First Aid
Epilepsy can't be cured but it can be controlled; there are drugs available to help your dog live a seizure-free life. Speak to your daytime vet if you're concerned.
Stress Factors That Can Trigger Seizures in Dogs. Just like you would for yourself, you should always help your dog to avoid stress, as stress can also be a trigger of seizures in dogs. Stress is actually the number one cause of seizures in humans, but less prevalent in dogs.
If clusters are still a problem, owners can be advised to give their dog one full additional dose of phenobarbital orally after a seizure once the dog can swallow to try to prevent a cluster from developing.
There are several natural remedies and methods designed to prevent or stop seizures in dogs, some of the more common are:
“Following a diagnosis of epilepsy and depending on the underlying cause, your veterinarian may recommend medications to control seizures and help prevent further episodes,” Barrack says. “Western medications used to treat seizure disorder include diazepam, phenobarbital, and/or potassium bromide,” among others.
A person usually recovers between seizures and the clusters will end on their own. People can be at risk for repeated clusters or status epilepticus if: Seizure clusters last longer than normal. Seizures occur closer together.
Levetiracetam is used to treat seizures (epilepsy). It belongs to a class of drugs known as anticonvulsants. Levetiracetam may decrease the number of seizures you have.
Drugs such as potassium bromide or phenobarbital can help control seizures. As always, ask your veterinarian for recommendations for your dog's specific problem. Alternative therapies are sometimes helpful. Some owners report a drop in dog seizure activity after using acupuncture but, again, check with your vet first.
Keppra, the brand name for levetiracetam, is a newer medication that can be used for treating seizures in dogs and cats. Seizures and epilepsy are commonly diagnosed conditions in dogs.
“Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy, and food therapy, can be very effective in treating dogs with epilepsy, and there are many different herbal formulas that can be used to treat seizures,” she says.
Zonisamide is used to treat seizure disorders in dogs as either monotherapy (single drug) or part of combination therapy with other anticonvulsant drugs.
One effective at-home method owners can use is to give diazepam (Valium) rectally to the pet during a seizure. This is because the violent “gum-chewing” motions of the mouth make oral administration impossible, and the flailing of the limbs makes intravenous injection into a leg vein equally unlikely.
If you have a cluster of seizures, it's important to try to stop them so you don't end up in the hospital. Doctors prescribe a class of drugs called benzodiazepines to stop seizure clusters after they start. Benzodiazepines work by changing the level of a chemical messenger in your brain called GABA.