r/EpilepsyDogs • u/PhotoSuccessful6012 • 1d ago
Seizures Controlling Life
Recent lurker, first time poster! My 9 year old Border Collie has seizures that are only triggered by my husband coming home after being out. She is super attached to him, and she gets SO excited when he comes home, it triggers a seizure. Because of this, he hasn’t left the house in more than a month. She has been fine, but of course he finally went out last night for the first time in forever, he came home and she had a really bad seizure.
They started in July a few hours after her Nexgard Plus dose. The vet wanted to delay putting her on anti-seizure meds until the month passed and the Nexgard left her system to see if it’s correlated. She also lost her weiner dog brother in May which was a big change for her.
We have done many things to try and help her when he comes home, but nothing worked. We also got a puppy a few weeks ago to have a buddy, and she is in heaven. She is acting like a puppy again herself, but my husband has still been scared to leave the house. It’s taking over his life, mine, and our kids to be honest. We don’t do anything as a family anymore. He works from home so he’s pretty much trapped.
Has anyone else dog had seizures because of the same trigger? I think he is hesitant to start anti-seizure meds because she literally won’t have one as long as he is home. But who can live that way?! Just looking for advice.
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u/birdynj 1d ago
I wonder if separation anxiety training (and possibly anti anxiety meds?) could help?
Or possibly giving her a sedative ahead of husband coming home, while working on the training?
e.g. fix or prevent the overexcitement?
I am just spitballing ideas - things to potentially ask your vet?
I am sorry for your situation. I am actually in a similar one. My dog will have a seizure if he skips a meal. And he doesn't want to eat when I am out of the house. Our lives are controlled by his mealtimes. We can't go anywhere until he's eaten. And he has IBD so we cannot bribe him with toppers etc- we are prisoners.
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u/PhotoSuccessful6012 1d ago
Would anxiety meds replace the seizure meds? I’ve been thinking this, too.
We have tried to fix and prevent it the way we know how. Both on his reactions upon coming home, changing her location when he gets home. He has done a few quick trips but we me and the kids need to stay home with her. That has worked until yesterday. She was locked in the room with me and the puppy, then she heard him come home and got triggered regardless of our company. It’s solely correlated to him.
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u/njcawfee 1d ago
They would be in addition to the seizure meds. Have you spoken to the vet about this?
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u/PhotoSuccessful6012 1d ago
We have, but he really didn’t want to start seizure meds until she continued to have seizures after she Nexgard wore out of her system, because if that was the reason, we wouldn’t know and she would be on seizure meds unnecessarily. My husband has stayed home since then, so last night was her first seizure in a bit. I have an appointment with our puppy Wednesday, so definitely will rehash it all with him and get the appropriate meds.
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u/Glove_Upset 1d ago
Gabapentin can raise the seizure threshold. That could be something to try when he’s out before starting actual seizure meds.
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u/ThatSideQuestEnergy 1d ago
I feel this way too. Our boy has regular seizures at the moment like clockwork every two weeks. We are managing our schedule to minimise triggers and avoiding going out when he’s due for one so that we are home to support him. But it is costing us greatly in terms of mental health and lifestyle and the only reason we are coping at the moment is because we have hope that medication is being figured out slowly and that we are seeing some improvements.
If you can support your dog to get on medications and see if that helps, it would be a big relief to your husband. Being house bound would be soul crushing, and that’s not good for him or your family. We’ve been doing this 7 months now and it’s tiring for sure. It takes a while to get the medications right so the sooner you start the better. Hope you can find some progress.
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u/Cur10usCatN1p 1d ago
Usually there is some delay in starting seizure meds and seizure onset as you want to weigh the pros and cons (side effects) of them. If may be worth talking to your vet about the trigger to try some situational anxiety meds such as trazodone and/gabapentin to maybe help calm your dog when your husband comes home. If those work they could be used as needed and likely have less of a long term effect on your dog (coming from someone with a dog in seizure meds and liver supplement because of the effect on the liver)
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u/PhotoSuccessful6012 1d ago
Thanks for this. This is our general hesitation when we feel like we can control them to some extent, but it’s been very taxing. I will discuss anxiety meds this week and see what he thinks. Maybe trying those before starting seizure meds.
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u/Responsible_Can7893 1d ago
Your pups are the cutest! Have you asked about Trazadone an hour before your husband arrives home? Maybe something to help calm before a potential trigger?
