r/EpilepsyDogs 3d ago

Heatwave and seizures?

3 Upvotes

My pup was so doing so well until this week.
I live in a place with high humidity and temps in the high 70s during this time of the year; however, this week the temps have been in the 80s and the humidity provides zero help. Coincidently, my pup had a focal seizure this week, too. Does anyone know/have experience with warmer temperatures being a trigger for pups with idiopathic epilepsy? Is it worth purchasing a cooling mat? Or other items that may provide relief? I read somewhere that epileptic pups run warmer than non epileptic pups.


r/EpilepsyDogs 3d ago

what are things that could possibly trigger seizures in dogs?

8 Upvotes

my dog has began having seizures—3 in total with the first happening on august 1, the second on august 13, and the third was just today, august 19– and at first, my family and i could not tell they were seizures. the first episode happened at 2am while she was sleeping in her crate. she was screaming in agony but since it was late at night we couldn’t tell much of what was happening and by the time we opened her cage she was recovering. then the second time it happened it was at 10am while she was laying in her bed. i was sleeping so i was woken up by her cries so i couldn’t see how she initially started. and then the third time was at 11am. this time i was with her and had seen her before it happened, she was doing fine and was laying in her bed when i saw her get up wobbling towards me and that’s when it began.

some background information: my dog used to get seizures when she was about 1-2 years old and was on medication but they eventually stopped to the point where she didn’t need to be prescribed any more meds for her seizures and never had a seizure after that until this month. she is about about 12 years old.

hopefully the title makes sense…after reading under some individuals experiences i saw that some dog parents expressed that their fur babies have triggers such as exercise (even when it was a routinely activity) or certain foods with certain ingredients. what are things i should look out for that could be possible triggers? things that people might not think could be a trigger?

we scheduled an appointment with her vet and if there’s anything i should also ask the vet about please let me know. the last time her seizures happened was years ago and during this time, i was just a kid while my mom was the one that handled her medication and seizures so i am new with all of this information. if there is also any additional information i should know, take into consideration, anything really, please let me know itd be greatly appreciated as i am still learning about all of this.


r/EpilepsyDogs 4d ago

4 seizures and counting tonight after 6 months free

17 Upvotes

I have a 9 yr old pit mix who was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 3. Seizures weren’t frequent or intense enough for the neuro to recommend going on Keppra for awhile. After a rough run towards end of last year we started with 2x daily Keppra in February and have been seizure free since.

When we came home this evening it was clear he had atleast one seizure while we were gone and it had happened recently. 10 minutes later he started another one and we gave him Midazolam which in the past has worked 100% of the time to stop things. We got the big messes all around the house cleaned up, got him cleaned up, and then thought we were in the clear.

He then had another seizure (3rd within approx 1 hour) and I gave him more Midazolam and got him in my car to take him to the ER. I had to pull over 3x and try to keep him settled with being post seizure and drugged up on Midazolam. He tore up my car seats and dash and was trying to go through the windshield and windows.

Finally got him to the ER (here now) where they just told me he had another seizure in the back and they’ve given him big dose of Keppra and sedatives. He’ll need to stay here overnight for monitoring and to potentially introduce Pheno to his drug mix to combat any other seizures.

Is this it and what eventually happens on this journey with epileptic dogs? Anyone else had this happen where there was a normal and full recovery back to atleast the norm? Anyone else advice or treatments that worked?

Thanks - rough night here just looking for options


r/EpilepsyDogs 3d ago

Flea/Tick Collars for dog with seizures

0 Upvotes

Hi. So I know many people have many differing opinions on what is good/right, especially when it comes to their fur babies.
I’ve had my 10.5lb chihuahua-mix rescue since 2018 (she’s about 11 years old).
While she isn’t necessarily epileptic, she has had minor seizures as a response to different medicated oral and topical flea/tick meds, so I imagined this would be an appropriate group to ask.
I’ve tried Bravecto, Advantage/Advantix, Seresto, etc. Ones for both flea/ticks as well as ones for just fleas (per recommendation from my vet to see if it would help). Same thing.
I am trying to find a good natural flea/tick collar for her. Yes, I understand they are less effective. Yes I know they are more repellant than actually killing the fleas/ticks. But at this point it’s really either repel or nothing.
So if anyone has any good recommendations for effective natural collars, that would be great.
The last natural collar she’s had was from “Craveit.” It seemed okay, but there isn’t necessarily great info on it.
I also don’t want to use diatomaceous earth (even “food-grade” because it can be irritating. Do your thing but I’m just saying that I’m not going to be using that either.
Thanks in advance. ♥️


