Treatment For Canine Epilepsy

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. First you must realize that epilepsy is not the only reason for dog seizures. There could be something else to blame such as a brain tumor or some kind of injury caused to your dogs head, it could even be down to your dog coming into contact with harmful toxins. If these are the reasons for your dogs epilepsy then the following treatments will not help in the slightest.

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. If your dog only suffers from seizures occasionally and not as frequently as once a month, then it is advised that you do not need to treat it. Treatment of seizures will not completely cure the problem, it will simply lessen the amount of times your dog has seizures, so bear that in mind when you are treating your dog and seizures continue, do not get disheartened.

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. 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. 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.

Diet, Homeopathy and Vitamin Therapy. 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. Preservatives have been known to cause seizures in dogs that have a lower seizure threshold, and should be eliminated completely from their diets. 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. Serving filtered water may also be helpful, especially in states where the water has fluoride added.

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 a seizure.