Seizures in dogs are the result of neurological dysfunction. If a dog has seizures on a regular basis, it is usually diagnosed with epilepsy. There are two types of epilepsy, primary and secondary. Primary epilepsy is also known as idiopathic epilepsy, which means no specific cause is identified. Secondary epilepsy can be attributed to injury, trauma, illness or chemical and hormonal imbalances.
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Treatments
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Phenobarbital is usually effective for controlling seizures but can be hard on a dog's liver. Dogs receiving this treatment need regular blood tests to measure liver enzymes. Other side effects include sedation, loss of coordination and excessive thirst, hunger and urination. Weight gain is also likely with this drug.
Potassium bromide is also used with Phenobarbital to provide better control. If Phenobarbital has damaged its liver, your dog might be given potassium bromide by itself. Valium is useful to break up cluster seizures.
Natural Treatments
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Bach's Rescue Remedy, which is a flower essence blend sold in health food stores, has proven effective for easing the longer seizures associated with Status Epilepticus (single seizures lasting 10 minutes or longer). A magnesium deficiency might contribute to seizures, so supplementing with magnesium at 1mg per pound of body weight can help reduce the frequency of seizures. Passionflower and skullcap are both relaxant herbs that may help decrease over-stimulation to the nervous system and possibly reduce the number of seizures.
Preventing Seizures
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The best treatment for epilepsy is to prevent the seizures whenever possible. Environmental chemicals, food preservatives, pest preventatives and vaccinations might contribute to seizure activity. It's important to reduce the use of household chemicals and cleaners. Buy food that is free from dyes and preservatives like BHT and Ethoxyquin. Avoid pest control products that contain Ivermectin and discuss with your vet options for reducing the number of vaccinations your dog requires. One method to reduce unnecessary vaccines is to check titer levels before automatically administering boosters to see if your dog is still protected from previous shots.
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