I just have to share the horrible EIC experience I had with Shelby (5 years old) yesterday.

Dad and I took the dogs to the soccer fields about 2 miles from our house in the morning when the temps were in the low 60s and there was still Dew on the ground. I have 3 of the soft nylon softbite Frisbees that I throw for the dogs. Each has there own and I throw them different directions. It works out well with no competition for the Frisbees and each dog getting exercise. Typically Ruby (10 years old) tires out first after about 15 minutes. Once I put her back in the truck with water I watch Shelby really closely for signs of an EIC episode. She seldom has episodes fetching Frisbees like this. After I put Ruby up yesterday Shelby came in and I noticed that her gait was getting stiff, which is the first outward sign of an episode. I immediately healed her to the truck and she jumped in the back and got in her crate. Meg was right behind her and she kenneled up as well in her crate. I drove by Dads and let him and Ruby out and drove around the corner to our house. I opened the back of the truck and let Meg out. Shelby was laying down in her crate, which is not uncommon. Her eyes were wide open and when I opened her crate she didn’t move. I grabbed her collar and pulled her out of the crate and carried her in my arms to the back yard where they have a kiddy pool with about 6” of water in it. When I took her out of her crate her head just flopped down, she didn’t have any muscle control at all. So when I put her in the pool of cool water I had to hold her head out of the water. Her breathing was very fast and her heart was racing. I got her all wet to help with the cooling down and carried her to the grass in the shade and sat down with her. She started flailing her front legs, almost seizure like and still couldn’t control any muscles in her body, she was rigid. She then started to heave and I knew that she was going to clear her stomach contents out. She couldn’t clear her throat, so I had to pick her up and help her get her throat clear so she didn’t aspirate her food. This really shook me as I thought that I was going to loose her right in my back yard, so I called my Dad (Retired Vet) and had him come over. He has seen several of her light to moderate EIC episodes, but never has seen a severe one. Shelby has probably had more than 50 EIC episodes in her 5 years of life, typically they last about 20 minutes, but nothing even close to this one….. After about a half hour she slowly started to regain control of her body. First just her tongue. She started to lick my hand as it held her head. Then she got some control of her head and neck. It was about an hour later that she got enough control to wobbly walk over to the pool and get a drink of water. I honestly thought that I was going to loose her in this eposode. I can see why some people have said that their dogs have died of what appeared to be a heart attack when in mid episode…. I would hate to think what would could happen if I was hunting birds in steep terrain, or near the water.  If she continues to have episodes get worse I will need to totally change what we do, or I will loose her one of these days to EIC.....

I wish I could have it on tape to show the breeders and potential puppy buyers that buy from untested breedings that EIC is a terrible, life long condition that is terrible for the dog and the owners……. What an eye opener it would be!

That sounds awful. Makes me queezy thinking about it.
I'm glad she made it through the episode.

I believe that my first pointing lab died due to EIC. He started to have fits as a 4 year old (as did one of his littermates). They didn't last very long(only a couple of minutes) and he didn't have them very often. We only witnessed three over about a six month period. This is a dog that swam in my pond at home for an hour or two every day when there wasn't ice on it. I had never heard of EIC at the time so we failed to recognize the danger. One day he came up missing and we found him floating in the pond the next day. It was a very traumatic event for my family because he was one of the most beloved dogs in our family history.

I am posting this so that others won't make the same mistake. Don't let an EIC afflicted dog swim without close supervision. For severely afflicted dogs. you probably shouldn't let them swim at all. Make sure that the dog that you purchase comes from parents who have been genetically tested for EIC.

Posted By Ruby's pal on 18 Jun 2009 09:15 AM

I grabbed her collar and pulled her out of the crate and carried her in my arms to the back yard where they have a kiddy pool with about 6” of water in it. When I took her out of her crate her head just flopped down, she didn’t have any muscle control at all. So when I put her in the pool of cool water I had to hold her head out of the water. Her breathing was very fast and her heart was racing. I got her all wet to help with the cooling down and carried her to the grass in the shade and sat down with her. She started flailing her front legs, almost seizure like and still couldn’t control any muscles in her body, she was rigid

First off, Pat I am glad to hear is OK.  I hope most people never have to go through an episode like this.

But man, does this bring back a bad memory for me.  This sounds like a replay of Kash's first episode ever.....scared the living #@% out of me.  One minute I am looking at Kash, I turn around a few minutes later after shooting a few clay pigeons and he is fully colapsed on the ground.  He had just enough control to keep his head up and move his front and rear legs, but could not lift himself at all on any leg.  His legs were flailing all around like he was trying to walk or run after some clay pigeon that were being thrown (while he was laying on the ground).  I carried him 150 yards up to the house as fast as I could and put him in a kiddy pool with water in it and ran the hose off him.  I give him some honey from a few packets my buddy had in the house and that didn't help.  At this point I am freaking out (probably at least 10-15min has past) and he is still not able ot stand up so I carry him to the car and off to the emergency clinic we go as fast as I could.  I open the kennel door once we get there and out he pops....wagging his tail ready to go.  There was a big relief lifted off my shoulders at that point.

Hey Pat,

Sorry you and Shelby had to go through that, it is just sad. In short, when your kids or animals hurt, we hurt as well.

I wish you well on this!

Mike

I'm sure that was an aweful feeling on top of what you've already gone through with Shelby. My heart goes out to your family and Shelby, along with the others that have gone through EIC.

Good to hear she's okay, best of luck Pat.

Scary as ^%^ the first time or two it happened to Gabby, had no idea what it was either. Now that I know what it is and can see it coming it doesn't seem to scare me as bad. I will grant that it has never been to where she could not hold her head up though. Glad to hear she is alright....

Thanks to all that have posted. Shelby is doing fine, goofy as ever. We will continue to watch her very closely when out doing things. I felt that I had a very good handle on her EIC episodes and had gotten to the point that I could tell when one was about to happen and stop her and prevent the episode from kicking fully off. What suprised me with this episode is how quickly it reached full effects, how it totally imobilized her and how long it lasted..... I now know that I don't know as much as I thought......

I do feel that those of us who do have EIC affected dogs do need to help educate the masses. We speak from experience, not theory. It is not fun to experience, or talk about, but our efforts are needed to help this great breed of dogs.

Enjoy your dogs.
Pat

Sorry to hear that. I cant imagine how hard that would be. Sad to say there are people out there not posting if the dogs being bred are EIC carriers and many others relying on clearances from just one of the pair. . Hoping the APLA will add EIC test results or clear by parentage as a part of the classified ad requirements. While I would have no problem buying a pup out of a carrier X clear breeding since breeding isnt a goal of mine but its something I would want to know up front as it does limit your options if you have a carrier.

Sorry to hear that. I cant imagine how hard that would be. Sad to say there are people out there not posting if the dogs being bred are EIC carriers and many others relying on clearances from just one of the pair. . Hoping the APLA will add EIC test results or clear by parentage as a part of the classified ad requirements. While I would have no problem buying a pup out of a carrier X clear breeding since breeding isnt a goal of mine but its something I would want to know up front as it does limit your options if you have a carrier.

Sorry to hear that. I cant imagine how hard that would be. Sad to say there are people out there not posting if the dogs being bred are EIC carriers and many others relying on clearances from just one of the pair. . Hoping the APLA will add EIC test results or clear by parentage as a part of the classified ad requirements. While I would have no problem buying a pup out of a carrier X clear breeding since breeding isnt a goal of mine but its something I would want to know up front as it does limit your options if you have a carrier.