Grey's 2nd tremor incident might not be tremorgenic mycotoxicosis

We're now back in the realm of mystery with regard to finding the cause of Grey's second tremor incident of last week that lasted around 12 hours. The Environment Agency visited the area and found the patch of bright green in the field that Grey had obviously eaten from around 40 mins before tremors started. They confirmed it was a form of algae that had formed on the surface of the field.

I then spoke withe a neurologist at the Royal Veterinary College where Grey had been treated in January. They stated two things: Firstly, that tremors could be caused by algae. But secondly, that now he has had two incidents, it is possible that other than an intoxication, this could turn out to be an idiopathic tremor incident. In which case, I have to send them videos of anything suspicious if it occurs in the future.

So, this leaves me slightly in the dark and a bit worried. Grey's brother, Gunner has idiopathic epilepsy and is on medication to manage his seizures. It could be that Grey has a predisposition, a sensitivity to something in the environment that triggers a central nervous system response of this nature.

So, I'm putting the call out to fellow Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer owners to please please submit health reports to either the breed club or the SRHP health site or preferably both. Please get in touch with me by email (louise.oldfield@gmail.com) if your Slovak has ever had shakes, unsteadyness, tremors, fits, seizures. No matter how mild. I'm also desperate to know more about the incidents of cancer that have occured in the breed. I know of another dog with the same parents as Grey but from a different litter that has also had a Mast Cell Tumor.

It's so important. Grey's treatment for his tremors was easier this time because the vet knew what sedatives had worked last time. Please get in touch if you think you can help.

Grey had a 2nd tremorgenic mycotoxosis incident

I couldn't believe it yesterday after we were heading homewards after a lovely walk with another dog walker. I'd just said goodbye and was heading down the track to the car when Grey started shaking in his back legs again in the same way as the first incident in early January. He was less affected and I was less taken by surprise. I got him straight into the car, took a faster route to the vets so we got there 30 mins earlier than the January incident. He was put straight on phenobarbital rather than diazepam. The latter in January had caused him to be more agitated. He was at the vets on a drip from 2pm until 6.30pm when it was decided he had stabilised enough to come home for the night. He was restless and having mild tremors until 11pm. He settled as long as he was in contact with one of us. He seems to calm more if in physical contact. During the restlessness, grey kept doing nose nudges on me, as if trying to tell me he wasn't right. He's been taught nose targets in training for life rewards, so it makes sense to me that Grey would try a nose target to get to do or change something.

Yesterday was the first time since January that I walked in the same field that we'd been in on the day of the January incident. He'd obviously had a drink from the surface water on the field. Yesterday there was some green residue at the entrance to the field that was left in his beard.

But I have to underline that this sounds really rare and it's likely that Grey is particularly sensitive to something. No other dogs have been affected. I've called round the local vets and they haven't heard of anything. So perhaps it is like an allergy.

We shall have to avoid that area now.

Today he was unsteady still on his hind legs and walking with a cowboy gait. He is now resting and seems back to himself, although a little knocked out.