I Am Weaning Max Off Phenobarbital

[sugarmamma]

Good luck with Max and his weaning

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Oh, you have meds on hand if there is a problem with seizures? I would be a bit worried. Seizures do frighten me...I never got used to seeing them in people..cannot imagine in a dog.

I'm a little nervous but not exactly worried. The phenobarb is barely in his system. It's almost below a therapeutic range which makes me feel very good about doing this. Max never had grand mal seizures. He only had focal, head bobbing seizures but his legs would slip out from underneath him. His seizures were minimal, but they were about every 15 minutes, all day long. Now that I type about it, it reminds me how awful it really was

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

I'm a little nervous but not exactly worried. The phenobarb is barely in his system. It's almost below a therapeutic range which makes me feel very good about doing this. Max never had grand mal seizures. He only had focal, head bobbing seizures but his legs would slip out from underneath him. His seizures were minimal, but they were about every 15 minutes, all day long. Now that I type about it, it reminds me how awful it really was

Therapeutic range is just that...therapeutic and in between those numbers is where it should be. Because he is on the lower side of therapeutic does not mean he does not have any in his system. I hope you have spoken with your vet about that.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Therapeutic range is just that...therapeutic and in between those numbers is where it should be. Because he is on the lower side of therapeutic does not mean he does not have any in his system. I hope you have spoken with your vet about that.

Of course he has phenobarbital in his system. He's been on it for almost 2 years. I am surprised you would even question whether or not I have spoken with a vet about this. I thought you knew me a little better than that.

[ladyjane]

I was not questioning you at all. I was only commenting because you said he hardly had any phenobarb in his system and I wondered if the vet had said that because I don't think that is the right interpretation. Maybe I am wrong. I don't know..... Sorry I asked. Hope all goes well for Max.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

I'm a little nervous but not exactly worried. The phenobarb is barely in his system. It's almost below a therapeutic range which makes me feel very good about doing this. Max never had grand mal seizures. He only had focal, head bobbing seizures but his legs would slip out from underneath him. His seizures were minimal, but they were about every 15 minutes, all day long. Now that I type about it, it reminds me how awful it really was

Sorry, Karen, but that sentence was the reason I asked. I meant no harm at all.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Sorry, Karen, but that sentence was the reason I asked. I meant no harm at all.

No worries. I think so much gets lost in translation when communicating online or solely via words. I'm a much better talker than I am a typer

I've been thinking about taking him off his meds for about 9 months. It's a tough situation. I don't want to take an epileptic dog off his seizure medication. However, I don't want to medicate a dog who doesn't need it.

I do appreciate your concern

[Maximo]

Sending prayers for Max that all will go well and that he won't need to take pheno anymore.

Max and Cooper will still want "medicine" time though for the treat that goes with it, won't they? You are going to have to fake it. That may not be a bad idea anyway. Sometimes the strangest things can have a positive effect on health in humans, so I imagine dogs would be the same.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Sending prayers for Max that all will go well and that he won't need to take pheno anymore.

Max and Cooper will still want "medicine" time though for the treat that goes with it, won't they? You are going to have to fake it. That may not be a bad idea anyway. Sometimes the strangest things can have a positive effect on health in humans, so I imagine dogs would be the same.

Cooper already gets a fake pill. I have an alarm that goes off at 9am and 9pm and they both line up in the kitchen to wait for meds. Lately I've just been putting a dab of fat free cream cheese on my index and pushing the tiny pill into it. I'll continue that, without the pill.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

Cooper already gets a fake pill. I have an alarm that goes off at 9am and 9pm and they both line up in the kitchen to wait for meds. Lately I've just been putting a dab of fat free cream cheese on my index and pushing the tiny pill into it. I'll continue that, without the pill.

I think it would be a good idea to continue.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

Cooper already gets a fake pill. I have an alarm that goes off at 9am and 9pm and they both line up in the kitchen to wait for meds. Lately I've just been putting a dab of fat free cream cheese on my index and pushing the tiny pill into it. I'll continue that, without the pill.

Originally Posted by Maximo

I think it would be a good idea to continue.

I meant my index finger. I have to continue. The boys would be carrying on crying all day if I didn't!

[enchilila]

I'll be keeping Max in my prayers. I hope all goes well with weaning him off the Pheno. Give those two boys a hug from Betty Boop and me.

[Jenna AK]

Been AWOL from YT for quite some time, but I think of you and your boys often. (((((Hugs))))))) Hope all goes well with the meds reduction.

[BonBon]

That would be wonderful if Max no longer has to take the Pheno. I'll be thinking of him and hoping it goes well. Big hugs for the boys.

[chachi]

I hope Max has grown out of his seizures