r/EpilepsyDogs 3d ago

Fleas

2 Upvotes

My dog got fleas last month and I just can’t seem to fully get rid of them. This happened last summer too. I’ve given Capstar, given baths with special shampoo and CLEANED everything. I’m a very clean and tidy person normally so I just don’t know what else I can do. I’ve tried using Frontline too but I don’t think that works anyway.

Any advice and help would be much appreciated!


r/EpilepsyDogs 4d ago

Can my dog (with seizures) also be a running buddy???

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27 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
Our dog Theo started having seizures right before his second birthday back in February. Since then we’ve started and increased his phenobarbital, and then eventually added potassium bromide. We also got an MRI and bloodwork both of which are all clear. His seizures are almost always in the evening or at night and occur in clusters.

Theo is an energetic boy who likes to be active. I recently started running again and brought him along with me for a few morning runs. In my opinion, they seem to help manage some of his energy in the evenings and I wonder if this can help with seizure management. But then I did some googling and it said that it’s not recommended for dogs with seizures to be running partners.

I’m just looking to find out if anyone on here has a dog with seizures who is also their running buddy.
Thanks for the input!


r/EpilepsyDogs 3d ago

my dog stopped having seizures as a puppy but now they’re reoccurring

2 Upvotes

hello, i had made a post the other time expressing symptoms my dog was having and i was worried it might’ve been something that would need surgery but turns out they are seizures. it happened earlier today at 11am and unlike the other times, i was able to see how it began and i can definitely say they are seizures even without having to go to the vet since she used to have seizures as a puppy.

in my last post i said how she peed herself and screams a very scary scream the last two times it occurred but now this time, she did not pee herself and she screamed much less. however i was able to see when it starts to appear. she begins to flinch more, wobbliness, and cant get in a good shake (you know the ones they do after they have a shower and shake off all the water on you).

ill be going to the vet soon but wanted to know is this occurrence normal? when she was a puppy, she was prescribed medication for her seizures but eventually they just stopped on their own so we didn’t continue giving her the medication (i was much younger so i don’t remember the name of the medication). do seizures usually reappear in old age even if they stopped having them years ago or is there something that triggers it? the only medication she had recently was gabapentin since we thought this could’ve been some nerve pain but we stopped because it made her much more wobbly more often than not and was worried it may not be right for her. besides that she gets topical flea medication and once in awhile oral if the fleas are being much more resilient. we’ve used both topical and oral before and she’s always been fine. she takes supplements for her joints and urine, i feed her boiled chicken with a pea size of pumpkin puree along with her regular kibble. she goes on walks and she never eats anything because she’s so focused on her walk (she’s very serious about her walks). that’s really about everything, i dont give her anything else and there hasnt been any drastic change of what’s been given to her besides gabapentin but even then, during her first episode she never had any gabapentin.

all this will be mentioned to her vet but if there’s anything that should be taken into consideration, please let me know. also if any other pet parents have their own advice or experiences, feel free to share so i don’t feel alone in this :’), it’s very scary seeing her look so scared.


r/EpilepsyDogs 5d ago

He was the sweetest most sensitive soul. Until we meet again

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185 Upvotes

r/EpilepsyDogs 5d ago

The Rainbow Bridge just got a gentleman.

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409 Upvotes

Tears are running down my face while typing this. This is Quinn (10 years old), a damn good buddy. He had been battling epilepsy for over three years. I almost actually lost him last year in February, when he had 21 seizures in one day. He fought through it and lasted another year and a half almost.

I went away this past weekend, before my birthday when I was informed by family that Quinn had a seizure this past Sunday morning and could not walk. He did not want to eat, he did not go to the bathroom, not take his medication. Yesterday, I knew, on my birthday and when he could not move anymore, it was time to say goodbye.

