[107barney]

My dog Teddy had his first seizure at about 9 months old. My vets didn't think much of it. He continued to have them every 7 or 8 months. After the 4th or so seizure, we were referred to a neurologist. Since all medical causes of seizures, including shunt, were ruled out, the neurologist recommended an MRI and spinal tap to rule out encephalitis, malformations of the brain, and hydrocephalus that also could be causing the seizures. Teddy had these tests and they were all normal. He was therefore diagnosed with epilepsy and also with a tremor disorder. These two problems are from different parts of the brain so it was felt that Teddy suffered hypoxia at birth or just after.

The neurologist did not decide to put Teddy on medication right then and there, but wanted me to email him with each seizure. Once he saw a video of Teddy having a seizure, he changed his mind and put him on medication right away because Teddy has severe generalized (grand mal) seizures that involve his whole brain. This means Teddy cannot see or hear or breathe very well when he has seizures. So we don't bother talking to him. Everyone says to talk calmly and lower the lights etc but the neurologist told me that those things might comfort me but not Teddy because he's out of it. LOL

Anyway Teddy has been on a drug called zonisamide for 2.5 years. Until last week, he was on a minimum dose. Zonisamide has none of the side effects of phenobarbital so Teddy's seizures are fairly well controlled without trading off his major organs. His seizures now have increased to about once a month and his dosage was increased. He and thousands of other dogs on these newer, safer, drugs are controlled while not trading off a good quality of life. I don't want my dog to have seizures, but if I have to medicate him to the point of destroying his organs or compromising his very happy state of being, then I'll put him to sleep first.

I choose to medicate my dog so that I didn't come home one day to a dog seizing with a 108 degree fever about to die. A dog that seizures for more than an hour will die. I know that this scenario is very unlikely with my dog because he is on medication and we are in very good contact with his neurologist on a regular basis.

My advice to you is this: If you can consult with a neurologist, you should seriously consider doing it. Your dog may or may not be a candidate for one of these newer and safer drugs. Your regular vet may have a handle on phenobarbital or seizures as a broad basic knowledge, but I assure you that none of these regular vets have a clue about zonisamide or another drug called keppra. They are not specialists, and in my view, really shouldn't be treating dogs for seizures and should be referring those cases out to a board certified neurologist.

Seizures are scary and they are hard to watch. I wish I could tell you that it gets easier, but for me it hasn't. But, thankfully, I don't think they bother Teddy. I keep him as safe as I can. He has no access to stairs when we are not with him. You might want to do the same for your seizure dog.

Best wishes.