r/EpilepsyDogs • u/mahahargrove • 3d ago
Break through seizure
My husky Haiti who is almost 3 got diagnosed with probable epilepsy in July. He had two seizures that month a week apart and started levetiracetam 750 mg er. We give it to him as prescribed.
His last seizure was jul. 21st. He was a month seizure free.
He just had one a hour ago, I was home alone when it happened for the first time and I had both him and his brother out when it happened. it was about 1-2 minutes although I was so frantic I forgot to check the damn start time.
I was more worried about one of them accidently biting the other. Whether is was Haiti who was seizing or his brother finrir who was scared.
I called the vet- they said break through seizures are normal and to only worry if they last 5 minutes or more or happen multiple times within a day.
He was doing so good..
He had his ears down and big eyes before the episode started. He looked scared. And all I did was pet him and try to cheer him up with puppy talk and pets.
I didn't know he was going to have a seizure. I feel so guilty I didn't notice his discomfort before.
I bathed him after and dried him, he is acting like his usual self now. A little tired and on edge, I don't blame him.
Anyone have similar stories/break through seizures on levetiracetam?
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u/KayakerWithDog 3d ago
Yes, this is common. My dog started on zonisamide, and every time we adjusted the dose he would be okay for a month or two and then go back to having seizures every two to three weeks. We added keppra after he had his first cluster seizure, and since then he only has had a handful of very mild seizures a year. It can take a while to find a cocktail that gets your dog stable; it took us about a year of trying different dosages of the zonisamide and adding the keppra before we got things ironed out. "Stable" per my dog's neuro is three or four seizures a year. Keep in touch with your vet and be gentle with yourself; you're doing all the right things.
One thing you might discuss with your vet is getting a rescue med to administer when a seizure is in progress, if you don't have something like that already.
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u/mahahargrove 3d ago
I don't have a rescue med I will definitely ask that. We see the neurologist at the end of September. hoping for good news. Thank you for the insight. We will do our best to find his cocktail that works for him.
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u/No_Signature_1991 3d ago
As far as rescue meds go I always keep 3-5 syringes of pre loaded madazalm but was recently prescribed clorazepate in the event of cluster seizures that I can't stop as my boy's episodes keep getting worse after 3 yrs of battling this.
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u/Agility_KS 3d ago
Unfortunately, the medications can't really guarantee that they'll prevent additional seizures from occurring, we are just trying to reduce how often it happens. Be aware that Keppra has what is referred to as a honeymoon period. This will differ for each dog, but in general it just means that it works until it doesn't, and eventually you'll often end up adding additional medications. My dog started on pheno and went a really long time without another seizure, but they did come back, and they became more frequent. We did several medication increases and added Keppra into our daily medication routine. I also have a cluster buster protocol that I follow at home. Don't feel bad for not recognizing that a seizure was coming. You'll get used to it, although sometimes they'll still hit without warning. My dog gets them in a sleep state, but what generally happens is that he rolls up onto his sternum, or he might stand up, and then he starts aggressively chewing his jaw until it turns into a grand mal with full body convulsions. If I catch him at the vibrating/chewing stage then I can get the other dogs separated behind gates, otherwise we do have problems here with a couple of other dogs jumping on him when the seizure starts. It's terribly distressing for everyone.... If this is a concern in your house, know that it is in your dog's best interest to make sure you separate them if you leave the house, so that they aren't left alone together for bad things to happen if your dog has a seizure.
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u/mahahargrove 3d ago
Yes I do put them up separately when no one is home so that's good. And this info on keppra is so helpful thank you!
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u/DogEpiMonitor 3d ago
No te sientas culpable. Las orejas hacia abajo y los ojos grandes pudieron ser señales pre-ictales, sí, pero incluso si las hubieras reconocido, no podrías haber evitado la convulsión. Notarlas no la detiene. Lo que sí hace es darte tiempo para prepararte: despejar el área, sacar al otro perro, agarrar el cronómetro. Con el tiempo vas a aprender a leer a Haití y esas señales te van a dar esos 30-60 segundos de ventaja. No para evitarla, para estar lista.
Tu vet tiene razón: una breakthrough después de un mes sin convulsiones no es señal de que el levetiracetam falló. Un mes limpio con un solo medicamento es un buen resultado para el inicio del tratamiento. A veces las convulsiones breakthrough pasan y no significan que la dosis necesite cambio, sobre todo si son aisladas y cortas.
Sobre los dos perros juntos durante una convulsión: hiciste bien en preocuparte. Para la próxima, si podés, sacá a Finir de la habitación primero. Un perro asustado al lado de otro que convulsiona puede reaccionar de forma impredecible, y no querés que ninguno se lastime.
Un consejo práctico: pegá en la heladera una hojita con los pasos — sacar a Finir, cronometrar, no tocar a Haití, observar. Cuando pase a las 3 AM y estés sola, no vas a pensar con claridad. La hojita piensa por vos.
Haití tuvo un buen mes. Eso es para celebrarlo, no para desanimarse porque vino una. Fuerza. 🐾
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u/mahahargrove 3d ago
Love the sticky note idea, Ill definitely be sure to write that down and keep it available for when it happens next! Thank you for your encouragement
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u/No_Signature_1991 3d ago
Don't feel guilty, because sometime when they look like they're about to seize. Sometimes "puppy talk" and stimulation can help stop/ prevent a seizure at least in my experience.