Canine Epilepsy: Treatment Options

This article will help you understand the options available to you when your dog has a seizure. There are ways you can help. Read this article to learn how.

If your dog begins to have seizures, it's crucial that you get him to a veterinarian immediately for an evaluation. If your dog is diagnosed with epilepsy, the following article will outline some ways that these seizures can be controlled. One of the first things you need to understand though is that epilepsy may not be the cause of your dog's seizures. Certain environmental toxins, as well as an injuries to the brain or brain tumors can all cause seizures. 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. 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. Diazepam, more commonly known as Valium, can be used if the seizures come one after another or last longer than 5 minutes. These types of seizures are called cluster seizures (status epilepticus). One controversial drug that is still a treatment option for epilepsy is Primidone. Primidone shouldn't be considered as a treatment for canine epilepsy except as a last resort, as this medication has some very serious side effects including lethargy, excessive hunger and thirst as well as an elevation of liver enzymes.

Repeated studies have shown that Neurontin (gabapentin) is also effective in the treatment of seizures. Researching these studies is a good idea for anyone considering the use of AED's. 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.

Another treatment you might want to consider is acupuncture or the use of gold bead implants. Acupuncture is the placement of needles at certain points throughout the entire body, while gold bead implants is the implantation of a gold bead right into the specific acupuncture points. To avoid unwanted side effects, it's better to try acupuncture before trying any AED's, and you should avoid the use of gold bead implants only if all other treatments have failed.

Vitamins, Diet and Homeopathy There is evidence that shows that diet may play an important role in canine epilepsy treatment, as many brands of commercial dog foods are loaded with preservatives and chemical dyes. In dogs that have a low seizure threshold, preservatives can cause seizures. So eliminating preservative from their diet can help reduce seizure frequency. Feeding your dog fresh food, including green leafy vegetables, may actually stop seizures in a dog that has a sensitivity to preservatives. Working in conjunction with a holistic veterinarian in order to ensure you are feeding your dog the right kinds of food can also be very helpful. Vitamins and homeopathic treatments that a holistic vet can offer can also make a difference. Giving your dog bottled water is also a good idea, since many cities have fluoridated water systems.

Ice Cream and Rescue Remedy 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 dog seizures.