Canine Epilepsy: Treatment Options

If your dog starts having seizures it is important to get him in for an evaluation by a veterinarian as soon as possible. There is a very good chance that if your dog suffers from seizure the vet will diagnose the issue as being epilepsy, this article will explain some methods you can use to help treat this problem. First you must realize that epilepsy is not the only reason for dog seizures. For example, certain kinds of brain tumors or an injury to the dog’s brain can cause seizures, as can certain toxins in the environment. So if your dog's seizures are not caused by epilepsy, any epilepsy treatments will be ineffective.

This article will help you to understand the different treatment options available once you have a definitive diagnosis of epilepsy from your veterinarian. In many cases of epilepsy, no treatment will be necessary unless the seizures happen at a minimum of once a month. You should keep in mind that the purpose of treatment is to reduce the frequency and intensity of the seizures, and that in many cases the seizures will continue in spite of the treatment, so don’t give up and don’t get discouraged.

Anti-Epileptic Drugs, or “AED’s” are usually the first choice of treatment options, with Phenobarbitol and Potassium bromide being the two most commonly prescribed drugs, sometimes independently and sometimes together, if administering just one of them does not produce sufficient seizure control. Diazepam (a/k/a Valium) is used for treatment if the seizures go into what is called “status epilepticus” or “cluster seizures” which is where the seizure goes on for more than about 5 minutes, or one seizure quickly follows another. When looking deeper into the subject to write this article I was surprised to find a drug that I was always told to stay clear of, is sometimes still prescribed to dogs, this is 'Primidone', it is knows to cause issues thanks to the high amount of liver enzymes it contains, such as increased hunger, thirst and lethargy, in fact it is often called 'Primadon't' by many epileptic dog owners. There have been studies done in the past 5 to 10 years that have shown that Neurontin (a/k/a gabapentin) can also be useful, and anyone considering using AED’s should do further research about these studies. The caution about using AED’s is that they can cause liver enzymes to become elevated, and dogs on these drugs need to have regular chemistry panels done to be sure that their livers are not being damaged.

There are alternative treatments you can try such as acupuncture and gold bead implants, this is where gold beads are placed inside the acupuncture areas. Acupuncture is something worth a try, however the use of gold bead implants is something better avoided unless a last resort.

When trying to help your dog through epilepsy you need to closely watch its diet, you can also try homeopathy and vitamin treatments. I believe that diet plays a critical role in the treatment of canine epilepsy, because many commercial dog foods are full of chemical dyes and preservatives. It is widely known that dogs can suffer from seizures due to preservatives, for this reason you should try to remove them from your dogs diet completely. I believe that the benefits of feeding fresh, raw food and fresh pulped green leafy veggies actually stopped my dog’s seizures without us ever having to use AED’s. I recommend that you work with a holistic veterinarian to ensure that you are providing the right balance of food, vitamin and if recommended, homeopathic treatments. Giving your dog bottled water is also a good idea, since many cities have fluoridated water systems.

Rescue Remedy and Ice Cream. Bachs Flower Essence, which is also known as Rescue Remedy, can help to lessen the intensity of seizures provided you can administer it as soon as the seizure starts. Rescue Remedy is available in most health food stores. Since the act of seizing uses up a massive amount of energy in your dog, giving your dog a tablespoon of Breyers All Natural vanilla ice cream can help to elevate your dog's blood sugar levels after a seizure. Giving your dog ice cream after a seizure may help to soften the blow that seizures take, since a dog will learn quickly that he will get a treat after experiencing a seizure.