Forrest had a seizure last night—number eleven. It happened around 12:08 a.m. and lasted about a minute, though it’s hard to say for sure. I usually rely on my Blink cameras to review exactly how long the seizures last and how they start, but this time, they were unknowingly disarmed, so nothing was recorded. I did check my Apple Watch right after giving his rescue medication, and it said 12:08. The short 15-second clip from his Furbo camera—captured after the convulsions had ended, while he was still lying on the floor—was time-stamped 12:09. Without the Blink footage, I can’t confirm how this one began like I usually can.
Forrest had been sleeping on the floor when it happened—he often moves between the bed and the cool hard floor throughout the night. I was asleep and woke up to the sound of him falling over, so I assume this seizure started like the others.
During the seizure, I stay close to him—always. I always make sure his head is protected. Thankfully, his head landed on the rug in front of our bed when he fell over. I gently rest my hand on his side so he knows I’m there, and I talk to him calmly and lovingly, telling him that I’m right here, that I love him, and that he’s a good boy. I also pray over him, asking God to protect and calm his body. It’s become part of our rhythm now, as hard as it is. When he comes out of it, he always looks for me. And, of course, I am always right there. I think his vision is impaired in those moments as he is coming around so he always wants to smell my face and my breath. He has never acted aggressively after a seizure so I allow him to do this as I can tell it’s what he needs and it calms him to know I am there.
These nights are never easy, even though I handle them better now than I used to. I wanted to share what seizure days are like for both of us, because if you’re navigating this too, you’re not alone.
The seizure itself is always heartbreaking to watch. This time, I got behind him to administer the intranasal midazolam, and it went much smoother than when I used to try from the front. It’s such a small change, but one that helped so much in the moment. Once it passes, we’re both physically and emotionally drained.😒
Today, the day after, I kept things as calm as possible for both of us. Forrest is always a little off—extra tired, quieter. I’m thankful I was off work and could be with him. We both needed the rest. We napped, snuggled, and kept it slow and peaceful. His granny (my Mom) dropped off a new stuffed pig she bought for him recently and, as you can see in the pic below, it was the little happy he needed today.
To clean him up after the seizure (since he loses bladder control during seizures), I use rag and a bowl of lukewarm water mixed with his shampoo and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Once he’s dry, I follow with a waterless foaming shampoo to keep him fresh until I can give him a full bath the next day. I never bathe him on seizure days—I don’t want to add any more stress to his sensitive system.❤️🩹
He’s always hungrier after a seizure, which I actually find comforting. He ate well today—so did I—and I made sure he had his favorite Sonic ice and lots of water to stay hydrated. Thankfully, he tends to bounce back pretty quickly.
This seizure ended a 40-day seizure-free stretch, which ties with his second-longest run since starting phenobarbital. His longest was 54 days, right after we first started pheno. Interestingly, both longer stretches happened after a dosage increase, so I’m hopeful that we’re still heading in the right direction. My prayer is that he can make it at least 30 days on his current meds and not fall back into his old 17-day pattern.
If you’re in the thick of dealing with seizures with your pup, you’re not alone. Every episode is hard, but they don’t define their whole story. There are still good days, tail wags, hopeful stretches, and sweet moments like Sonic ice and snuggles. I think I see a pupaccino in Forrest’s near future. He definitely deserves one!🍦
We do better now—but it’s never easy.
If you have a pup with seizures, I’d love to hear from you. What does a seizure day look like for you? Do you have any comforting routines or helpful things you do? Share in the comments—I know your ideas could help someone else too. 💜
We’re praying this stretch continues and that Forrest gets many more calm, seizure-free days. Every nap, every snuggle, every Sonic ice moment matters.
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