Spike's Diary

Spring 1998
During a walk with our son Sicco, Spike fell down and couldn't walk anymore. Sicco carried Spike home and with my husband he drove to the vet ( I wasn't at home). The vet thought it might be a strained back muscle.

Thu May 27th, 1999
Spike had a fit. I didn't witness it myself because I was away for the day. Sicco told me Spike fell down during their walk and couldn't walk anymore. They rushed to the vet and on arrival Spike could almost walk again. The vet thinks Spike overstepped himself.

Sat Apr 29, 2000.
It was my husband's birthday today. We had guests in the evening when Spike started cramping. It was the first fit I witnessed. Spike started to walk on eggs. I called him to me. He came to me on unsteady legs. He tried to keep standing but in the end he gave in and lay down. The episode lasted for about 10 minutes. The guests and we were very upset. The vet thought he might have been poisoned (slug pellets?), because all Spike's seizures occurred in spring.

Fri Aug 4, 2000.
During our holiday in France , Spike had a very severe seizure (epilepsy?) on the camping site. Our first Border Terrier had seizures like this. I blame the Stronghold drops in the neck I had used the day before. Spike suffered from skin mite so I had to use it!

Sat Aug 12, 2000.
Back home from our holidays. In the garden Spike was shivering from pain. He had difficulty to walk, couldn't jump anymore and showed pain in the lower back area. The vet couldn't find what was wrong with him. She thought Spike had a very sore stomach.

*at the next visit to the vet it became clear that Spike was suffering from severe back pains. He wasn't able to jump for six weeks. X-rays were made and they showed Spike has severe spondylosis. Spike got painkillers which caused an ulcer in the end.

Mon Jan 1, 2001.
The new year was only 5 minutes old when Spike started seizing. Caused by the spondylosis? The next day the vet told me spondylosis doesn't cause seizures.

Jan, 2001,
Somebody told me to visit a German website which describes fits similar to Spike's fits. I printed all information and took it to the vet. He contacted Diana Tilnner by telephone. After this conversation we decided to put Spike on Hill's KD. Spike doesn't suffer from epilepsy but from a cramping condition more Border Terriers suffer from.

Sun Apr 8, 2001,
Spike had a fit.

Sun May 6, 2001
Spike had a fit.

Mon May 21, 2001
Spike had a fit.

Sat Jun 23, 2001
Spike had a fit, we have just come home from our holidays.

Thu Jun 28, 2001
Spike had a fit.

Fri Jul 27, 2001
Spike had a fit.

Mon Jul 30, 2001
Spike had a fit.

Mon Aug 6, 2001
Spike had a fit.

Wed Aug 22, 2001
Spike had a fit.

Sun Aug 26, 2001
Spike had a fit.

Sun Sept 23, 2001
Spike had a fit during our holiday on Ameland. We had been walking and had drunk coffee on the terrace at the seaside. While we were walking back to our car, Spike started cramping.

Sun oct 7, 2001
Spike had a fit.

Oct t/m Dec, 2001
During these months Spike was cramping two to three times a week. I was desperate. Diana Tillner promised me Spike and his cramping brother Binky would be examined at Utrecht University. When? Binky was suffering too much and had to be put down in December. During this last year I had tried several kidney diets for Spike. The result was loss of muscles. So I put Spike on lamb and rice, it went well for a month, then he started cramping again. After that I tried vegetarian dog food: Spike started cramping within a week. In November Spike had a very severe episode. The cramping went on and on. I finally rushed him to the vet who gave him valium and kept him in observation several hours . At the end of November I decided to go back to a kidney diet for Spike (Leo). In December I received the message that Spike would be going to Utrecht the next month on January the 14th.

Tue Jan 8, 2002
During a walk in the woods Spike started cramping severely. I carried him to the car and drove him to the vet right away. They gave him valium and kept him for observation for several hours. The cause of this episode probably was yesterday's vaccination.

Mon Jan 14, 2002
Today we took Spike to Utrecht University. We felt terrible about having to leave him there in a cage. Fortunately Diana Tillner will be there during all the tests performed on the dogs. After we had talked to her we felt a bit reassured.

Thu Jan 17, 2002
This afternoon we could take Spike back home again! He was in a bad way, recovering from the anaesthetics and loss of blood (for the tests) Diana told me to take it very easy with Spike for a few days because Spike was very weak. The tests proved that Spike's liver is ok. Diana advised me to feed Spike Bento Kronen Premium Regular. If Spike starts cramping I can give him buscopan (children's dose).

Sat Feb 16, 2002
I decided to start cooking Spike's food myself: the Kronfeld diet.

Sun Apr 7, 2002
Spike had a fit again five minutes ago, I wasn't able to take pictures because I just can't stand seeing like that, I have to hold him. It was quite a bad one, he moaned softly as in pain. I had noticed the moaning during his previous fit but thought it was my imagination. He shivered all over, eyes watering and he was salivating. Towards the end he did strange things with his head; it was like a human nodding his head while falling asleep sitting up.