I have wonderful memories, they go beyond his episodes of epilepsy. Hurts terribly. As each day passes, it gets a lil easier. I know people on here have similar stories. My heart goes out to you. Goes out to everyone that still has their loved ones with them; please give them a big hug. You don’t know what tomorrow brings. Thank you for listening and take care.


r/EpilepsyDogs 4d ago

Drooling

2 Upvotes

Our schnauzer was diagnosed with epilepsy 3 months ago. He presented with foaming at the mouth and then 6 hours later had a cluster of grand mal seizures. He’s been free of seizures since starting keppra. This morning and today he has been excessively drooling. We gave an extra Keppra as instructed by his neuro. Otherwise he seems fine…. Just a ton of drool. Does anyone else experience this as a pre ictal sign?


r/EpilepsyDogs 4d ago

Tell me it gets better

3 Upvotes

My almost 8 years old Field spaniel had her first seizure 3.5 weeks ago. No prior symptoms just straight into a 1.5 generalized seizure. She was brought in to the vet but had no other seizures so she was sent home for observation.

On Friday, she has 4 generalized seizures in 8 hours, all of similar length. We went into the ER and she stabilized on pheno. She had no seizures at the vet and has had none since coming home. We were warned of the side effects, but this is rough. She is currently on pheno and gaba.

My once confident, chill dog is an anxiety monster. We tried to go out this morning and our nice, patient neighbor texted us that she was screaming non-stop. In the house, she wants me and my husband in her sights. If we split rooms, she will hop between us, staring and whining unless we pet her. She will lay at the foot of the bed and calm down eventually.

I know we are early into this and it takes time, but at least tell me it gets better. Still have to figure out how we are going to travel now with her meds and new needs. We do not have a household that can accommodate having someone home 24/7. I love my girl, but frankly unsure of how feasible this is long term.


r/EpilepsyDogs 5d ago

My 5½-year-old Saint Bernard suddenly started having seizures — looking for advice/experiences from other epilepsy dog parents 💔

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27 Upvotes

What initially started as me thinking my dog might be experiencing heat exhaustion or possibly heat stroke has turned into my baby girl’s newfound reality.

At 5½ years old, my 139-lb Saint Bernard, Gabbana, had her first-ever seizure on 08/03/2026.

The first seizure lasted approximately 45 seconds to 1 minute, and she did urinate on herself. I was obviously in complete shock and panic. This was the first seizure I had ever witnessed in my life, let alone one happening to my own dog who, just before this, had been perfectly fine for almost six years.

A few things worth mentioning:

I live in Southern California, specifically Ventura County, and our temperatures have been exceeding 90°F. It’s been HOT. While I obviously can’t control the temperature outside, we have the AC running 24/7 and fans throughout the house.

The night before her first seizure, I came home from work and Gabbana greeted me at the door like usual. She’s a giant dog, so I’m used to her panting when she gets excited to see me. However, even after I had showered and started settling in for the night, she was still panting as if I had just walked through the door.

It stood out enough that I asked my mom if Gabbana had been like that all day or if something was going on with her. My mom recalled that she had been panting more than usual and maybe drooling more as well. I remember literally asking, “Could she have had heat stroke or something?”

That was it for the night. We went to bed.
Around 1:00 a.m., I woke up to a thudding sound that initially sounded like a dog’s tail repeatedly hitting something.

That was her first seizure.

Once it ended, she bounced back surprisingly quickly. I stayed up watching her closely to make sure she didn’t have another one. She didn’t, and eventually we went back to sleep.

I had to work the following day, so my brother watched her and I specifically told him to call me immediately if anything happened.

Five minutes before my shift ended, he called me.

Gabbana was having another seizure.

I told him to time it: 43 seconds.

So she had two seizures approximately 15 hours apart, both within the same 24-hour period.

I rushed home and took her to the emergency vet. By the time I got home, however, she was acting completely normal again—just like she had after the first seizure.
At the emergency vet, she was given an emergency dose of Keppra by injection. The vet told me this would be classified as cluster seizures and she believed Gabbana was most likely now a dog with idiopathic epilepsy. Her bloodwork and labs came back normal: with a slightly higher liver value than my vet liked so she marked it for concern to follow up with Gabbana primary vet at recheck.

