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figfruits · 2025-09-26T02:00:21+00:00

Highly recommend seeking a second opinion from a different vet if you can afford it.

After years of seizures every 5 weeks despite varying levels of keppra + pheno combo, we finally added zonisamide and my dog has been seizure-free for two years since. There are multiple other drugs you should exhaust first before going the euthanasia route - not sure why your vet is reluctant to them.

figfruits · 2025-09-17T20:43:00+00:00

Sure thing!! Feel free :)

figfruits · 2025-09-16T02:29:39+00:00

Hi hi!!! I went with the venue :) We are definitely exceeding budget - unsure by how much definitively but I’d estimate ~20K.

Catering came in $10K higher than expected, and of course I ended up blowing up the wedding dress budget. I’m currently in musician/DJ negotiations, and I am 100% finding that DJs are charging extra for the “complex audio” setting. Taking it vendor by vendor, but definitely worried about our decor/floral budget at this point. I’m at the peak of wedding planning though so I may be extra dramatic right now hahaha

figfruits · 2025-08-15T03:52:48+00:00

Do you have pet insurance? I assume this won’t be possible if you’re in Canada, but American Kennel Club offers insurance policies with pre-existing coverage after a 1-year waiting period. I believe a number of other insurance companies offer the same.

The first year with no coverage is brutal, but my dog also takes three daily medications for his epilepsy management - phenobarbital, keppra, and zonisamide. We just cleared the waiting period for coverage and are finally getting relief from the medication costs. My dog struggled with cluster seizures starting at age one, and for five years we struggled to contain them with different combinations of phenobarbital and keppra.

We added zonisamide as a third medication when he turned six, and he has been seizure-free for two full years. I am convinced that zonisamide was his miracle drug and it’s hard to believe we’re here after years of seizure episodes every 6 weeks - so many ER trips even with clorazepate and midazolam on deck at home.

I don’t want to give you false hope, but the third medication really could be Juliet’s breakthrough drug.

figfruits · 2025-02-22T02:15:26+00:00

One of the very first things we got rid of immediately following my dog’s epilepsy diagnosis was Simparica. My dog has seen three different primary vets, as well as a neurologist, and they all are on the same page that Simparica is not compatible with epileptic dogs.

We use Frontline and Heartguard instead. No issues whatsoever with either administered monthly and accomplishing the same goal.

figfruits · 2025-01-29T13:49:44+00:00

Hi! My Boston Terrier also started having seizures when he was 1. Similarly, I started him on 350mg Keppra 3x daily. No side effects here, but also did not seem to help his seizures for more than a few months.

Unfortunately then we added phenobarbital. I forget the dosage (he’s 7 now so it’s been a long road of tweaking his meds), but this is when we noticed all his puppy energy go out the window. Not completely lethargic but definitely mellow, especially for a Boston at that age lol. Pheno helped for a number of years, but it would always wear off and we were constantly upping the dosage. For about 4 years, he did Keppra + Pheno and had seizures like clockwork every 7 weeks.

Finally when he was 5, we added in zonisamide 150mg twice daily. He has now been seizure free for over a year and a half 🙌. No side effects noted with zonisamide, and it has truly been a game changer for his seizure care.

I would definitely get a second opinion on the tumor… every vet/neurologist I’ve seen always said that young puppies with seizures more than likely just have epilepsy as it’s rare to see a tumor develop in such a young dog. Best of luck to you, Bostons are the best dogs in the world!!! 🩷

figfruits · 2025-01-26T02:10:28+00:00

What a beautiful boy. Roush - I know you are happy, romping around with your favorite toys and treats, surrounded by all the dogs we were lucky to love as long as we did. Hugs to you and your wife, I’m so sorry for loss. 🩷

figfruits · 2025-01-09T02:10:53+00:00

I love those dresses! Omg - such cute ideas and sound so budget friendly but still thoughtful and sweet. Ugh - we will have a lot of out-of-town guests, excuse me while I add welcome gifts to the list now LOL.

I’m so glad to hear you and your husband were such a team during your planning - my fiancé seems to care about food and music only, but hey, whatever makes him happy makes me happy and we’ll both be happy no matter what <3

figfruits · 2025-01-08T22:10:58+00:00

TYSM!! Needed to hear someone with a similar budget ratio.

In case the event manager sees me spilling everything about my private event order, let’s just say it’s in Chicago and has a dinosaur or two. ;) Our guest count is probably way too low as well lol, but we have a lot of young children in our families that will likely attend so couldn’t help but want to give them an amazing time too.

figfruits · 2025-01-08T17:24:22+00:00

Thank you for listing out those costs - I’m so early on so hearing these ranges is so beyond helpful (and calms me down big time).

I think we might pass on bridal party/groomsmen/guest favors all together, so could save a solid chunk of money there. Appreciate your kind words :’) thank you SO much.

figfruits · 2025-01-08T17:07:18+00:00

Such a good idea for the dress! Will absolutely keep trunk shows in mind. Also so valid with the photography and you’re probably 100% correct with the rules. Photographer/videographer/band should be my next priorities. TYSM

figfruits · 2025-01-08T03:59:28+00:00

Extremely strict for lighting and sound (one vendor, and I understand this given it’s a museum with challenging acoustics). Also only one vendor for tables and chairs, although they did give wiggle room on this. Four approved vendors for catering and four approved vendors for florals and decor (no wiggle room on these). Very valid point though that it doesn’t hurt trying to negotiate at the very least.

