When to Start Epilepsy Treatment for Dogs (and why not straight away)! - Dog Health Vet Advice

If your dog has had one or more seizures and has been diagnosed with epilepsy, one of the first decisions you will have to make is when should you start treatment for epilepsy in dogs.
The aim of epilepsy treatment in dogs is to reduce their frequency and severity, not prevent all seizures. All drugs also have the risks of side-effects and cost money to give and then monitor. As a result the decision to start treatment is based on a risk-benefit analysis.
This video though discusses the general guidelines every owner of a newly diagnosed epileptic dog should consider.
Dog Epilepsy Facts: • Epilepsy In Dogs: 9 fa...
Causes of Seizures in Dogs: • What Causes Seizures i...
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[@jbart1985]

This was very important to me, I’ve put my dog on seizure medication. He had 3 in 24 hrs but all the videos I’ve found were just telling me what to do during and what not. I’ve been looking for more of a treatment centered video and this was that. I appreciate your sharing of this greatly. ❤️

[@industrymoth]

Hey, is your dog okay now ?

[@kathyjones1576]

My little mini-dachshund, Buster, is epileptic. I knew this before I rescued him, had taken care of him for a few years in the clinic I worked. He belonged to someone else, who was always boarding him, so I took on his care. Finally, he became mine. He was on pheno until a couple years ago, but it stopped working, so he was switched to keppra. It took a couple months to start working, but this works so much better. He still has seizures, but not as often, they don't ever go into the grand mal stage, don't last as long, and he also comes out of the effect much faster. Within a few minutes after one, he's himself again. He's 11 now, and still doing strong. He's also has a back injury for as long as I've known him, but that's another thing, that I never understood the cause of.

[@adolfoconde1371]

Thanks a lot for the information !!! Only to say awesome job . 🤩🤩👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 !!!

[@OurPetsHealth]

Thank you too!

[@alyssazelikson5828]

My dog had his first seizure a couple of nights ago. It lasted around a minute and started after he vomited in the middle of the night. He quickly got back to being himself after. It scarred us so bad and we immediately called our vet and went to see her. All his blood work was ok and it seemed like there was no reason for this except for idiopathic epilepsy. Since then we are very anxious and scarred to leave him alone even though he seems fine and is back to being the amazing dog he is. Your videos helped me calm down a little so thank you. I don't know if it happens again and I know I can't predict it and it is hard for me. I really hope it won't happen again, and if it does I just hope it won't be very bad.

[@OurPetsHealth]

Some dogs will only have 1 or a few seizures which never develop into anything else. I know it's upsetting to think about but try not to worry. If there are more then at least you have some more information now. Have you seen my other seizure and epilepsy videos - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHabe5-IgtmSrM0

[@nethradev]

Hello Doc my dog had her first seizure on Aug 2... and then she had another one yesterday (aug 29)...both seizures were less than 2min.. The doctor has given the Penobarbital tablets and has recommended MRI scan, Spinal cord fluid extractions and blood tests.. Do you think these tests would be helpful?? Please advise !!

[@OurPetsHealth]

It depends. These are the potential causes of seizures kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpPUpaueqtRsea8 for some dogs a lot of investigation would be ideal, in other situations not so much. It's all a balance of probability, how the tests might change the treatment plan, and of course cost

[@nethradev]

@@OurPetsHealth hello doctor. I did the MRI scan , spinal fluid test and blood analysis- all came out normal and she is diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. She is under phenobarbital drug for a year . Will she get these attacks back when she is on this drug? Please advise? My dog is 25 kgs and she is taking the Phentotyl 60mg drug ! Is this safe ?

[@industrymoth]

Hey doc, my dog had his 1st seizure 2 weeks ago and 2nd 2 weeks after that...my vet said to give the medicine if we want to or we can wait for another one. We also recorded him while he was on seizure whixh lasted few seconds and the vet said it was very mild.....do you think we should wait or not and start his treatment? edit:- he had another seizure 19 hours after and i gave him the medicine...he was hungry afterwards so he ate but vomitted 30 mins after ...this time the seizure was different, he urinated a little during the seizure and was more than 30 secs but not a minute, he also popped after the seizure....hope he gets well.

