Epilepsy in dogs is a chronic and common neurological disorder. Earmarked by recurrent seizures, epilepsy affects one percent of all dogs and is caused by a brain abnormality. Just as with people, canine epilepsy can be controlled. It may be incredibly scary to receive this diagnosis for your beloved pet, but many dogs thrive with epilepsy — and yours can too. What will help is an action plan, optimism and concrete information.
Control, Not Cure
There is currently no cure for epilepsy in dogs but your veterinarian can work out a medication regimen designed to decrease the occurrence of seizures and their intensity.
“If a dog has idiopathic epilepsy, meaning it is not caused by a disease, there are several options for seizure-controlling medication. The most typical are phenobarbital and potassium bromide. Alternative, anticonvulsant drugs that control seizures include levetiracetam, zonisamide, felbamate, gabapentin and pregabalin,” says Dr. Emily Hubbard of Integrative Pet Care in Chicago. “Some patients require only one anticonvulsant drug, while others need two or more. Each seizure disorder is unique,” she adds.
These powerful medications’ side effects will also require care. “My dog takes phenobarbital and potassium bromide,” says Dorothy Wills-Raftery, author of “EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories about Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy” and loving epi-dog parent to Gibson. “Side effects include voracious appetite, weight gain, lethargy, higher-than-normal liver levels, ataxia and hind-end weakness. Some wore off and the weight gain was controllable, but we’ve been plagued with weak hind-end issues and lethargy since starting medication.”
Certain medications, like phenobarbital, can have an adverse effect on the liver. “It’s critical to have a full panel of blood tests twice a year to keep watch over liver levels, and discuss physical or behavioral changes with your vet,” she adds.
Taking an Alternative Approach
Some people try holistic or alternative treatments, either in addition to standard medication protocols or to combat side effects.
“There are many patients treated with both conventional medications and holistic therapies. The benefits of combining the two are better seizure control and reduced conventional medication dosages,” says Dr. Hubbard.
By reducing the amount of conventional medication, patients generally have fewer adverse side effects, such as sedation, decreased coordination, vomiting and liver stress. Herbal supplements have minor side effects such as vomiting or diarrhea but these can be controlled through dose adjustment. One Chinese herbal formulation used in many canine seizure patients is Di Tan Tang.
Wills-Raftery gives Gibson milk thistle for liver detoxification and keeps his body temperature down on a cool water bed. He also benefits from massage and reiki. “Gibson gets supplements to boost overall body health, pain relief and joint health,” she says.
“There aren’t any studies evaluating the effectiveness of holistic treatments to manage seizures in dogs, so unless your pet has a mild form, it’s not recommended as a sole strategy,” says Sarah Moore, DVM, associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “I find holistic treatments like acupuncture very helpful as additions to traditional medication,” she adds.
Medication Dos and Don’ts
No matter what regimen you find works best, maintaining routine and avoiding missed doses is important.
“The frequency (with which) a drug is administered is based on its metabolism rate,” says Julie Ann Nettifee Osborne, RVT, BS, VTS (neurology) of North Carolina State Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, North Carolina. “Levetiracetam is given three times daily, but bromide once. If a dose gets skipped, seizure activity may no longer be suppressed. Most dogs won’t seizure from one missed dose, but the more regular the schedule, the better the overall control,” she adds. Consider having a reliable pet sitter you trust on call in case you can’t get home in time for a dosage.
This is also true for holistic medications. “You never know if a seizure will occur, even on medication, whether traditional and/or holistic. That’s the nature of the seizure beast,” says Wills-Raftery.
Networking and Support
As with so many things in life, connecting with others helps. Wills-Raftery suggests joining the Epil-K9 email list and reaching out to Wally’s Canine Epilepsy Foundation for possible assistance with medication costs.
When asked, all four experts said the exact same thing — dogs with epilepsy live happy, full lives. Given a little extra care and attention to detail, yours will, too.
For more on dog health, check out Strokes in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know.
Corey Kagan is a freelance writer (and animal lover) living in New York City.
* This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be providing medical advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The reader should always consult a health care provider concerning any medical condition or treatment plan. Neither Care.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein.