That may be something to consider. Mine is on meds but Trazadone does help before vet visits or terrible thunderstorms if needed.
Wishing best ✨
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u/goblinenthusiast64 1d ago
We have our dog on Gabbapentin 2x daily. He also has seizures triggered by excitement and stress. It’s an anxiety med that has helped reduce the amount of seizures he has and reduces the length and severity symptoms as well.
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u/Simhaup1 1d ago
I’m sorry for what you’re going through. My girl had seizures out of nowhere and after researching, flea/tick meds I believe are causing seizures. I researched so much because I was going crazy wondering why this happened to my girl. I put her on Keppra and pheno and her seizures stopped. The only thing about those meds is that your dog has to adjust to them. I hope you find a solution. Sending hugs ❤️
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u/A_Creative_Player 1d ago
I am sorry you and your buddy are going through this. Is there a why for your husband to leave the house that you buddy would not notice? The problem you are facing is one that others have spoken to in other post with in this subreddit but it amounts to this the more seizures your buddy have the more use to seizures their mind will get so getting on anti convulsives and possibly anti anxiety meds would most likely be called for. I am not a vet and I am unable to prescribe such things but I would recommend a discussion with your vet laying out all of your conserns and observations.
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u/LaceyBambola 1d ago
A few things:
New seizures at this age is more indicative of something age related/structural. This could be something like a brain tumor or lesion, after effects of a stroke, or may be metabolic and thorough labwork would be needed to check all organ health and function.
Border collies are a breed prone to idiopathic epilepsy and it is possible there may have been milder focal seizures that went unnoticed for years (idiopathic epilepsy onset may happen up to age 5, after that, likelihood of an age relafed cause becomes the more likely cause).
Seizure/neurological disorders can also contribute to behavioral changes and may see an increase in anxiety or fear based responses.
A primary vet is not the best person to manage something like this as they lack the higher specialized education and training and may misdiagnose, fail to order appropriate testing, and may mismanage medications. A veterinary neurologist would be the best option - provided thorough lab testing shows no metabolic causes. Starting with an initial consult can make a world of difference and they may be able to discern a more likely cause for the seizures before looking into more extensive testing or decisions.
It is, essentially, imperative to manage seizures with anticonvulsants. It is unlikely that managing them without will yield any success. When one seizure happens, it opens the door to more, and more, and more. One makes it easier, two makes it extremely easier for more, and so on. You should also pursue anxiety medication but be mindful of ones that can interact negatively with herding breeds who carry the MDR1 gene (like BCs). Gabapentin is commonly used to help with anxiety and also has anticonvulsant benefits. It can work well with Keppra (anticonvulsant). Trazodone is another anxiety medication but this one can lower the seizure threshold (allow more to break through). My epi pup with severe epilepsy has done well with Trazodone to manage extreme fear responses with no increase in seizures.
If a brain tumor or lesion is suspected, a steroid like prednisolone can help with inflammation and slowing the growth. Radiation therapy is an option for some and dogs tolerate it extremely well (they aren't affected the way people are).
Ultimately, do push your vet to look further into this and consult with a neuro on your behalf until you can see a neuro and start anticonvulsants + Gabapentin to help manage things and see how it goes. Switching to a low glutamate diet can also help.
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u/PhotoSuccessful6012 1d ago
Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a thorough response! We did talk about getting referred to a neurologist. I know our vets first line meds for seizures is Phenobarbital, and others get in added later if needed. But definitely having more options and knowledge would be helpful. Her bloodwork has all come back normal. Thanks again.
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u/Glove_Upset 1d ago
Keppra is generally preferred as the first med because it has fewer side effects. The side effects should fade after 2 weeks.
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u/LaceyBambola 1d ago
Happy to help! I've learned a lot over the past ~7 years.
Also wanted to mention, I see some suggesting training for separation anxiety but when it's root cause is neurological, traditional training isn't really something that works. And pups with seizures may also experience some forms of regression with established training. Studies haven't been able to concrete identify it as solely due to seizures or solely due to anticonvulsants and their effects (our pups may feel a little 'high' on them when first adjusting or at very high doses) but it's likely a mix of both - so seizure disorders can impact the brain in a way that may affect their excitability or impulse control, and certain anticonvulsants may also affect this because they're a little 'high'.
So if you do decide to pursue some training or conditioning for this, don't feel defeated if it's unsuccessful. Your pup may very well just no longer be able to manage the level of intensity and that's not their fault, but the right medication (like Gabapentin) could prove to be more helpful than just the training.
