Dog Seizures and How to Treat Them

Dog Seizures and How to Treat Them

Dog Seizures and How to Treat Them

It is important to take your dog to see a vet the second you notice it is having seizures. 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. One of the first things you need to understand though is that epilepsy may not be the cause of your dog's 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.

Do not try these options before you have actually had your dog diagnosed as epileptic by a vet, do not just assume that epilepsy is the cause. In many cases of epilepsy, no treatment will be necessary unless the seizures happen at a minimum of once a month. The purpose of any treatment for epilepsy is to reduce the intensity and frequency of any seizures. But you should be aware that in many cases, seizures will continue to occur no matter what treatment you choose.

The first line of treatment options with canine epilepsy is usually anti-epileptic drugs (AED's). Potassium and Phenobarbitol are the most commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drugs, and are used either together or independently of each other. If your dog suffers from seizures that last longer than 5 minutes, or seizures that are quickly followed by more seizures then you may be prescribed Diazepam. In my research for this article I was surprised to find that Primidone is still on the list of potential treatment options; however, because of the high concentration of liver enzymes that have been reported and other side effects such as lethargy and excessive hunger and thirst, I was always told that this drug should never be considered, and I knew it by the nickname of "Primadon't" among my fellow owners of epileptic dogs. Recent studies indicate that Neurontin can also be a useful for helping your dog cope with its epilepsy, it is also known as Gabapentin. But caution is needed as AED's elevate enzymes in the liver, so if your dog is using one of these medications, he will need to have regular chemistry panels done to ensure no liver damage is occurring.

Acupuncture or Gold Bead Implants, involve the placement of needles throughout the dog's body, or placement of gold bead into the acupuncture points. I would try acupuncture before AED's, but gold bead implants would be a last resort for me, to be considered only if everything else failed.

Vitamins, Diet and Homeopathy Diet can have a big impact upon a dogs epilepsy, most dog foods are crammed full of chemicals, additives, preservatives and flavoring. 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. Feeding your dog fresh food, including green leafy vegetables, may actually stop seizures in a dog that has a sensitivity to preservatives. 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. If your water supply has fluoride added then you should invest in a filter for your dogs water.

Rescue Remedy and Ice Cream. I found the Bachs Flower Essence called Rescue Remedy, which is sold in most health food stores, to be very useful in lessening the severity of a seizure if you can get 4 or 5 drops of it into the dog's mouth as soon as the seizure starts, and after a seizure, a spoonful of Breyers All Natural vanilla ice cream (preservative free!) can help to quickly restore blood sugar levels which are compromised by the tremendous amount of energy it takes a little body to experience a seizure. My dog got to where he would go to the refrigerator after his seizures and look happily up at the freezer, wagging his tail expectantly.

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