He was so happy today ... Yesterday he ate faeces in the woods, human or dog I don't know, I didn't want to look.....So I was prepared for this to happen, but as this day went by I thought we were lucky this time. He also had 3 walks this day, which was more than usual, because I also limited his activity. We reached the 5 weeks fit-free today - I am soooo disappointed.

Fri Apr 19, 2002
Today I discovered that at the top of Spike's tail (an area of 4 cm long) the hair had disappeared and the skin was bloody and covered with scabs. We went to the vet and after examination the vet told me it was probably caused by the spondylosis. Spike's back was painful in the loin area caused by some swelling. This swelling put pressure on the nerves and this caused a tingly feeling in the tail. So the conclusion was: he must have bitten himself!! Because of the cramping we can/dare not give him medication to take away this swelling. We decided to try a homeopathic medicine.

Wed Apr 24, 2002
15 minutes ago Spike had another fit. We were walking in the woods. I gave him the buscopan (I always have one with me) and carried him to the car. He is soooo heavy when you have to walk with him in your arms. I am soo disappointed... This time he didn't eat anything he shouldn't eat. He was quite happy barking and carrying a big stick in his mouth. It must have been the extra walk. The weather is beautiful and I want to lose some extra weight :-))) so this week we started with 2 walks a day (one hour each), one later in the morning and one in the early evening. I think that is the cause....

Wed Apr 24, 2002
I was just in the kitchen to feed Spike when I saw the bottle of homeopathic medicine the vet gave me this week to treat Spike's back problem. Could it be this medicine that started today's fit? I stopped using it when Spike was in such a bad way in December. But it is always said homeopathic medicine has no side effects. I don't know the English words for the ingredients. It contains devils claw, strong diluted lead, strychnine, nitrate and ethanol.

Thu May 30, 2002
Just after we came home from our daily walk Spike had a fit again. The last one was on April 24th so the result is not too bad. But I feel sad about this happening again. Yesterday was my son's birthday , Spike was very excited all evening. Perhaps this fit was a belated reaction? My son was at home and he took some pictures; I hope they will be good. I thought about taking pictures far too late again because at first there is the anxiety then the medicine and the comforting. So the pictures were taken at later stages during the fit.

Fri Jun 7, 2002
What I feared yesterday, happened half an hour ago . Spike ate the cat food yesterday afternoon and just had a major fit. I took pictures: first in his dog basket and then on the floor. My hands were shaking so much I don't know if they will be good enough. What is it in the food that gives such a bad reaction??? This fit explains the bad behaviour towards the kittens yesterday evening and this morning. Spike is now resting on our son's bed.

Sun Jul 7, 2002
Spike had just another fit. He was outside in the garden and when I looked to see what he was doing he just lay there cramping. It was more severe than the last time, his head was shaking a lot and he arched his back backwards. I needed much strength to hold him. His ear was wet from his tearing eyes. After I had given him buscopan I took him on my lap. Spike was alert because when my husband came in he responded to his voice by looking that way. It was 5 weeks ago when he had his last fit. Now he is sleeping upstairs on our son's bed.

Fri Jul 12, 2002
Today I started Spike on the supplements co- enzyme Q-10, L Carnitine and vit B complex. I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping it will help or at least doesn't make his condition worse. These are very expensive supplements. But if it helps it doesn't matter. If his condition has not improved in about 3 months, I will stop giving it to him.

Thu Aug 8, 2002
Spike had a fit at the end of our walk this evening. Normally I always carry his pill with me, this time I had forgotten to do so. We got into the car and drove home (me with Spike on my lap). After the 10-minutes drive home he was almost back to normal . I have used the supplements for about 4 weeks now and next Sunday it will be 5 weeks after his last fit. For the last 2 weeks I have noticed that Spike is more relaxed and he sleeps more. Perhaps the effect of the supplements?

Sun Aug 11, 2002
My questions are answered rather unpleasantly. Spike just had another fit. Question is what caused it. I sprayed both dogs with frontline on Wednesday because they were plagued by fleas, brought home by Smokey and Bandit from the cat hotel. Or was it the supplements? I don't know. What I know is that I will stick to the home cooked food. It is scary, already another fit, I hope it was only this once.

Tue Aug 13, 2002
On the internet I read an article about epilepsy. It was advised to be careful with flea sprays, drops etc. So I think Spike's 2 fits may have been caused by the frontline spray. Spike doesn't suffer from epilepsy but the poison might also be bad in cases of Spike's Disease. The poison enters the skin and settles in the fatty tissue.

Tue Aug 13, 2002
Spike just had his third fit, I am scared. I will immediately stop giving the supplements and go to the vet tomorrow. The frontline is active for 4 weeks. What am I to do?