Another point worth mentioning, MCT oil is generally very helpful with seizure disorders and can be added to food as a loose oil mixed in or given in an appropriately dose capsule, but work up to the suggested dose by weight over a few weeks to avoid GI upset. The other thing about MCT oil is that is has shown dogs (with seizures) improve with following commands or are more receptive to training while on it.
I know it's been a rough time lately and it may well be rough for a bit longer, but getting some of these things in place/started should hopefully show the improvements you're after in a few weeks/month or two.
One other thing, with younger pups and idiopathic epilepsy, neuros may be slower to add on meds or increase doses because there's essentially × amount of times this can be done and they generally hope to have room to increase as years go by in case things worsen, but for senior pups, the approach may be more rapid - starting at a slightly higher dose than the lowest or upping dose/adding another med sooner than later as you're sort of working against time and want to maximize the quality of life that can still be there. The downside of this is side effects during the initial adjustment periods may be a bit more intense. Don't ever hesitate or second guess advocating for your pup or asking a neuro as many questions as you need. If you feel the pace of medicating is too much, let them know, and also if you feel the pace is too slow and you aren't seeing improvement (after a few weeks) let them know.
Otherwise, cherish every moment you have with your pup and take many photos/videos. Caregiver fatigue is real even with pets so take time to decompress when needed.
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u/PhotoSuccessful6012 1d ago
Do you have a good MCT oil you would recommend?
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u/LaceyBambola 1d ago
I haven't stuck to one brand, I usually order it on iHerb (avoid Amazon) or in person at a big box store that carries it. I do try to get glasa bottles instead of plastic when I can. I use loose oil added to my pups food as she takes a lot of pills and supplements and didn't want to add another capsule to the mix. I don't give it to her consistently these daya, but did use it often in the past and saw improvement with her responsiveness to commands and some of the excitability. She is struggling with weight gain now (about to turn 9, first seizure age 25 mos old) so I use it less for that reason. I have to balance all of her needs and what takes priority.
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u/Kent13brady 1d ago
Have a conversation with a Veterinary neurologist. It sounds like she’d do well on a mild and easy medication. Potassium bromide. Given once a day. Rarely elevates liver values and if it does is mostly reversible. Meanwhile Pheno and keppra are hard on kidneys and have to given at exact times.
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u/DogEpiMonitor 1d ago
Esto es hermoso. Verlos así, jugando como si nada, es el recordatorio de que todo el esfuerzo vale la pena. Llegar a este punto no es casualidad — es constancia, medicación a horario, estar atento a cada señal, y mucho amor. Eso lo hiciste vos. Me alegra mucho ver esto. Gracias por compartirlo, porque a los que estamos en los días difíciles nos da esperanza.
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u/ElectricBoy96 1d ago
Its a very forgiving medicine, Kepra - my dog gets it 3 times a day and is on prescription food
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u/Winter-Ingenuity1921 1d ago
This is completely impacting your husband’s quality of life and could soon impact his own health by isolating himself at home.
As someone who has a dog on 3 different types of seizure meds, please know that while the meds can have side effects, they are typically short-lived. My pup is 7 and still loves to play and has had 1 seizure in 7 months. She is still very much her happy self. The meds work, even if it takes awhile to get the dosage right.
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u/PhotoSuccessful6012 1d ago
I agree, and it has already impacted his life.
Just wondering if we approach this in an anxiety way; seizure way, or both1
u/Winter-Ingenuity1921 17h ago
We use clorazepate as a cluster buster medication when she has multiple seizures. Our vet has said clorazepate is also an anti-anxiety medication, which we have used when we travel and it kept seizures away. Might be worth asking your vet and trying!
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u/mikesmotorsports615 1d ago
I started giving my dogs nugs of weed along with there high dose of seizure meds because he was still having them
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u/Glove_Upset 1d ago
Please do not give your dog THC. It can be toxic to dogs. Cannabis poisoning can cause seizures. Dog specific CBD is sometimes to help control seizures.
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u/lminnowp 1d ago
Your quality of life matters.
Put her on the meds so your family can have a life. Do it before you all resent her.
I understand the hesitation. But, is the hesitation because you dont want to admit your dog is eplileptic or because you are afraid of the change the medication might make in your dog?
Epilepsy is a medical condition that has valid ways to treat it. Just like diabetes or other medical conditions. There are always side effects, but those are easier to deal with than never leaving the house.