[@tin6413]

Our dog started having seizures a few months ago and she would sometimes have 2-4 seizures in 24 hours. She had her bloods taken and came out fine. But the vet ultimately prescribed phenobarbital. We havent given it yet since I want to try a holistic approach first such as changing her diet stopping kibble, adding mct oil, fish oil, cbt oil, and maybe taurine. But what are your thoughts on this? Should I just start her with phenobarbital as soon as possible?

[@vickymendoza1910]

Can I stop giving my yorkie Zonisamide 25mg after she has been on it for two years? She was started on it after just two seizures when I took her to see the Veterinary because I got scared. They just said to give her the meds but I'm not so sure I did the right thing.

[@jbart1985]

Did you take her off it? What was your outcome I’m very curious?

[@vickymendoza1910]

@@jbart1985 yes, I took her off immediately and she has been healthier than ever. She was peeing everywhere and acted drowsy. I did buy some natural pills to boost her kidneys & liver and hasn't had a seizures going now two years. Not all vets act in the best interest of our pets, not saying they don't have good intentions but 5hey are trained in the same model as our "health care" system. My dog will be 16 this April a d still looks like a puppy, is playful, enjoys short walks, etc. Blessings to you and your fur babies..

[@danielle1103]

My 8 year old purebred Shih Tzu has had 2 seizures in 2 months now and his doctor gave him a pass on the first, but since his second occurred within 6 months of the first he’s now on Phenobarbital 😞 he’s on day 4 now of the medication and he’s had an increase in appetite, increase in drinking water, is very uncoordinated, sometimes vomiting and it’s very scary. I heard the first two weeks are the worst on phenobarbital, but I feel horrible putting him through this. What is the likelihood of idiopathic epilepsy vs. a brain tumor in this instance? I was worried about his heart and had given some thought to having an EKG performed, but was told because he’s not “fainting” while being active the heart isn’t necessarily a culprit.

[@OurPetsHealth]

I'm sorry to hear that. Here is a video all about phenobarb that will help - kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6PEnWaLjMeZe7M

[@PimpDomingo]

Have you looked at your dogs dog food? Sometimes the dog food will cause seizures. Purina has been known to cause them and also blue buffalo. Sometimes any kibble that uses a red dye as well. How is your dog doing today?

[@CherSha16]

MY DOG AFTER SEIZURE, he just roaming around and he cannot stay on his place. What's the med of it?

[@OurPetsHealth]

That can be very normal post-seizure behaviour

[@akankshaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Sir, my dog had only one seizure on 11th April for around 4 mins, he is 5 years old german shepherd 58kgs. Blood reports are normal. He has been given phenobarbitone 3tab BD i.e 60mg each tablet He is unable to walk from his back legs and is very dizzy. Also he is walking very uncoordinated since medication. What should we do Please answer!

[@clydecash5659]

I have two dogs who have both been diagnosed by two different vets as having cranial seizures. Bloodwork came back clean both times. Both vets prescribed Keppra at similar milligrams (they’re sisters of the same litter). I can tell you first hand that this Keppra doesn’t do a god damn thing. They still have seizures just as often as they did before starting this useless placebo.

[@OurPetsHealth]

I personally wouldn't use keppra as a sole treatment for epileptic seizures and as far as I'm aware most of the evidence for it's use is when it is used in addition to other drugs (such as phenobarbitone - more info here kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6PEnWaLjMeZe7M - or imepitoin) when the initial drug wasn't having as much of an effect as desired rather than as a sole agent

[@kritikapandey7494]

My two year old baby golden retriever had his first seizure on 7 april and it again relapsed on 17 may that is within 1.5 month. I am not clear whether I should wait or start with the treatment. Also I want to know whether high protein diet can cause seizures in dogs. Please reply it would be really helpful.

