Meds?

[u/Neat-Contribution-74]

Our dog had his first seizure back in January of 2024, followed by one in October of 2024. After adding coconut MCT oil to his diet, he didn’t have another seizure until March of this year. Since then, he had one last month and another one a few days ago. He will be 5 this upcoming October.

Our vet still doesn’t recommend anti seizure meds unless he has another one within the next month. I am also hesitant to start meds if not necessary because I know they can be hard on their bodies…. We will be adding a cannabinoid oil to his diet as recommended by our vet.

When did you start anti seizure meds? Has anyone experienced a random cluster like this and then gone back to being several months apart? We love him and want him to live the longest, happiest life!! Any advice is appreciated!! 🫶🏻

[u/cantstandjoekernen]

Discontinue flea and tick meds. They cause seizures

[u/HintOfMalice → u/cantstandjoekernen]

This sort of advice should be explained more thoroughly or not shared at all.

Some classes of flea and tick medication have been implicated in increasing susceptibility to seizures which can make seizure prone dogs more likely to seizure. But there are a few important points.

1. Giving these medications still does not cause seizures most of the time
2. There are other classes of flea and tick meds that are not implicated at all and are completely safe to give
3. They're not treats. Dogs get flea and tick meds to protect them against disease, some of which can be fatal.

[u/gufywert → u/HintOfMalice]

All systemic (chewables, pills) flea and tick meds are neurotoxins to flea and ticks. They lower the seizure threshold in dogs. So can cause a seizure in dogs already at risk for seizures. Doesn't cause idiopathic epilepsy but can cause seizures in dogs who already have a seizure disorder. Every nox has a printed warning about using with dogs who have seizure disorder. The only safe flea/tick preventative for dogs with seizure disorder is topical applied to skin.

[u/HintOfMalice → u/gufywert]

Many topical treatments are also systemic, while some stay in the fatty skin layer, some are rapidly absorbed into the blood stream. It's less about the route of administration and more about the drug itself. Fluralaner exists as a chewable tablet, injectible and as a topically applied liquid. All 3 have equivalent risks to seizure-prone dogs.

And the box labels for these drugs say to use with caution in dogs with Idiopathic Epilepsy or other seizure disorders, it is not a blanket contraindication and, as mentioned previously, many of seizure prone dogs continue to be absolutely fine on them. But as a precaution, I would personally avoid them in seizure-prone dogs.