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Kirby's Haircut marktomita 365 views Kirby Tomita is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi with epilepsy. In July 2010, he was having a lot of seizures, possibly due to the hot weather in Las Vegas. Aside from wetting him do...
Kirby Tomita Meets Monster Bug marktomita 148 views See Kirby with a monster bug we found on the street in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. He didn't notice the bug until I pointed it out to him. The bug clinged to the leash, so when ...
Dog Fancier's Park, Las Vegas USA marktomita 78 views Dog Fancier's Park is a 12-acre park in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. There are four dog runs and one large, football field with a track. The field and track are to the right of t...
Kirby and Gracie at Camp Bow Wow marktomita 55 views Kirby and Gracie Tomita are Welsh Corgis on vacation at Camp Bow Wow, Las Vegas, NV USA, June 26, 2010. The pointer shows Kirby and Gracie (under the bridge). There are two...
Cousin Mickey marktomita 59 views Mickey is the cousin of Kirby and Gracie. In this video, he is begging.
Kirby Rolling Over in Playroom marktomita 153 views Kirby Tomita rolls over in the playroom. Gracie watches.
Welsh Corgi - Snake Release Sign at Tree Farm, Chico, CA USA marktomita 329 views The Tree Farm in Chico, California, is a designated rattlesnake release site. We never see rattlesnakes during the day except in the spring when baby rattlers don't know an...
Corgi - Kirby and Gracie Swmming at Tree Farm marktomita 143 views Kirby and Gracie Tomita are swimming at the Tree Farm in Chico, California 6-21-09.
Corgi - Gracie Running marktomita 59 views Gracie always walks far ahead of me at the Tree Farm in Chico, California. When I turn direction, she comes running back and overtakes me.

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csuchico.edu/~mtomita/

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marktomita

Latest Activity

Feb 11, 2007

Date Joined

Feb 11, 2007

About this user

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NEW!! July 31, 2010

You can read about Kirby and Gracie in Chico Bear Adventures: The Awakening and The Journey Home, available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

They are also in the novel PinoChico: The Chico State Freshman, but without super powers. Go to my home page.

I am the owner of two Pembroke Welsh Corgis. One is named Kirby, a special needs dog who has severe epilepsy (seizures). His seizures are now stable after the addition of a third anti-epilepsy medication. When he is not having seizures, he is the happiest and most pampered dog in town. See video clips of Kirby and Gracie.

When a dog has seizures, just clear the area around it to avoid getting hurt. The seizures will stop on their own. Dog owners think they are compassionate because they want to hold the dog during a seizure, but the best thing is to leave the dog alone. It doesn't know what is happening anyway when a seizure is occurring. When the seizures stop, THEN comfort the dog after the episode is over.

Before the addition of Keppra, Kirby used to take a few minutes to recover, and for several days, would be in a fog. After the addition of Keppra, he recovers much quicker, and is out chasing Gracie within one to two hours.

If your Corgi is having seizures, video tape the episode, take your dog to the vet's office, and show the video to the vet to make a correct diagnosis. See two video clips below on what seizures look like in dogs. My videos were taken to educate other dog owners about seizures. In Kirby's case, the seizures were not stopping so the doctors witnessed first hand what was going on with him, and could make a correct diagnosis.

Kirby takes phenobarbital 60 mg twice a day, potassium bromide 375 mg daily, and Keppra 500 mg three times a day (started 1-2-09). Costco sells a generic brand that costs ~$30/month if you buy five months worth. Its a yellow, oblong pill. Have them look it up in the computer. They order from different generic drug companies. Some cost a lot more than this one.

To stop the seizures, I use one of two methods. One is to inject his back leg intramuscularly with midazolam or SQ with Valium. I also give liquid Valium rectally with a syringe. The midazolam and Valium usually stop the clusters in about 20 minutes (clusters are many episodes one after another). Without the drugs, the seizures will continue, lasting about 2-3 minutes, pause for a couple minutes, and then start up again. His current episodes are coming about once every month to three months, mostly at night but sometimes during the day. Hopefully with the addition of Keppra, the seizures will be infrequent, possibly every four months or longer.

In June 2010, we moved to Las Vegas for the summer. Kirby began having seizures daily, so the doctor shaved him, and increased his Keppra to 500 mg (was 250). Also, I soak him in ice water when we get to the park. He no longer has daily seizures.

I hope Kirby's experience with this disease will help other dog owners understand canine seizures, and to see that there are many others like myself who get through the crises and make a better life for our dogs.

See more photos of Kirby and Gracie at web site below. See Chico Bear Adventures and PinoChico novels to read about what Kirby and Gracie do when they're not with me.