[@daydreaming11117]

What if the dog had 3 strong seizures but months apart? They were 10 minutes long but the last one he stay 30 mins in a trance

[@rupeshsharma2882]

Sir my dog get sezier today now what should I do now

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

My Husky had some kind of brain fart last night. He repeated turning his head 90 degrees to the right in 3 abrupt robotic like movements/segments over and over again. It was a relative short time and I may have otherwise missed it (I've only had him a month) so I can't tell if this is an ongoing thing. If it was a seizure it was pretty mild but disturbing to watch. My dog is a 1 1/2 year old whole male Husky. Should I be worried?

[@OurPetsHealth]

I'd keep a close eye on him. If he's otherwise AOK then monitoring is probably fine, if there is any other issue though a check up wouldn't be a bad idea. If he does have any more episodes then try and get a video if you can

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

@@OurPetsHealth Fortunately I am with him all day and I keep him close now. BTW thanks for your videos.

[@ymichelematthews-ramsey520]

My dog is on 4 meds (phenobarbital, potassium bromide, Keppra and ****. He has seizures twice a month, which the vet says in normal. I hope it's not he is a Presa Canario and 158 pounds and suggestions? So very hard to watch

[@Lyurith]

My dog is 3 month and has distemper what should i do?

[@margieuribe7590]

What if my dog was put on medication for having 3 seizures within 24 hours but has none after can I stop medication?

[@OurPetsHealth]

Potentially, depending on how long since the seizures were and if there were none before those three this is a possibility but depending on the medication it may need to be very slowly weaned off. Something to have a conversation with your vet about

[@Trisha-2023]

My 12 yr old German Shepherd had suddenly started having strange episodes 3 weeks ago. I took her to the vet straight after the first time and she had blood tests which showed up nothing and she was apparently healthy. So we went home but these episodes continued almost every evening for the next three weeks. I have just returned today from the vets again with the diagnosis my girl has epilepsy and will be on medication (Epiphen) for the rest of her life. After watching your videos on epilepsy, i dont understand why I have got this diagnosis because she is not in the correct age range and her health is perfect other than these 'fits'. She does NOT have convulsions, she becomes lethargic, her eyes go glassy, she doesn't seem to recognise me and wets beneath her during these episodes. After about an hour she is bouncing around and wanting to play ball like nothing even happened. Is it possible she developed the condition even though she's an older dog? Im very confused now!

[@OurPetsHealth]

It's far more likely that there is another cause for the seizures although it is not impossible for an older dog to develop epilepsy. The vast majority however have their first seizure between the ages of about 1-5 or 6 years. Ruling out other causes can be very difficult and costly if referral and MRI are needed

[@Trisha-2023]

@@OurPetsHealth thanks for the reply, my girl had to be put to sleep today with internal bleeding from spontaneous splenic hemorrhage . Im heartbroken but the vet said she was suffering so I had no choice but to let her go. The vet got the diagnosis wrong, there was no epilepsy, she was going into shock each time she had a bleed and this was mistaken for the episodes she was having.

[@maheshjoshi3728]

Sir my dog is affected with appilapse,what can I do? It is a pug

[@OurPetsHealth]

check these out and consult your vet - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHabe5-IgtmSrM0

[@divyanshiyadav3268]

Plz medicine detail dog treatment

[@OurPetsHealth]

you can find out about phenobarbital here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6PEnWaLjMeZe7M

[@satnamgill3033]

Sir you have a permanent ilaj of mirgi

[@trinarobb4892]

My dog started having seizures a few months ago, he is very old. They have got more frequent(4 time in july) so we started phenobarbital..only a few days in and it is hell, he can not walk he is so wobbly. He has known liver issues, my vet never mentioned it hurting the liver, which is kinda upsetting to hear.

[@PimpDomingo]

I just started giving my dog 1 drop of milk thistle per pound of body weight since we started her on medication.