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Seizures in Dogs



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 6th 09, 03:48 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
Nessa
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Posts: 317
Default Seizures in Dogs

Hannah is on 75 mg of phenobarb twice a day.
she's had seizures for years.
over the years we've had to up the phenobarb once.
she has not had seizures for a few years now
last month she had a seizure
she had a mild seizure this morning.

I put her in the crate today when i left for work because if she has a
seizure and is on the couch she will fall off and then could get
hurt.

Anyone besides me with experience?
  #2  
Old January 6th 09, 04:16 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
Suja
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Default Seizures in Dogs


"Nessa" wrote in message:

she has not had seizures for a few years now
last month she had a seizure
she had a mild seizure this morning.


When was the last time she had a complete work-up? Has something changed in
her environment (food for instance, maybe the manufacturer changed the
ingredients)? If you feel that her seizure frequency is increasing, it
would certainly be worth a re-evaluation of her current treatment protocol,
IMO.

As far as I know, Matt's the only one around these parts with an epileptic
dog. His webpage has links to useful resources for seizure dogs that you
may want to look into.

Suja


  #3  
Old January 6th 09, 04:22 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
Nessa
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Default Seizures in Dogs

On Jan 6, 10:16*am, "Suja" wrote:
"Nessa" wrote in message:
she has not had seizures for a few years now
last month she had a seizure
she had a mild seizure this morning.


When was the last time she had a complete work-up? *Has something changed in
her environment (food for instance, maybe the manufacturer changed the
ingredients)? *If you feel that her seizure frequency is increasing, it
would certainly be worth a re-evaluation of her current treatment protocol,
IMO.

As far as I know, Matt's the only one around these parts with an epileptic
dog. *His webpage has links to useful resources for seizure dogs that you
may want to look into.

Suja


well we switched her to better food but that was weeks and weeks
ago.

I called the vet and for right now we are just going to record time,
date and length of seizures.
since they are mild even at their worst (i.e. last only a few minutes,
she does not lose bowel or bladder control, she is not unconscious)
unless she is having more than one a week, we tend to be a bit
dismissive of it.

she may just need her levels checked. I noted a pill on the floor the
other day. she might have spit it out when daughter gave her a pill.
  #4  
Old January 6th 09, 04:35 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
sighthounds & siberians
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Default '

On Tue, 6 Jan 2009 10:16:01 -0500, "Suja" wrote:


"Nessa" wrote in message:

she has not had seizures for a few years now
last month she had a seizure
she had a mild seizure this morning.


When was the last time she had a complete work-up? Has something changed in
her environment (food for instance, maybe the manufacturer changed the
ingredients)? If you feel that her seizure frequency is increasing, it
would certainly be worth a re-evaluation of her current treatment protocol,
IMO.

As far as I know, Matt's the only one around these parts with an epileptic
dog. His webpage has links to useful resources for seizure dogs that you
may want to look into.


I have an IG with atypical seizures and have had one or more dogs with
seizures for about 9 years, though none with uncontrolled seizures
since Spencer. I'd tell your vet you'd like her evaluated. I tend to
be pretty involved in my dogs' medical treatment, and if this were my
dog, and her meds needed adjustment, I'd look at adding potassium
bromide before/instead of increasing her phenobarb. That might not be
necessary, though, since many vets wouldn't necessarily medicate for
one seizure a month, so one breakthrough seizure might not indicate a
change in meds. But she definitely should see the vet if this is a
change in her seizure pattern.




Suja


  #5  
Old January 6th 09, 04:48 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
Nessa
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Default '

On Jan 6, 10:35*am, sighthounds & siberians wrote:
On Tue, 6 Jan 2009 10:16:01 -0500, "Suja" wrote:

"Nessa" wrote in message:


she has not had seizures for a few years now
last month she had a seizure
she had a mild seizure this morning.


When was the last time she had a complete work-up? *Has something changed in
her environment (food for instance, maybe the manufacturer changed the
ingredients)? *If you feel that her seizure frequency is increasing, it
would certainly be worth a re-evaluation of her current treatment protocol,
IMO.


As far as I know, Matt's the only one around these parts with an epileptic
dog. *His webpage has links to useful resources for seizure dogs that you
may want to look into.


I have an IG with atypical seizures and have had one or more dogs with
seizures for about 9 years, though none with uncontrolled seizures
since Spencer. *I'd tell your vet you'd like her evaluated. *I tend to
be pretty involved in my dogs' medical treatment, and if this were my
dog, and her meds needed adjustment, I'd look at adding potassium
bromide before/instead of increasing her phenobarb. *That might not be
necessary, though, since many vets wouldn't necessarily medicate for
one seizure a month, so one breakthrough seizure might not indicate a
change in meds. *But she definitely should see the vet if this is a
change in her seizure pattern.





Suja- Hide quoted text -


- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -



She had been seizure free for over a year until last month.
how do you add potassium bromide? is it a powder?

