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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING EPISODIC FALLING
* If your dog is having an extended episode, contact your veterinarian immediately.
*All Information should be checked with your veterinarian. We do not intend, nor are we qualified to make medical decisions regarding your Cavalier.
The most important thing.......
The most important thing to do if you feel that your Cavalier is having an episode is to stay calm and to keep your dog calm. Fear, hurry, anxiety are all things that can add to the stress of the situation and may prolong or increase symptoms.
What is Episodic Falling or Falling Cavaliers
Please see the symptoms page.
Other Freqently Asked Questions
What should I do if I think that my Cavalier has Episodic Falling?
Remember that while this disorder is upsetting, it is almost never life-threatening. The fact that your dog is having episodes now, doesn't mean that he or she will continue to have them in the same manner. This is a disease of change and inconsistency. Affected Cavaliers and their owners learn to live with EF. Your dog will likely forget the episode as soon as it is over. While medication can mediate the severity and frequency of episodes in almost every case, the more comfortable you can become with episodes being just a part of life with your loveable dog, the better off you will be.
Review the material here and contact us by phone or e-mail. All information conveyed to us will be kept strictly confidential. We want you to contact us. It is very important, not only for the information we can provide you, but what we can learn from you. The entire purpose of this web site is to provide support and education for Cavalier owners, breeders, veterinarians, and researchers.
*Contact your veterinarian.* If possible, take a videotape of your dog having a seizure. Write down precisely what you observe and keep a calendar of the episodes and their duration. The only way to definitely diagnose the disorder is with a videotape or direct observation in conjunction with your veterinarian. You may want to take someone with you who has seen the event. Sometimes this makes discussing things with your veterinarian easier.
What treatments are available?
At the present time, three drugs are being used for Episodic Falling. Diazepam and Clonazepam. (see the link at Paroxysmal Disorders on the Research Page). Dogs may build up a tolerance to either drug, but new drugs are being investigated. Some veterinarians use a Diazepam drip in the event of very prolonged episodes. For dogs who are not responding to these treatments, acetazolamide alone or in conjunction with clonazepam has been effective. Please contact us for details. These drugs are not expensive.
Acupuncture has been found to be very effective in some cases but generally requires extended treatment and cost.
Will my dog get better or worse?
There is no pattern to the progression of Episodic Falling. Episodes my increase or decrease in intenstity and/or frequency over time. Any information we could give you about the direction of the disease will only apply to an individual Cavalier and will most probably not relate to your dog's experience. A change in the pattern of episodes does not necessarily indicate that the dog is getting 'better' or 'worse'.
What can I do now?
 The most important thing you can do is to enjoy your Cavalier.
If your Cavalier is having seizures that last for any period of time, try wrapping the dog in a light towel or a sheet and holding her reassuringly but not tightly. If your dog's legs are extending, don't try to keep them next to her body. Use a very light covering to avoid overheating. This may help both you and your dog. Do not continue this if it creates distress or discomfort in your Cavalier. If your dog cannot pant, ask your vet about putting her on a cooling mat during episodes and sit by her and talk soothingly to her.
Check with your veterinarian about what food and water to give your Cavalier after an episode that lasts for more than a few minutes. Having an episode is hard work.
Dogs may overheat during episodes. This can be due to exertion combined with the inability to pant because the jaws are clenched. A "Canine Cooler" (available on-line) or other cooling device can cool down a dog during and after an episode. Check with your vet to see if he/she recommends the cooling bed during extended episodes. Getting an EF dog used to a cooling mat early in life is a good idea.
Becoming over-heated may cause episodes. Be sure that you always have water with you. Putting the dog's feet in cold water and putting something cool on her abdomen will help her cool down. Have a cooling bed on hand or use a cooling vest. If you live in a hot area, or you are for some reason need to take your dog out in unseasonably hot weather, you can purchase a cooling vest. (available at http://cherrybrook.com) I use a "Canine Cooler" cooling bed that is readily available on-line.
If your Cavalier jumps off the bed or chair and trots off after having an episode, this is normal. There are no apparent after effects, although some dogs seem to have chronic symptoms such as stiffness and lethargy. If there are chronic symptoms, medication should be considered to see if it helps your dog lead a more active life. If your puppy displays fear after an episode, she will likely get used to the events as she grows and take them in stride.
EF affected Cavaliers have been known to respond to surgical procedures by a temporary increase in the intensity or frequency of episodes in some cases. We assume that the additional stress may be the cause. The costs and benefits of surgery or anesthesia for an affected dog must be carefully considered. It is a good idea to review medications before surgery. Be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian.
Good daily dental hygeine is a must for EF Cavaliers. Be sure that your veterinarian knows that your dog has EF before any teeth cleaning procedure. You may want to discuss teeth cleaning options without anesthetic with your veterinarian. Whoever cleans your dog's teeth should be under the supervision of a veterinarian. There are differing thoughts on this procedure and we cannot recommend one method over another.
Our irrepressible Cavaliers have their own ideas about play and exercise. Generally it is not possible nor desirable to curtail their activities. However, if your dog is having repeated or very long seizures, letting her spend about 30 minutes in a quiet comfortable place for awhile, such as a crate with a favorite toy or chew stick, may help. At this point, additional stress or excitement is not advised. It is a good idea to crate train a puppy who has EF as early as possible. Older EF dogs may retreat to their crates by themselves so be sure to have the crate open and accessible, and a cooling mat and water available.
For crate training information: http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html
You may want to contact other owners of afflicted dogs using our bulletin board.
What can I do to help?
Work with your veterinarians and Cavalier clubs to learn about EF. In addition to raising awareness, this will help other owners of affected dogs.
