagination but this seemed to help a little.  I thought the seizure was stronger and lasted longer than in the past.  I began to sing to him…  “Hush little baby…”  Believe it or not… I do truly think he calmed even more.  Sung for about two minutes until the seizure was over.

His recovery…  he laid in my lap for some 5 minutes.  When he eventually wanted to get up his back legs were widely spread to balance his body.  His stands was wider than normal.  He seemed to be a bit unsteady on his feet – not a lot but a bit.  We went to the bedroom and onto the bed so that he could lay comfortably.  He recovered.

Jake started to bark at the neighbor’s dogs… and Lukas wanted to get down.  He seemed a bit unstable on the stairs that lead to the bed but went out the bedroom door, down another set of steps and to the fenced area.  He did went to the bathroom (urinated).

It has been over a year.  This was stronger and seemed a little longer (a little over 2 minutes).  I will increase the herb back up to two scoops (from the one he has been on for a little while).  I will watch him the rest of the night…

I will also ask Jen Ortman (appointment on August 23) if he knew he was having a seizure as well as did Kaiden know what was happening.  I am wondering if Kaiden can let me know somethings happening…  I’ll ask her.

Rest little Lukas… rest.