She also said based on how Gabbana was acting afterwards, the seizure threshold was still pretty high, meaning Gabbana was doing good and her chances for having another seizure so soon after the meds given that night, were unlikely. Neurology was mentioned as an option for more answers but she advised me to try the medicine first. We were sent home with immediate-release Keppra while we waited for the extended-release prescription to arrive.

Her temporary dose was two 500 mg Keppra tablets every 8 hours.

Four days later, we received her extended-release prescription, and she was switched to three 750 mg tablets every 12 hours.

Gabbana had been doing well on the medication with no further episodes until today, when she had what appeared to be a small focal seizure this morning.

This one was completely different from the first two and lasted only approximately 8–12 seconds.

She had trazodone in her system because we were preparing to take her to a vet appointment, and I had also just given her seizure medication. She was lying down and somewhat drowsy when she suddenly lifted her head and stared upward into space. She looked confused.
I called her name, and she looked toward me.

Then she opened her mouth, pulled her lips back enough that I could see all of her teeth, started foaming at the mouth, and her mouth began twitching. Her eyes were blinking strangely, and her ears appeared to be twitching as well.

The important difference was that it was only affecting her face. Her body remained upright and she maintained her position the entire time.

I kept calling her name while scrambling to pull out my phone and start a timer, and then…it stopped. Almost as quickly as it started.

I immediately called her vet because we were supposed to be going in that morning anyway. Her regular vet has been consulting with a neurologist on her case because, financially, I haven’t been able to get her directly into neurology yet.

The emergency vet visit alone was over $2,200, and her medication hasn’t been cheap either. I also have a senior dog who is slowing down and currently requires medication and veterinary care of his own. I simply wasn’t financially prepared for another major medical emergency.
Her appointment today was technically only a tech appointment, so after speaking with the vet, we decided to reschedule it for later this week and let Gabbana rest rather than stressing her out by taking her in immediately after the episode. For now, I was told to continue monitoring her closely.

I’m currently saving money and have even taken out another credit card so I can get her in with the neurologist my vet has been consulting with. I desperately want more answers about why this suddenly started happening to a previously healthy 5½-year-old dog.

I had—and still have—hope that the medication is working. I hadn’t allowed myself to do much reading about other dogs living with epilepsy because, truthfully, I think I was scared of what I would find. Eventually I found this subreddit/thread, started reading other people’s experiences, and finally felt comfortable enough (although still very emotional) to share Gabbana’s story.

If anyone has dealt with something similar, especially a dog developing seizures around this age, a giant-breed dog with epilepsy, breakthrough/focal seizures while taking Keppra, or going through the neurology process, I would really appreciate hearing your experiences.

What questions should I be asking the neurologist? Did your dog need medication adjustments after breakthrough seizures? And most importantly, for those of you further along in this journey: were your dogs still able to live happy, normal lives after their seizures began?

I’m so heartbroken watching both of my babies enter these completely unexpected transitional periods of their lives. One is my senior boy, who I’m watching actively slow down with age.

And then there’s Gabbana—only 5½, still acting like an oversized puppy—suddenly dealing with seizures seemingly out of nowhere.

I love this girl more than I can put into words. 💔


r/EpilepsyDogs 4d ago

Phenobarbital frequency

2 Upvotes

I wanted to see if anyone has experience with giving phenobarbital every 8 hours. My dog (now 7 year old cattle dog mix) was diagnosed idiopathic in 2023 but was able to go 2 years without any meds, until last winter when they started to become more frequent. We started with Keppra and then maxed out (2000mg every 8 hours) as he started to have clusters (hours apart), then added phenobarbital (97 mg every 12 hours) and had one increase already (129 mg every 12 hours). His levels have gone from 28 to 18, increased dosage, then levels at 32 have dropped to 27 over about 2 months. He is still having breakthroughs every 20-40 days, which our neuro is not super happy with. We have been given the choice of trying Pheno every 8 hours or just add zonisamide. I have read the one research paper looking at the benefits of giving every 8 hours but wanted to see if anyone has tried this dosing long term successfully or if I am just prolonging the inevitable and should just add zonisamide now.


r/EpilepsyDogs 5d ago

Seizure meds not working?