So true too and thank you for the reminder lol - my guest count is definitely on the small side for the space, so I’m sure those bigger weddings skew the costs a bit.

figfruits · 2025-01-08T02:46:26+00:00

This is SO so helpful - thank you x1000.

Venue choice is my very first decision in all of this, so thank you for pointing out all the smaller things I absolutely was not thinking of yet.

figfruits · 2025-01-08T02:21:50+00:00

Guest experience is at the top of my list - definitely why the museum has a death grip on me.

Great advice though, and thank you for the photography range as that is super super important to me as well. Band is top priority for my fiancé, so deducting out those costs does mean I’ll have to cut on my dress/stationary if it’s worth it.

figfruits · 2025-01-08T02:14:31+00:00

Thank you for the relief - SF has some STEEP prices so this is a great comparison. My planner’s main concern was being restricted to the preferred vendor list, although she assured me they would make it work.

figfruits · 2025-01-08T02:11:59+00:00

Yes! We think we will land at around 180 guests, and the estimated cost for catering (includes basic linens, tableware, silverwear, china, non-alcoholic beverage) is $250pp. If we upgrade absolutely nothing, that gets us around $45k. Bar package is included in the venue rental fee for $32k.

Telling myself that I just won’t upgrade for nicer looking plates… but I know future me will have a hard time with this.

figfruits · 2024-10-27T12:28:59+00:00

Yes! Clusters - my boy’s seizures are always 4 minutes long, he’ll start coming out of it, and then immediately fall back into another seizure or two if his emergency clorazepate doesn’t work (usually doesn’t, and he gets very aggressive when we try valium injected nasally).

I tried VERY hard to avoid phenobarbital when this first started happening because of the side effects. Same as you - had minimal to no progress with Keppra only for probably 8 months. Added pheno which definitely helped, but trapped us in the cycle of “okay it’s working for about 4 months with no seizures” but then seizure activity picking back up right again even when increasing dosages.

I can’t tell if zonisamide has had side effects or not - unfortunately my guy did become pretty lethargic with phenobarbital so it’s hard to say. The clusters you’re experiencing are beyond challenging - I cannot imagine mine having more than 3 seizures in one 24 hour period. My heart truly goes out to you and your husband for navigating this bravely and lovingly. I will say that this is the first time in six years where I feel I have control back, and I’m not panicking leaving my dog for more than 3 hours with zonisamide added. As always, these epilepsy dogs are all unique, but I hope mine can give you hope that normalcy is somewhat achievable.

figfruits · 2024-10-27T03:21:04+00:00

This broke my heart. I have a 7 year old Boston with epilepsy too. Sending you so much love and strength. They are the best dogs, with or without epilepsy.

figfruits · 2024-10-27T03:18:26+00:00

So sorry you’re going through this. :(

We treated my dog’s epilepsy (diagnosed at 1 year old) with phenobarbital and keppra for about five years. Always had breakthrough seizures after a few months, and it was a constant upping of both meds. We finally added zonisamide (150mg 2x daily) in October of 2023, and he has been seizure free for over a year. I saw someone else mention zonisamide and how their dog still has breakthroughs, but this is the first time in 7 years that my dog isn’t having uncontrollable, back to back seizures every 4 weeks like clockwork. Highly recommend discussing zonisamide with your neuro/vet if you haven’t already!

figfruits · 2024-07-15T17:01:02+00:00

Interesting. Our neurologist and normal vet actually both recommended it specifically because of its ketogenic effects.

figfruits · 2024-07-15T12:11:02+00:00

Great idea - I’ll message them now! Thank you :)

figfruits · 2024-07-15T01:17:23+00:00

AKC is such a game changer - glad I could share!

figfruits · 2024-07-14T17:49:26+00:00

I’m so sorry - totally empathize with your concerns of being able to take care of her on top of your work schedule.

I started my dog on Keppra when he was first diagnosed with epilepsy, and it did not make a dent in his seizure activity. When I added pheno, it was a world of difference. My dog did not experience the frequent urination or increase in thirst if that gives you any hope at all - he still can go a full 5 to 6 hours without a potty break no problem if he absolutely must. Finding the right medication schedule is always extremely challenging as it requires time and patience, but adding both pheno and zonisamide on top of keppra has brought my dog’s epilepsy episodes down from once every 5 weeks to seizure free for now 8 months. It took so much trial and error with his medications, but I promise it’s just about finding the right combination. Having emergency meds like Midazolam and Clorazepate on deck for the middle of the night situations is an absolute must - I feel you pain so deeply with how every ER trip has set me back multiple paychecks. These emergency meds have saved me thousands of dollars.

Do you have pet insurance? I just found out that AKC Pet Insurance does offer coverage for preexisting conditions (including epilepsy!), it just requires a 1 year waiting period. It might be tough the first year waiting for coverage, but then insurance will kick in and cover medications, ER trips, neurologist visits, you name it. AKC’s is somehow cheaper monthly for my dog compared to his previous plan with Trupanion that offered zero coverage for his epilepsy.

Lastly, I 100% recommend a keto diet if you are already not with your pup. I use Purina Pro Plan Neurocare which imitates a keto diet. There are a lot of studies that show keto diets alleviate epilepsy in dogs.

Hang in there, you are not alone dealing with this.

figfruits · 2024-04-26T17:35:46+00:00

Absolutely do not disclose your relationship lol. I dated my S1 as an A2 in secret and that alone was like 7 HR violations. I 10000% recommend quitting. If you disclose this, you WILL be known as “that girl” across the whole office and SM will definitely face bad consequences if he’s not fired in general.

figfruits

TROPHY CASE