If she seizes again this month or early next month I will take her in
for an evaluation.

I think she knew it was coming. she refused to sleep with girl child
last night. insisting on sleeping up against me all night long.

she's just been so ACTIVE with Harley lately, maybe she's overdoing it.
  #6  
Old January 6th 09, 05:01 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
Rocky[_2_]
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Posts: 2,421
Default Seizures in Dogs

Nessa said in rec.pets.dogs.health:

Anyone besides me with experience?


Rocky hasn't had a seizure for more than 7 years, so I'd be
really concerned if he had one now - more so than when he had
them on a regular basis. Back in the day, his were severe.

What does Hannah weigh? Rocky takes a smaller dose of PB than
Hannah (60 mg BID) but is also on Potassium Bromide (KBr) which
is often prescribed for multiple seizures per day. As Sally
wrote, I'd be concerned that these are breakthrough seizures.
I'd get some bloodwork done to see if the PB is still at
therapeutic levels. Also, ask your vet about KBr.

Has anything in Hannah's lifestyle changed? Weight gain,
less/more mobility, change of food? In my experience, all these
are important, especially when working at the lowest possible
level of meds as we are.

Read through some of my links, I've organised them in the order
which I found most useful to me.
http://rocky-dog.com/Links/LinksMenu.html#health

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.
  #7  
Old January 6th 09, 05:11 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
Nessa
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Posts: 317
Default Seizures in Dogs

On Jan 6, 11:01*am, Rocky wrote:
Nessa said in rec.pets.dogs.health:

Anyone besides me with experience?


Rocky hasn't had a seizure for more than 7 years, so I'd be
really concerned if he had one now - more so than when he had
them on a regular basis. *Back in the day, his were severe.



wow. we have breakthrough seizures every few years


What does Hannah weigh? *Rocky takes a smaller dose of PB than
Hannah (60 mg BID) but is also on Potassium Bromide (KBr) which
is often prescribed for multiple seizures per day. *As Sally
wrote, I'd be concerned that these are breakthrough seizures. *
I'd get some bloodwork done to see if the PB is still at
therapeutic levels. *Also, ask your vet about KBr.



Hannah is around 60-65 pounds.

and I will discuss with the vet that it's time for a work up now (and
not April at her checkup)




Has anything in Hannah's lifestyle changed? *Weight gain,
less/more mobility, change of food? *In my experience, all these
are important, especially when working at the lowest possible
level of meds as we are.


In September Bagel died
In October we got Harley
she lost weight
she gained weight
she's much more active now with Harley
her food was switched from various inexpensive kibble back in
September to finally California Natural Kibble now.



Read through some of my links, I've organised them in the order
which I found most useful to me.http://rocky-dog.com/Links/LinksMenu.html#health


off ot check them out.

--
--Matt. *Rocky's a Dog.


  #8  
Old January 6th 09, 05:31 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
caroline
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Posts: 24
Default '


"Nessa" wrote
On Jan 6, 10:35 am, sighthounds & siberians wrote
, I'd look at adding potassium
bromide before/instead of increasing her phenobarb.


how do you add potassium bromide? is it a powder?


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

You don't, the vet prescribes it if he feels its necessary. Potassium
Bromide (KBr) is another variation on epilepsy meds...they start on
Phenobarb (PB) usually, and graduate to KBr if necessary.

How often is your dog getting her bloodwork done, liver checked etc? If her
liver levels are showing concern, you could look into adding some milk
thistle (available from any good health food shop)..Milk Thistle can also be
given preventatively, long-term PB is pretty hard on the liver.

Mine (terrier crossbreed with idiopathic epilepsy since 1998, seizure-free
for over 3 years, on 30mg PB/day) has her bloods done every 6 months without
fail. And we increase her to 45mg for a day or two if we know she's going
to be overly stressed by anything (long journeys, change in routine, moving
house etc)

Go back to keeping the diary you probably kept when the seizures first
started. Two mild breakthrough seizures a month apart wouldn't overly
concern me, but I'd certainly make note of them and mention it to the vet.


  #9  
Old January 6th 09, 05:37 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
Melinda Shore
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Posts: 7,732
Default '

In article ,
caroline wrote:
You don't, the vet prescribes it if he feels its necessary.


I read her as asking what form it takes (how it's
administered).

I had a dog who cluster seized and she was on KBr. It was a
liquid that I put on her food. I understand it's also
available as a powder but it's my understanding that it's
generally prescribed in liquid form.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community
  #10  
Old January 6th 09, 05:49 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.health
Suja
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Posts: 2,483
Default Seizures in Dogs


"Nessa" wrote in message:

her food was switched from various inexpensive kibble back in
September to finally California Natural Kibble now.


Matt'll correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Cal Nat change their formula and
add Rosemary (a known seizure trigger or maybe it lowers seizure threshold,
I'm not sure right now) to it? Could this be part of the problem?

Suja


 




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