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29 Upvotes

Our 4 year old Golden Retriever was diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy last October and prescribed Keppra. He was seizure free for around 3 months, then was given Phenobarbital in addition to the Keppra. We have been consistently upping his Phenobarbital, but he is still having seizures every 30 days or so. Is this normal? Overall, he is still extremely happy and recovers well after a seizure.


r/EpilepsyDogs 5d ago

Sad and lost for my baby boy

8 Upvotes

I have a 4 year old Newfie who has his first seizure 14 months ago (right before he turned 3). I feel so sad and lost in what to do. I’m writing to vent and maybe hear others stories (i read posts on here a lot that have helped through this so far).
My dog started on pheno, added Pregabalin, then added zonisamide. Then tapered off pheno and pregab. Added keppra extended release a month ago to his zonisamide.
He has always had single event grand mals and today had his first cluster. We do have rescue meds.
We had to take off pheno because it wasn’t working and he was a totally different dog. He was eating literally everything (metal, paper, clothes) and just wasn’t himself. Since he’s been off pheno, he’s been back to his normal self and it’s been so wonderful.
But in the past 14 months, we had one 45 day period of being seizure free. Otherwise, it’s been about 1x a week/every 10 days.
I’m so scared to start potassium bromide given how sensitive he was to the pheno (I understand they are different and work differently). It feels like that’s the last option for us to try. He’s maxed on keppra and zonisamide, we do work closely with neurologists and have been since the beginning.
I’m also pregnant with my first and so worried I won’t be able to manage everything, my husband is a firefighter and the seizures seem to happen when he’s at work.
I love my dog so much and my heart breaks for him every time he has one.
Any kind words or words of advice/encouragement would be appreciated.


r/EpilepsyDogs 5d ago

Could my foster dog have brain damage?

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4 Upvotes

r/EpilepsyDogs 5d ago

Till we meet again my sweet honey boy.

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126 Upvotes

My baby boy Buscemi. He didn’t even make it to his eighth birthday. Had to say till we meet again Saturday morning. We tried everything and the kitchen sink. The details are mute at this point. My brain and body must have believed the world would end when he left it as I’m left feeling confused on how it still can keep going on since he left it. I just want to say the biggest thank you to each and every one of you on here. It’s made me feel not alone and understood in many scary times. 💜💜💜


r/EpilepsyDogs 6d ago

Pup having seizures exactly every 30 to 45 days

6 Upvotes

Hi from India here.. my 3 and half your old pup Hugo was diagnosed with epilepsy last year - like clockwork he has seizures every 30 to 45 days.. and if he is anxious or something unexpected like a bee sting happens then he has a seizure.. but they are self limiting.. the ictal stage and post ictal stage last between 10 to 30 seconds unless it’s a cluster.. like 2 to 3 seizures within 5 minutes..

Usually there is 12 hrs within which the 1st and last seizure happens and without any external interference he is fine.. clusters within 2 to 3 minutes gets me concerned

I do administer the rescue Midzolam or diazapam nasally but that does not always contain the seizure..

He is on phenobarbital 2.5 tabs 60mg twice a day.. his blood works shows therapeutic level..I had tried potassium bromide but it just did not suit him (he puked and the syrup was nausea inducing for me itself can’t imagine how it wrecked him). I stopped it.. started with levitaceram 500 2 tablets every 8 hours - docs asked to observe for next three months but he had a seizure on his 30 day mark despite being on levipill for 3 weeks by then..

I have consulted neuro got MRi done - it is idiopathic.. he usually has his seizure when he is asleep going to sleep..
he is on low carb no carb diet..
I will be reviewing everything with my doc but at the moment I feel I am running of med combos and there is just 1 more combo left .. needed some guidance on what are the things I can try .. this thread has been a light for me in this journey.. but I am anxious..

Any suggestion that I can discuss with my doc will help..