Wed Aug 14, 2002
I washed Spike with benzoylperoxide shampoo. I soaked him for 5 minutes. I know he may have another fit because he hates to be bathed but at least I hope I have got rid of the frontline. The vet told me it might be necessary to bathe Spike for several days to get completely rid of it. We agreed never to treat Spike again for fleas just to keep the cats flea free. I hope Spike will have a speedy recovery. He slept and ate well. During the past I observed rather obsessive paw licking (near the 'thumb'). He likes to lick his paws but this week it was so obsessive he panted while doing it. I think it was a sign he was/is not well.

Thu Aug 15, 2002
Spike still is not his happy self again. In the woods this morning he walked like an old dog behind me. Another dog noticed Spike's condition and attacked him. Spike landed in the water and after that ordeal Spike was very frightened. He is still on the supplements and I have a strong mind to move back to only the Kronfeld diet. We don't know how this disease works and it could be bad in Spike's case to use these supplements. I don't know.

Fri Aug 16, 2002
I listened to my feelings and went to the vet with Spike this afternoon. After examination it was clear Spike had a fever caused by a severe pain in his back. This pain is probably caused by the 3 cramping episodes of the past week and the attack by the dog yesterday. Spike got a 'mild' painkiller (starting with half a pill to see if it does not provoke another fit). Now an hour after he swallowed half his pill I am happy to say his tail is up again and the ball in his mouth.

Sat Aug 17, 2002
This morning Spike was shivering with pain, the painkiller was too mild. I phoned the vet right away. He gave Spike an injection with opium. I have to phone again in 4 hours to tell if the injection has helped. He had such a bad spell 2 years ago, his recovery took 6 weeks then. Spike has spondylosis and probably the attack by the other dog caused damage to his back.

Sat Aug 17, 2002
Spike got the second painkiller at 7 o' clock this evening At half past 8 he still was moaning, so I called the vet again. He came to our house 15 minutes ago and gave Spike an injection to take away the swelling around his spine. Tomorrow I will to start him on prednoral (prednison). I hate to think what it might do to the cramping but we have to do something to take the pain away.

Sun Aug 18, 2002
Spike seems a little better this morning. He lost bladder control during the night, caused by the painkiller, I think . He wanted to go out for his walk to the woods this morning , the garden was not enough . We took him with us and made the walk very short (10 minutes). He was happy and walked with a stick in his mouth. He had a swim (his coat is now clean again, it smelled of urine) and then we went home again. Now he is sleeping in his dog basket in the garden (it is still very hot over here) and my husband is walking Kyra because for her the 10 minutes were not enough!

Mon Aug 19, 2002
Spike's condition is still improving. We had a short walk this morning and another one this evening. He also had a swim during both walks (the vet told me swimming is good for his back). The squeaking finally stopped.(it drove me mad because I didn't understand why he was doing it). His back is straight again (his back was arched with his tail between his legs) and occasionally his tail is up again. During the whole ordeal his appetite has been good. Food was the only thing he wanted to raise himself for even when he had so much pain on Saturday. That is amazing with these dogs: always eating, when they don't eat anymore the end is near (at least with mine).

Tue Aug 20, 2002
This afternoon me and Spike visited a kind of 'dog whisperer' . There was not much whispering going on :-))) and when I left after 10 minutes I was lots of Euro's lighter. He stroked Spike (he has healing hands) and Spike became very relaxed. When I came home and looked behind me Spike was standing on his hind legs, paws on the back of the seat to see where we were. I let him do some peeing and afterwards he scraped his hind legs again. Something I hadn't seen for days. He still is not his old self again (he isn't even angry at the vacuum cleaner these days) but this visit did him lots of good!

Spike suddenly became worse again. We were out on a little walk, suddenly he yelped and he was in very much pain again, shivering and panting. We rushed to the vet. It seems Spike has terrible intestinal pains (perhaps he has had these pains all along ....). Spike got an injection with buscopan, He is not allowed to eat or take pills till tomorrow morning. Then they will take x-rays of his abdomen. Can it be something connected with the cramping? Or perhaps he has licked his coat and swallowed some frontline?

Wed Aug 21, 2002
We went to the vet this morning. The vet took the x-ray and wanted to keep Spike to discuss his condition with the people at the clinic and perhaps take more x-rays. At 12 'o clock I could pick him up again (a little heap of shivering misery). There is nothing wrong with the intestines, stomach or kidneys. It must be the spondylosis. There is one point in his back which still has some mobility left, the rest is stiff. There is a nasty hook between his tail and back. The vet told me to give Spike valium to relax the muscles. It didn't help. He was shivering and panting. I phoned again and asked for a good painkilling injection (all the time the vet had treated Spike in a way it wouldn't provoke extra fits). I told him to ignore it. I wanted Spike pain free if extra fits would occur we would deal with them when they came, but first the pain. The painkiller worked. Tonight I will give him some valium to go with it. He is only to walk short walks on the lead, no swimming, no car rides. He is going to be treated like he was made of porcelain.

