PDE - OLDER PUGS

We had a pug rushed to our vet tonight. It appears he is having seizures. Has anyone seen pde in older pugs? Our foster said our vet mentioned it, but I haven't talked to him directly yet. He is about 8 years old-maybe. We really don't know his background. I know pde can't really be diagnosed-its more of a ruling out but I am worried, worried, worried.

I don't know but do you have Dr Greer's contact info? If not, let me know and I'll send it to you. Although there is no cure, I think she's gotten pretty close to being able to diagnose with the gene she just found.

Actually, PDE can be diagnosed by MRI now--IF the technician/radiologist/whatever they are called, is experienced enough. Our neurologist was explaining this to me when we did the MRI on Pippin. What happens is that many dogs die of PDE so rapidly, the brain changes don't show up or are so subtle that it takes a real expert to see the changes.

And sadly, older pugs can get it. We've had two folks in our pugalug group who lost their pugs at age 6 and 7 to PDE. One had the slower form and the other had full blown PDE. And we've had two pug mixes die from full blown PDE. I don't think it's all that common in older dogs, but it can happen.

I don't have anything to add other than a prayer for this poor puggie.

I didn't do the MRI with Jack because it was pricy (I had already spent thousands with vets and neurologists) and it wouldn't cure him. I have heard of PDE occurring in older pugs, as Blanche said, I think it's more rare. Typically, the cutoff age is 3, I believe.

However, seizures doesn't always mean PDE. to the foster mommy!

I think the PugDads lost their first pug to late onset PDE, if I remember correctly.

I think with the little that's known about this horrible disease, anything is possible. Just hoping in this instance it's NOT.

No help here, just best wishes for pug and foster family

Thanks everyone! I am calling in the morning. Right now he is stable.

I have talked to my vet and I am convinced that Teddy had PDE. I am working with her to see about getting his MRI & DNA sent to Dr. Greer. I was oblivious that PDE could strike in older pugs. I thought he was just having seizures. My biggest advise to the people would be that if they can't get the seizures under control to go ahead and make the tough desicision. I wish that I had let Teddy go sooner, but I just held out hope.

He didn't have any more seizures during the night-bloodwork should come in around 1 this afternoon.

So, he apparently is back to normal today. All his blood work came back excellent, they checked for a liver shunt too. Right now, we are hoping it was a one time thing!

Saira wrote:So, he apparently is back to normal today. All his blood work came back excellent, they checked for a liver shunt too. Right now, we are hoping it was a one time thing!

That's great news! I think we've all heard of those seizures that end up being a one off kind of thing. Sure would be nice to know what causes them but hopefully that's what it'll be for this guy.

Excellent! Saying a little prayer that it was a one-time thing.