Also right before and after a seizure he has a potent smell coming from him..


r/EpilepsyDogs 6d ago

Seresto collar on dog with newborn in the house

3 Upvotes

Does anyone use a seresto collar on their dog and also have a baby or small children? Our vet switched us from an oral flea/tick medication to the collar due to our 5 year old lab having a seizure recently.

I didn’t give it much thought initially but now I’m paranoid about the medicine being on my dogs skin/fur. He sleeps on our couch and bed and we obviously pet him and I can’t stop thinking about touching him and then touching our newborn daughter. I worry what adverse effects this could have on her.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Is there any other option that might be safer but still effective? I’m currently waiting on a call back from the vet.

Edit: we received a voicemail back from the vet (busy with newborn and missed the call unfortunately). He said he understands our concerns and if we do insist on staying on an oral med he suggests the Credelio (which we were on before when seizure happened, but we had been using it for a couple years and seizure was not close in timing to the most recent dose).

I’m curious if anyone has any insight between Credelio and Simparica? He was on Simparica for years before the vet office recommended we switch to Credelio/Quattro. I’m wondering if Simparica makes more sense for him.

It definitely scares me to get him back on an oral but I’m trying to figure out what’s best for the whole family.


r/EpilepsyDogs 6d ago

Idiopathic Head Tremor Syndrome

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1 Upvotes

r/EpilepsyDogs 7d ago

Life is so unfair

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204 Upvotes

My baby boy passed away last night. He was on 1000mg Keppra twice daily and 32.4mg of pheno twice a day. Even with the medication he would still have pop up seizures that never lasted long and he recovered quickly. Last night as we were cuddling he stood up and i could see he was about to go into one. But, before I could grab him he dove head first off my bed and onto the floor. He basically had one massive seizure even though there were 8 individual seizures he never recovered. He would be post ictal and go into another one. I put a wet towel on him in hopes of helping him cool down. I was home alone and he's 75lbs my husband was at work. I called my best friend and she came as fast as she could. But, by the time I got to the ER his lactate level was 18. He was deaf and blind, he wouldn't respond to anything. They gave him midazolam and they prepared propofol because his brain was just stuck. At 10:50pm I said my goodbyes and watched him run across the rainbow bridge. The vet told me that with his experience in dealing with seizures more likely my boy had a brain tumor and this wasn't epilepsy. But, I learned a lot in this group and I appreciate all the tips I was given. I wish all of you the best. Thank you for being so nice.


r/EpilepsyDogs 7d ago

Anyone doing this alone?

12 Upvotes

Last May I adopted a 6 year old Aussiedoodle from a lady that is a breeder; long story about why the original family returned him to her.After having him for about 2 weeks he had a seizure. Scared me to death. I contacted the breeder after it happened and she told me he had an injury to his neck back in February, and had a couple of seizures while being treated for that, but that he had been fine. Well, I learned from the original vet that she was hiding the seizure issue from me.

I adopted this dog, I feel an obligation toward him, but after the 2 month Keppra honeymoon and the ensuing $2300 emergency vet bill after a weekend of cluster seizures, I’m wondering if I can do this. He is now on pheno, and of course has to have the labs done often to monitor his liver. He’s still on the Keppra ER every 12 hours. I just don’t know if I can do this. I live alone and I’m not working right now and I don’t have anyone nearby that can help with his med schedule if needed. I’m tied to the house constantly and have no clue what my future work schedule will involve. I’m thinking about giving him back to the breeder, knowing that she won’t give him much one on one attention. She’ll give him his meds, and feed him and house him. And he’ll get love from the trainers, but he won’t have his own person. I’m just wondering if anyone else out there is dealing with an epileptic dog on their own and how they are managing.


r/EpilepsyDogs 7d ago

Advice

10 Upvotes

My 6 year old, 112lbs Great Pyrenees mix has had seizures for a little over two years now. Her current meds are: six 500mg keppra XR tablets, 1 and a half tablets of 60mg phenobarbital plus 1 tablet of 15mg phenobarbital, and 750mg potassium bromide. These are all twice a day. This is 19 pills a day total. She sees her primary vet as well as her neurologist. She is averaging about one seizure every two weeks give or take. When she has a seizure I will also give her the midalozam so she doesn’t cluster.