Thu Aug 22, 2002
After the painkiller yesterday afternoon, it looks like Spike is reasonably painfree at the moment. I gave him some valium for the night. I phoned Diana Tillner yesterday evening and she advised to give Rimadyl (a NSAID). After I spoke to Diana our vet called to ask how Spike was doing (I have great vets). There are 3 of them and they are all very concerned. I told her I spoke to Diana. This morning I collected the painkiller and gave it to him. I am careful with painkillers because 2 years ago, when Spike also had such a rough period with his back, he developed an ulcer caused by the painkiller. At the moment his intestines make loud noises an the smell is awful here (breaking wind).

Fri Aug 23, 2002
Spike is still doing better so I lowered the rimadyl to a quarter of a tablet this morning. He is not showing pain and is much happier!

Tue Aug 27, 2002
This evening I was softly stroking Spike's back and I discovered a large scab ( as big as my hand) on his spine going down to one side. The dog really did bite Spike!! But I never discovered blood in his black coat and he was too sore for close examination. Poor Spike! I underestimated the fierceness of the attack; it didn't look so bad when it happened. All this pain caused by a big flesh wound I only now discover. How stupid can one be???

Thu Aug 29, 2002
This afternoon I went to the vet with Spike to have the scabs on his back examined. The vet was surprised by the size of the scab (as long and wide as my hand over his spine). The vet told me the other dog hadn't damaged the outer skin but the skin lying below. This lower skin had been ruptured and had died off. This causes enormous pain (something we witnessed during the past 2 weeks :-(((((). This dead skin becomes inflamed and this forms the big scab. Spike is on antibiotics now. We have to come back next Friday! The good thing, however, is that it wasn't the spondylosis playing up. The next good thing is that yesterday Spike could take his usual walk again! He is so much better now he is going with us next week! I am so happy!! I have to let him swim in the sea because it is good for his skin condition, that's no punishment for him!

Sat Oct 12, 2002
Spike just had a fit. A severe fit. After it was over I took him to my son's room and put him on the bed there. Spike likes to rest there after a severe fit. It was 8.5 weeks since the last one so that's good. I am curious if this 8.5 or more weeks is going to repeat.

Sat Oct 19, 2002
Spike just had another fit. The last one was last Saturday. Nothing much happened today so I don't understand...

Sun Oct 20, 2002
I am thinking of starting with vit B (50 mg) again today. See if it makes any difference in behaviour and cramping.

Thu Nov 28, 2002
Spike just had a fit. We came back from our walk and while I was looking at my mail he suddenly keeled over with such a bang Kyra and the cats were scared stiff. There was no sign it was coming (no walking on eggs) at least not at home. During the walk I noticed he pooped twice and before I was about to put him in the car he tried and tried to poop and nothing came. He was quite uncomfortable so I was a little prepared. I wondered if he had already felt something like cramp starting in his bowels? Now it is over and I took him upstairs to our son's bed so he can rest in peace for a while. My face looks as if I have been in a fight with a wild cat. The cramps were so severe and displayed such strength he scratched my face and I am bleeding all over the place. I gave it a good wash with plenty of cold water to wash the germs away (we had been walking in the woods and Spike had lots of mud under his nails). I think it is about 5 weeks since the last fit so we are back on the 5 weeks schedule again.

Mon Dec 16, 2002
Spike had just had another fit. He was very quiet this morning, sleeping all the time. I have noticed this more often : Spike sleeping more than normal and then suddenly he starts cramping. We hadn't been able to go out for a walk because the streets are covered in ice and it is very slippery. There has been a sudden change in the weather over here , from frost to thaw right now. He has been a little under the weather for the last few days vomiting bile but otherwise okay and eating well. My husband walked them yesterday morning. It is possible he ate poop then because he does not watch them like I do. I have just asked him but he told me Spike had walked with a stick in his mouth all the time; there had been no poop-eating. I felt Spike's muscles during the cramping: his front and back leg muscles were severely cramped, his paws, too, with his nails sticking out at an awkward angle, neck muscles cramping, too. I had to hold his head, otherwise he would have stretched his neck too far backwards.

Fri Dec 20, 2002
Spike just had another fit. Since the last fit (last Monday) he has been walking like an old dog. Last evening I noticed his eyes were bloodshot. He still isn't okay. He wanted to go into the garden for a pee, when he was done he crawled under the hedge. He is restless and doesn't want to lie down. Food changes are going back to what they were before all this happened.

Fri Dec 27, 2002
Spike had a fit again. I don't know but I am afraid the 'good' times are over. His food is back to normal so that should not be the problem. It may have been the holidays but then again he started to get worse before the holidays. Spike was sitting on my husband's feet when it started, Kyra came to sit next to Spike like a worried little dog. I gave the buscopan and the fit was over in 5 minutes. At this moment Spike is resting upstairs with our son.

