Atlantic
Animal Hospital proudly introduces Hercules Thompson as Companion Animal of the
Month for September! Hercules is a black Labrador Retriever who is just shy of
his seventh birthday. His parents, Nina and Alan, adopted him in the fall of
2001 in Moses Lake, Washington. His brothers are Deuce, a German Wirehaired
Pointer, and Ichabod, a Jack Russell Terrier.
Hercules' mother, Nina,
describes him as loyal, affectionate, and always close at hand. He can sometimes
be a little too close, as Nina describes in a snow-shoeing story. Back in
Washington, she was snow-shoeing around the property. Hercules kept walking over
the snow-shoes, making Nina fall face first into the snow! She has many
entertaining stories about him. He helps himself to holiday turkey and pie. He
enjoys relaxing by the pool, playing ball, and chasing after squirrels with
Deuce. He loves treats and Nina is convinced that he knows how to spell the
word. Whenever she spells the word treats, he immediately runs over to
the cookie jar!
One of her favorite memories of Hercules is when she first brought him home as a puppy. He ran around the kitchen island and barked at his reflection in a mirror. He would then run away and peek around the corner to see that “other puppy” in the mirror. His bark has developed immensely as he has aged. Nina says that it sometimes startles her when she comes home. Apparently, he has a lot to say.
In May of 2008, Hercules began
to have seizures. He was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. Epilepsy is
diagnosed by ruling out other causes for the seizures. Conditions such as
trauma, infection, low blood sugar, or poisoning can also induce seizures. The
first step in diagnosing is to perform general baseline blood tests. The testing
usually does not directly indicate the definitive cause but can aid the
diagnosis by helping to rule out liver or kidney disease and pointing us in the
correct direction. Epilepsy itself means “seizure disorder.” It is not a
specific disease in and of itself. This simply means that there is no specific
reason for the seizures. Epilepsy is treated with medication to suppress the
seizures. The medication prescribed is called Phenobarbital. Common side effects
include sedation and excessive thirst and appetite. Phenobarbital is not the
only treatment available. Another option is to prescribe potassium bromide. In
some cases, both of these medications are used together.
Dr.
Sukhija prescribed Phenobarbital to help control the seizures, but Hercules did
not tolerate the medication well at first. He became overly sedate, which can
sometimes happen with this particular medication. After adjusting the dosage, he
is doing well. Hercules must have his blood tested regularly to check the level
of the medication in his system. The testing ensures optimal seizure control
while avoiding toxicity. Hercules also has allergies that are being treated with
antihistamines. Dogs with seizures should be closely monitored if they are being
given certain antihistamines. Some of these medications can lower the seizure
threshold, meaning that if a seizure is going to happen, the antihistamine could
make it happen sooner.
When asked how Hercules has affected her life, Nina says that he is a treasured gift. He brings joy, laughter, and companionship into her world. He has also taught her the importance of patience. She likens him to a teenager. He can make her laugh and scream both at the same time. His health issues have brought about many sleepless nights, but she is determined to give him the most fulfilling and carefree life possible. She says that, “To know Herc is to love him... You just can't help it!”
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