How do I contact you and find out other information?
Please continue to the contact page.
What is a good nutritional plan for an EF affected Cavalier?
*Nutritional information, like everything else on the website, should be cleared with your veterinarian.*
Nutrition for Episodic Falling Affected Cavaliers
Our gratitude goes to Monica Segal, AHCW for writing this article.
 Due to the fact that there is so little known about the cause of Episodic Falling, a dietary link cannot be made with any sort of accuracy. If we consider this to be seizure-like activity, we can consider certain aspects of dietary manipulation that may be beneficial. Please keep in mind that this remains a possibility rather than a proven, established way of helping the dog through dietary modifications.
A diet that does not contain red meat is recommended for a dog that has compromised liver function. In cases of an otherwise healthy Cavalier that experiences Episodic Falling, the liver is not truly compromised, as evidenced by normal liver values on blood tests. In cases of Epilepsy, where drugs that can be harmful to the liver are often used, it may be prudent to use a liver-friendly diet that does not contain red meat. Does this apply to a dog with Episodic Falling? If liver function is normal and the dog is not taking medications that can compromise the liver, probably not. A diet lacking in red meat won't do harm but it is not likely to help.
Consider the information above a little differently if you are feeding a home-prepared diet. Unlike commercial foods from cans and bags, home-prepared diets do not provide added vitamin and minerals. White meats and fish provide very little in the way of B vitamins (important for brain function, digestion, energy, appetite, healthy skin, metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, function of nervous system, taurine and carnitine synthesis and promotion of red blood cell formation), iron (important for production of hemoglobin and oxygenation of red blood cells), copper (important for bone formation, pigment, and immune function) or zinc (important for protein synthesis, skin health, immune system, and wound healing).
When feeding a home-prepared diet that does not include red meats, you must provide a daily vitamin and mineral (made for people, not for dogs) if you hope to give your Cavalier proper nutrition.
There is no reason to feed an effected dog a diet that is low in protein. The body requires protein to perform its tasks, including healthy cell turnover. Neither is there reason to feed a high protein diet. Unless the dog is suffering from a disease that demands manipulation of protein amount, there is no benefit to doing so.
Puppies can be fed a typical 'puppy diet' whether they are affected by Episodic Falling or not. The key here is that puppies have different needs from adult dogs because their bodies are in the building process. However, a puppy, affected or otherwise, has the same nutritional needs, as far as we know today.
Fish body oils (not to be confused with fish liver oils) provide Omega 3 fatty acids and have been proven to help reduce inflammation and benefit the heart. There are a variety of fish body oils on the market and most come from farmed fish, high in PCBs and mercury. For this reason, it is critical to stay away from these products and choose wild salmon oil instead.
An excess of fish oils of any kind has been linked to blood platelet coagulation problems. A safe dose, according to most veterinarians, would be 50 mg of wild salmon oil per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight.
Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant and should be added to the diet, especially when the additions of Omega 3 (fish, fish oils and flaxseed oils are the most common sources) are made. The average Cavalier (15-20 pounds) may benefit from being given 100 IU of vitamin E per day.
CoQ10 is a supplement that may also be helpful. While it seems to help people with certain heart conditions, it has not proven to do so in dogs. However, it helps to oxygenate the blood and can improve oral health (focuses on gums rather than tarter). Your dog may benefit from 30 mg daily.
The feeding schedule does not seem to affect most Cavaliers with Episodic Falling but in some cases, the difference has been notable so it may be worth trying. Some clients have reported this as well so I will use our Cassie as an example. She does best when fed three times daily, meals being spaced about six hours apart. She is steadier on her feet when on this schedule and her episodes have been milder and less frequent.
The emotional attachment to a specific method of feeding (raw vs. cooked foods vs. kibble) has not proven to be based on proof of better health. While one method may be better than another, we have not experienced several generations of Cavaliers living longer or better lives due to our choices. Unless and until this occurs, your chosen method of feeding should be based on what your dog tolerates best. When choosing to feed any home-prepared diet (raw or cooked), it becomes crucial to know the nutrient values of the diet rather than guessing. This is the case for all dogs but especially the Cavalier because here, we are trying to provide optimal nutrition to support heart and brain function. By reviewing the information above as it pertains to B vitamins, you can see that a diet lacking in just these vitamins alone is enough to set off a serious avalanche of reactions over the longer term.
The middle ground would be to feed a high quality dry or canned food and make additions of fresh foods. This can be easily done by sharing some of your family's healthy foods with your Cavalier. Baby carrots and fresh, over ripened fruits make nice treats. Eggs provide the highest quality protein and small amounts can be added to the food bowl. Lean pieces of chicken, turkey, fish or any other meat may be a boost to the food offering. The key is to remember that commercial diets can be unbalanced if we go overboard with additions of meats. Rule of thumb is to add just a few bites of meat to the food bowl.
Vegetables and fruits can be fed freely but keep in mind that your dog cannot digest cellulose. Fruits and veggies contain cellulose so you'll need to crush these foods by putting them through a food processor until you have something that resembles mush. Fruits and vegetables fed as treats don't require preparation but too many of them will likely cause diarrhea. Best bet is to give small amounts, increasing the quantity only as you see that your dog tolerates these additions well.
A simple plan for enhancing a commercial diet might look something like this:
1-2 baby carrots
2-3 bites of over ripened fruit daily
1 egg, weekly
Few bites of meat daily
1 tsp. plain yogurt, daily
For further nutritional information you may contact Monica Segal at:
www.monicasegal.com
Monica Segal copyright 2005
This dietary article may not be reproduced by any means without the express permission of the author.
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