Fri Jan 24, 2003
This week I noticed something which I can only describe as 'minifits'. Could this be considered the next stage of the Disease? He was shivering, looking uncomfortable. He wanted to go out and when I let him out, then he wanted to hide in the hedge. Both times I could snap him out of this 'fit'; by calling his name and distracting him from what he was doing (getting into a fit). Yesterday the same happened at the vet's. We were there for the allergy test. A blood sample was taken. When he was on the floor again, he went to lie down with his back against the wall and started shivering. His back leg was already making a cramping movement. I called his name, the shivering stopped and he lay down under a chair. This behaviour is the reason I don't want to visit the vet too often.

Mon Jan 27, 2003
I have a video-recording of Spike. It begins in the middle and it is about 6 minutes of tape. I was nervous so I pressed the wrong button. I can keep the video recorder for a few weeks so I hope I'll be able to record the start of a cramping fit. Things I noticed this time: Spike was with me in the kitchen while I was eating, he was sitting beside me and I stroked his head. I noticed his head felt warm at both sides above his eyes. Only those 2 parts were warm. I felt his neck and the rest of his body and they was cool. I felt Kyra's head and it was cool, too. Okay, we went out for our walk. The dogs were already in the garden but I had to take the cats into the house. Spike was sitting and acting a little funny so I hesitated to go. Then the cramping started: I got the camera and started recording (I thought). But the important part is on it. But during the whole week there had been signs that he was working toward this episode: the mini fits, the watery, teary eyes, yesterday the bloodshot eyes and minutes before the fit the warm head.

Fri Jan 31, 2003
Spike had another fit. He came to me walking on eggs. I took him on my lap and held him till it was over (5 minutes) I didn't use buscopan and I didn't film this one because on Monday, when I filmed him, he had clearly wanted me with him just like he wanted me now. This afternoon my husband and I had noticed he was not okay, he was shivering and had bloodshot eyes. Still this fit came as a surprise. Hope this has been the last one for several weeks to come. I am always worried when the episodes come twice a week. Afterwards he was panting heavily.

Sat Feb 1, 2003
Spike is cramping again, could it be a reaction to the leptospirosis vaccination on Thursday January 23rd?

Mon Feb 17, 2003
The results of the allergy test are in: Spike is only allowed to eat duck. He is allergic to everything else.....I have an appointment for this afternoon with the vet.

Fri Feb 21, 2003
Spike had a fit this afternoon. Probably my fault...I started with the millet but I hadn't thought about all the fibres it contained. Spike has been eating white rice for one year now and suddenly he was fed fibres again. Stupid me.....He pooped a lot, vomited twice yesterday, so I went back to the rice again. But this all still ended in a fit. I am going very easy now adding a little buckwheat at a time (the lady in the reform shop advised it to me).

*(I started to change some ingredients in the Kronfeld diet because of the results of the allergy test). Click HERE to view the results of the allergy test

Tue Feb 25, 2003
I found Spike cramping in the garden. It is quite hopeless at the moment. The vet told me the results of the allergy test are of no importance because Spike isn't showing any signs of food allergy ( itchy red skin, diarrhoea etc). I have decided to go back to the Kronfeld diet as it was.

Tue Mar 4, 2003
Spike had another fit yesterday evening, a mild one according to my husband.

Wed Mar 12, 2003
Spike just had a fit. He came to me to sit on my feet and he started shivering. I tried to distract him with the ball. He took the ball in his mouth but it didn't help he started to walk on eggs and started cramping. It started 30 minutes ago and he is still shivering a little and licking his nose. He is lying next to me at the moment with a blanket over him.

Fri Mar 28, 2003
Spike just had a fit. A severe one. I saw him eating something during our walk this morning, but I was too late and couldn't discover what it has been. There is an improvement because his last fit was 16 days ago.

Sat Mar 29, 2003
Spike just had another fit. A severe one again. Yesterday I didn't give him Buscopan, today I gave it right away. I hope this was caused by the thing he ate yesterday. These 2 fits were very severe and lasted longer than normal When I thought it was over, he just started again.

Sun Apr 13, 2003
Spike had a fit. There were no signs an episode was coming. He was happy during our walk this morning. The weather is beautiful so both dogs were in the garden sunbathing all afternoon. At about 4 o'clock Spike went to my husband and started cramping. I gave Spike a buscopan pill. Five minutes later he was better, but still shivering for some time.

Wed Apr 16, 2003
The weather is warm over here so we went for a swim (the dogs, that is....) this afternoon. Spike came out of the water with his stick in his mouth and started stumbling. He could hardly walk. His hind legs couldn't carry him properly (the spondylosis or cramping???). We went to the vet to have Spike examined. First impression was pain in the abdomen, but a little later as Spike had become a little more relaxed, the pain was gone. Some time later Spike was standing on his hind legs to beg the vet for a treat. He didn't show any pain in his back while the vet examined it. Was it a mini cramp?? Confusing: two ailments which sometimes show almost the same symptoms.