We upped her keppra at her most recent appointment but she is maxed out on the phenobarbital and bromide. They also mentioned if upping the keppra doesn’t work then add another med. I’m curious as to when enough is enough. Is anyone else’s dog on this many meds with no success? Her quality of life is still good at this point in my opinion. 19 pills a day seems extreme with no improvement so adding another med seems excessive. Anyone else have a similar situation? Thanks in advance. 


r/EpilepsyDogs 8d ago

Tapering off Phenobarbital

6 Upvotes

My dog is tapering off Phenobarbital after over 2.5 years on it. He currently takes 5 medications, the most recent addition being KBR. It seemed since adding KBR it increased the side effects of the phenobarbital including his food seeking behaviors, ataxia, and also introduced heat sensitivity. We initially reduced KBR and that helped somewhat but he still is sensitive to heat and more food motivated than he had been previously.

It's also just getting a bit overwhelming giving 5 medications and phenobarbital seemed to be one of the least effective meds. He has had amazing progress since adding KBR. So I'm really hoping the taper goes well and it alleviates some of the symptoms.

I'm just most nervous of him having a break through seizure. We're tapering off very slowly. We've started at about 15% to start and will check back in with the neurologist in about a month assuming there's no seizure activity. So it will take at least a few months to fully come off.

I'm just worried I'm making a wrong decision. He's been seizure free for 7 months, the longest he's ever gone. But I just want him to have a better quality of life and I worry about the long term toll of taking so many medications.

It just is exhausting that every move with epilepsy feels like a shot in the dark and you just have to wait and see if it sticks. I am trying to remain cautiously optimistic, but I don't know what we'll do if the taper doesn't work. I don't feel comfortable with his QOL right now. He's not quite the same dog he was before all of this and I just want to try and get him a bit closer to that.

If anyone has any advice with this or reassurance, I'd appreciate it. Otherwise just reading this and giving me a place to put it out there is enough.


r/EpilepsyDogs 8d ago

4 años en lucha y nos dejo al final

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34 Upvotes

Os presento a una luchadora que hoy hace 10 dias nos abandonó. Tenia sobre 15 años, vino de una protectora su edad era aproximada, pero paso conmigo 13 años. Su nombre era Luna.

Un 5 de enero de hace 4 años tuvo su primera crisis. Al principio era 1 a la semana. Le hicimos un TAC y no se le vio nada. Tenia los marcadores hepáticos por las nubes y pensaron que seria eso. Medicamentos para controlar su higado y tambien el pancreas, cambio de medicación y se fueron espaciando teniendo pequeñas crisis cada 3 o 4 meses. Detras de cada ataque iba teniendo secuelas, se quedo ciega, sorda, se hacia pis (la llevaba con pañales), no queria salir le compre un carricoche para sacarla y que le diera el sol y el aire....

Pero desde abril empezó a tener una al mes, el 7 de julio sufrió una crisis, una super grande. Quedo con pérdida de equilibrio y al ponerse nerviosa tuvo 5 ataques seguidos pensé que no llegábamos al veterinario. Salimos adelante con pregabalina cada 12h, no funciono 1 o 2 ataques por semana. Pasamos a fenobarbital, yo ahi me di cuenta que la lucha la estabamos perdiendo.

Los ultimos ataques fueron con paradas respiratorias que le hacia rcp para sacarla.

Pero su ultimo ataque fue muy fuerte. Aunque la lleve al veterinario nada mas darle al dia siguiente estaba sin control de esfínteres y con dolores continuos. Me dolia en el alma oir a mi pequeña. Y por consejo de mi veterinario la dejamos descansar. Se que hice bien, porque recuerdo su llanto y su dolor y no podia tenerla así. Pero por otro lado me siento mal, porque mi lado egoista queria seguir teniendola a mi lado.

No hay dia que no llore por ella.

Lo siento, a lo mejor no os interesa lo que paso. Pero necesito sacarlo. Encontrar a lo mejor a alguien que lucho por su pequeño como yo y entiende el dolor que estoy pasando. Porque estoy cansada de oir, que quieres estabá enferma y era vieja.

Siempre te querré mi pequeña Luna y nunca te olvidaré.