Seizuring puppy
Anonymous said to @ask-drferox: Hello! So, I was on the hunt for a puppy and came across a breeder who has what is honestly my dream dog. Only thing is, his mother did not break his sac at birth and the breeder was unaware as she was dealing with an emergency. He was in his sac for about 30 minutes and is reported to have coordination issues, and has had one seizure (this week) since his birth in December. Do you know what this means for him going forward? Is it possible for his brain to rewire itself or is he screwed?
I would be somewhat cautious about this puppy, Anon.
While hypoxic brain injuries can and do happen at birth in many species, and the young animal can recover to the point where it is indistinguishable from its peers at an adult, they don’t usually have seizures. They are more commonly referred to as ‘dummies’ and typically fail to suckle or stand in those early few weeks. Often they have to be tube fed as they may not have a suckle reflex at all, but are worth persisting with.
An animal that seizures that young is a concern, as it may have a structural abnormality in the brain, and hydrocephalus would be high on the list of suspicion. This is especially the case if the pup seems to have eyes that don’t look straight ahead, but seem to point outwards a bit.
A mild case might be manageable, but a hydrocephalic puppy that’s having seizures is not a mild case, and they are typically also runts and slow to develop.
Brains can do amazing things, but I would be cautious about being optimistic for this puppy.