Fri Apr 25, 2003
Spike had a fit while we were on one of the Dutch islands for a short holiday. Spike was quite depressed to-day, not his happy self. When we were walking along the beach and through the woods he wasn't interested in chasing the birds, nor in sticks, not even in the pineapples (We always have to kick them so he can chase them). In the evening we were all lying on the bed (strange thing for Spike: lying together with the cats) when he came to me and started shivering. I gave him a buscopan pill. Through this fit I did TTouches on his ears (I bought a book about the TTouch method). I don't know if it helped calm him down, but I am planning to do TTouches with him every day from now to try to relax him and against the pains caused by the spondylosis.

Sun Apr 27, 2003
We are back from our holiday and today I started mixing Waltham's fish and tapioca through the Kronfeld diet. I looks like the Kronfeld diet doesn't work anymore. I 'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope the Waltham will improve his condition.

Wed Apr 30, 2003
At the moment I don't know what to do. Sunday evening I started to mix the Waltham through the Kronfeld diet. It went well. I thought we were lucky. Half an hour ago our son came back from their walk, Spike cramping in his arms. I don't know: go back to the Kronfeld (it doesn't seem to work anymore) or continue with the Waltham? He got 60 grammes Waltham to day divided over 3 meals mixed with the Kronfeld.

I decided to continue with the Waltham mixing it with Kronfeld. If Spike starts cramping again within a few days I am going back to the Kronfeld. Since he isn't doing well on that either it looks like this disease is progressing. It is so frustrating: why can't I improve his condition?

Tue Jul 22, 2003
We went to Denmark for a short holiday . On the day we arrived, July 11, Spike started cramping in the evening. It had been eleven weeks and two days since his last episode, which took longer than normal, but Spike was very alert during the ordeal. The next day I accidentally gave him Kyra's raw meat food : no cramping occurred. Spike visited our neighbours at the campsite twice: the first time they gave him an hotdog and the next day some other treat.....no cramping followed........He was kept on the lead after that...At the pet shop the owner gave him some dog food while I wasn't looking, still no cramping .... We decided to stay on for a few days but I didn't have enough Waltham with me to cover all those days. I decided to feed him Kyra's raw meat diet so every day one portion of Waltham was replaced by the raw meat. All went well. I am very happy but also very puzzled by all this. Before the Waltham one 'wrong' piece of food made him cramp and during this holiday he ate several forbidden things and nothing happened! And I forgot to mention he ate fresh cow dung yesterday. His Royal Badness was not really behaving very well during this holiday :-))))). He even started to roll in stinky things, which normally is Kyra's speciality!!

Thu Jul 24, 2003
I decided to start feeding Spike the raw meat diet: Energique nr 4. It went well during the last days of our holiday. I know it sounds very odd: he is doing well on Waltham so why change his diet? The raw meat diet is a normal dog food, not a diet food. Well, I would like to keep the diet food for 'emergencies'. I am afraid when I keep feeding him the Waltham, his system will get used to it and it stop working. In Spike's case, I am afraid there is not much food left which could 'work' for him after the Waltham.

Fri Sept 5, 2003
On arriving home after walking the dogs I discovered that Spike was cramping in the back of the car. I immediately gave him the Buscopan I always have with me and carried him
into the house. Fortunately it was only a mild cramp: although he was not able to walk he was very alert and looking around him. The moment I sat down with him he indicated the end of the episode by starting to smack his lips and pant. After that everything was o.k. within a very short time. The last time he had a fit was 8 weeks ago ...... Since I started feeding him the Waltham and the raw-meat-food the cramping episodes have become less frequent and severe.

Sun Sep 7, 2003
Spike had another episode this morning, much heavier than the one he had on Friday. After the ordeal, his front was wet with his tears ... He still isn't ok. In the morning it was already clear he didn't feel well, he was grumpy. Back to the Waltham it is ......

Sat Sep 13, 2003
Spike had another fit, I could just grab him in time in the scruff of the neck before he could turn a backwards somersault (he was half sitting, half standing on his hind legs, body upright, front paws from the floor arching his back backwards).

Fri Oct 17, 2003
Spike just had an episode. My husband had been walking the dogs and came back with Spike cramping. It had started during the walk and my husband had had to carry him to the car. At home Spike tried to fight the cramping because he smelled his food had already been prepared, but he had to give in. I gave him buscopan and right now he is taking some rest upstairs with our son. Because I was not able to give Spike the buscopan at an earlier stage of the episode it lasted longer. This morning he had already acted in a strange way at the end of our walk, it looked like he was going to cramp. When I asked him what was wrong (stupid me because he can't answer me) the moment passed. The last episode was five weeks ago.

Two hours after the last episode my son came down the stairs with Spike in his arms. I thought Spike would be ready for his meal, but Spike was cramping again. His eyes were bloodshot. At the moment I cannot do anything for him except letting him rest. It is too early for a second buscopan, I think. I hope this was the last one.

