Beagles Get Epilepsy More Than You'd Think
Turns out epilepsy is really common in Beagles. Daisy's vet said it's one of the breeds she sees most for seizure disorders.
Nobody mentioned this when I got Daisy as a puppy. I thought seizures were rare in dogs.
Epilepsy Started Young
Daisy had her first seizure at three years old. The vet said that's typical for idiopathic epilepsy in Beagles.
One seizure doesn't mean epilepsy. But then Daisy had another one two weeks later.
After the second seizure, we needed neurological testing. Blood work, MRI to rule out brain tumors. $1,800 for the full workup.
Everything came back normal. Which is actually good news, it means idiopathic epilepsy, not something worse.
But idiopathic epilepsy is genetic. Daisy inherited this from her parents.
The neurologist said Daisy would need daily medication for the rest of her life. Phenobarbital twice daily.
Seizure medication costs $85 per month. Plus quarterly blood tests to monitor liver function and drug levels.
Each monitoring visit costs $200. Blood work, exam, medication adjustment if needed.
Even on medication, Daisy still has breakthrough seizures occasionally. Usually when she's stressed or excited.
Beagle parties at the dog park sometimes trigger seizures. Too much stimulation overwhelms her system.
Emergency Seizure Clusters
Six months after starting medication, Daisy had three seizures in one day. Cluster seizures are dangerous.
Emergency vet visit at midnight. They had to give Daisy IV valium to stop the seizure activity.
Two-day hospitalization for monitoring and medication adjustment. $1,600 for emergency treatment.
Cluster seizures can cause brain damage if they don't stop. Daisy was lucky we caught it early.
Now I keep emergency valium at home in case of clusters. $150 for the prescription, but it might save her life.
The neurologist increased Daisy's daily medication. Higher doses mean more side effects.
Daisy is drowsier now, drinks more water, gained weight. But seizures are controlled better.
It's a balance between seizure control and quality of life. Too much medication makes her a zombie.
Hip Dysplasia Showed Up Later
Daisy started limping after long walks. At first I thought she was just tired.
But the limp got worse, especially after resting. She'd get up stiff and sore.
X-rays showed moderate hip dysplasia. Common in Beagles, the vet said.
Hip dysplasia treatment ranges from medication to surgery. Daisy's case was borderline.
We started with joint supplements and pain medication. $120 per month for supplements, $65 for pain meds.
Physical therapy helped too. Underwater treadmill sessions twice weekly. $95 per session.
But after a year, Daisy's hips got worse. She needed surgery.
Total hip replacement cost $8,500. Plus post-surgical physical therapy for months.
Recovery from hip surgery was tough. Daisy had to be crated for weeks, limited activity for months.
Managing seizure medication during surgery was complicated. Anesthesia can trigger seizures.
What Beagle Insurance Should Actually Cover
Daisy's health problems taught me that Beagle insurance needs to cover chronic conditions, not just accidents.
Neurological Coverage is Essential
Epilepsy treatment is expensive and lifelong. Daisy's initial diagnosis cost $1,800.
Then there's monthly medication, quarterly monitoring, emergency treatments for breakthrough seizures.
We spend about $2,000 per year on Daisy's epilepsy management.
Some insurance policies exclude neurological conditions or have low limits.
But epilepsy is genetic in Beagles. It's not an accident, it's a breed predisposition.
Find a policy that covers hereditary neurological conditions with high annual limits.
Daisy's insurance has saved us thousands on seizure-related expenses.
Emergency Seizure Coverage
Cluster seizures require immediate emergency treatment. No time to shop around for prices.
Daisy's cluster seizure episode cost $1,600 for two days of treatment.
Emergency neurological care is expensive. IV medications, 24-hour monitoring, specialist consultations.
Make sure your policy has high emergency limits and covers specialty emergency hospitals.
Regular emergency vets often aren't equipped for complex seizure management.
Orthopedic Surgery Coverage
Hip dysplasia surgery is expensive but often necessary for quality of life.
Daisy's hip replacement cost $8,500. Physical therapy added another $3,000.
Some policies have limits on orthopedic procedures or exclude hereditary conditions.
But hip dysplasia is common in Beagles. It's a breed-related problem.
Look for policies that cover hereditary orthopedic conditions without lifetime limits.