Sat 18 Oct, 2003
Spike gave me quite a fright last night. Usually he recovers very quickly but yesterday, after the two episodes, it took a very long time before he wanted his food. He was very unsteady on his feet for the rest of the evening. It was frightening. The night went well: no more cramping. This morning he ate his breakfast and I gave him a Rimadyl to ease his sore muscles.

Fri 24 Oct, 2003
This morning I had to de worm Spike, he was suffering from hookworms, so I had no other choice than to treat him... At two o'clock in the afternoon Spike started cramping I gave him a Buscopan suppository right away but it did not help at all ...
After three hours of continuous cramping I took Spike to the vet. At the moment Spike is on a drip to get rid of the 'toxins' of the Balminth de wormer. He had high blood pressure caused by the cramping, I think. I have just called the vet and Spike is still cramping (and has been for 4 hours now). They told me he has to stay the night.

Good news!! It is nine o'clock in the evening and I have just collected Spike! He stopped cramping one and a half hour ago. The vet called me and thought it best for Spike to go home!! I am sooo glad he is back!! He came home and wanted his dinner right away!! I'll take him to bed with me tonight so I can keep an eye on him.

Sat 25 Oct, 2003
Spike had a good night, he slept ok, no more cramping.
I never saw him like this. He was cramping severely and continuously for five and a half hours. He was alert during the whole period of time, that's why I drove him to the vet in the end. I couldn't stand it anymore seeing him suffering like that. He was that alert he even growled at the vet while the needle for the drip was inserted. Although the vet has seen the video clip he told me he thought it all very, very strange, he hadn't seen anything like this before. So there's a big difference between watching the clip or seeing a live episode. The drip was meant to clean Spike's system, he didn't get any medication.

Mon 17 Nov, 2003
Today I started feeding Spike a raw meat diet again: Carnibest duck/rice.

Tue 16 Dec, 2003
Spike just had a short mild episode when we were walking in the woods. When we left home for our walk he was already in a very bad mood, trying to bite me when I lifted him in the car. We were only five minutes on our way when he started to stumble. A woman with a pram saw Spike stumble and offered me to put Spike in the (empty) pram and ride him back to the car. She thought his legs or back hurt. I thanked her for her kind offer and told her this was the start of a seizure and I had better carry Spike back to the car. This morning I noticed Spike's faeces were covered in yellowish slime, I have noticed this often is the case before a fit. Right now he is ok.

Tue 3 Feb, 2004
Spike just had a severe fit, he came running to me and started cramping right away.

This afternoon I thought he was going to have an episode, because when we went for a walk he stumbled; When I called his name he snapped out of it. The last episode was exactly seven weeks ago. Not a bad score for Spike.

Sun 8 Feb, 2004
We came back from our walk, (two o'clock in the afternoon) I had just finished towelling the dogs dry when Spike started cramping. Again a severe fit. It lasted about 10 minutes. Afterwards he kept shaking and I gave him a buscopan. At the moment (three o'clock) he is ok again and he has eaten a somewhat belated lunch. It is very stormy and rainy day today and is the weather has been like this for more than a week now. Perhaps a kind of 'trigger'?

Thu 19 Feb, 2004
This morning Spike had a very mild episode. We had just finished our walk when he started to stumble. I lifted him in the backseat of my car and drove home (a five-minutes' drive) On arriving home he was already barking again. To be on the safe side I sprayed Rescue in his mouth.

Mon 22 Mar, 2004
Spike had an episode this afternoon. The last one was six weeks ago. I am afraid I am to blame for this one, because I lost my temper with him........ He was barking and barking and barking outside in the garden (for three quarters of an hour on one end) while I was on the telephone. After ending the conversation I went outside to tell him off. He behaves miserably when I am angry with him, very stressed and shivering. Luckily I have seldom reason to be angry with him. Second time the doorbell rang. Spike barked again, I told him to shut up and went to open the door. When I came back in the room after five minutes he was cramping. I sprayed some Rescue in his mouth and he was soon ok again.

Sat 3 Apr, 2003
Spike hasn't been well this week. Tuesday during our walk he stayed behind. When I looked for him I saw he was eating something. I went back to check what he had been eating: it was cheap-kibble-dog-poop. Next morning when I came down, he had been sick al over the place. It was Spike's vomit, because Kyra had been sleeping with us and Penny was in her crate. Spike was shaking and shivering from misery, his eyes bloodshot...He wanted his breakfast and ate it but he didn't lick his bowl like he always does. I sprayed some rescue in his mouth and gradually the shivering stopped. He wasn't well enough to go for a walk with us, so I left him at home. When we came home from our walk Spike had vomited again. Time to phone the vet. The vet examined Spike and he heard loud intestinal noises. He asked me if I ever had thought about gluten! I told him I was suspecting it must me the gluten, because with my feeding experiments I had ruled out the animal protein for Spike. I asked about gluten in Dog poop: Most of what is in kibble foods is not absorbed by the body and much of it comes out the other end.

Spike had another episode this morning and one in the afternoon...I have fed him chicken the past two days. Last time he was fed chicken he cramped too. Chickens eat grain. I don't think chickens fast before they are slaughtered so the food can contain gluten.

Mon 5 Apr, 2004
The manufacturer of this food has told me, chicken and duck stomachs are added to the chicken and duck variety. The chickens and those ducks have been eating grain, so it is possible there are traces of grain in these varieties. This theory was proved to be right, by a friend, who was going to feed some chicken stomachs to her dogs. She cut the stomachs open at my request and discovered traces of grain in them.

Sat 15 May, 2004
Spike had an episode this afternoon. I have been expecting this, because he had been eating dog poop yesterday during our walk. The episode was very severe. I sprayed rescue in his mouth. After the episode he was back too normal right away. The last episode was six weeks ago so this isn't bad for Spike.

Wed 7 Juli, 2004
During the evening walk with my husband, Spike had an episode. Yesterday and today Spike wasn't as playful as the day before yesterday. I don't know if he has been eating things he isn't allowed to.

Fri Aug 27, 2004
Spike accidentally ate raw cat food (not gluten free) this morning and was violently sick afterwards. He was cramping within two hours after eating it. I have never seen him cramping like this. He started vomiting all his food, some time later he vomited white foam. He was smacking and licking his lips, was obsessive licking at his feet. He was excessive stretching with his rear end in the air (like a dog who wants to play with another dog) to relieve the pain in his stomach. His neck cramped back (head went up) and he was moaning with pain. We went to the vet. Spike showed no pain in the intestines his gut was supple on touch, very fast hart beat and bloodshot eyes, no elevation of temperature, loud intestinal noises. The vet gave Spike an injection with buscopan. He is somewhat better now, but he is eating grass like mad.

Sun Sept 12, 2004
Spike had an episode this night.

Fri Oct 29, 2004
During our morning walk Spike and Kyra ate something in the woods (kibble dog poop I suspect) A few hours later Spike started to cramp. It was a mild episode.

Wed Nov 17, 2004
The dogs had to be stripped today. Spike started to cramp while he was standing on the grooming table. He had two mild episodes probably caused by stress (He is always very angry when his coat is stripped).

Mon Jan 31, 2005
At lunchtime Spike had a severe episode. He had his last episode almost 10 week ago!

Tue Mar 8, 2005
Spike had an episode this evening.

Thu Mar 10, 2005
Spike had a severe episode this evening. I am going to leave beef out of his diet. I already had the idea beef doesn't agree with him anymore. We also stop feeding him pieces of kiwi and orange when we are eating fruit.

Sat Mar 12, 2005
Spike had another episode this evening, right after he had eaten. Thinking about the three episodes this week, every time right after his dinner, I think it must be the stress of waiting till he gets his food. I decided, from now on, to feed him right after his evening walk. Normally the dogs have to wait for their dinner till about an hour after their evening walk, this is an hour stressing for Spike.
N.B. The episodes right after Spike's dinner were caused by him almost choking on his ground meat. He is a terrible gulper. After I have discovered this I spread his food with a fork in his feeding bowl.
I also stopped feeding Spike grain fed animals like chicken and turkey.

Sat Mar 19, 2005
Spike had another episode this afternoon in the garden.

Sun Mar 27, 2005
Spike had an episode this evening.

Wed June 15, 2005
Spike had an episode this evening.

Thu August 10, 2005
Spike had an episode this afternoon.

Sat Nov 19, 2005
Spike had an episode this afternoon.

Wed Feb 15, 2006
Spike had an episode

Mon Feb 20, 2006
Spike had another episode. Last week the cats have been very ill, refusing all food. They were that bad they have been on a drip for three days. To get them eating again I had to buy very 'wrong' k****e. (they are raw fed too) The trick worked and the cats are eating again but problably caused Spike those two episodes. I saw them spilling the k****e on the floor and Spike was about to eat it. So the wrong k****e has disappeared in the dustbin and the cats are on raw again ;-)))))

Mon Jul 17, 2006
This evening Spike had an episode. He has been crampfree for 5 months!!

Sun Oct 15, 2006
Spike had an episode. He has been eating a corncrisp during our walk on friday evening. I was too late to prevent it. It was a mild episode

Thu Aug 30, 2007
Spike had an episode this afternoon

Tue Feb 19, 2008
Spike had an episode

Fri June 6, 2008
Spike had an episode

Thu Nov 6, 2008
Spike had an episode

Thu Feb 19, 2009
Spike had an episode

Tue Apr 14, 2009
Spike had an episode

Thu March 2010
Spike crossed the rainbowbridge today after severe epileptic seizures (no cramping episodes)