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10-22-2013, 01:41 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Southeastern, PA
Posts: 211
| Phenobarbital - Your Take On It Since Junebug had a seizure (very small one), the vet gave me Phenobarbital to use "just in case". I was told to call the vet if he ever has another one and we will go from there. If he has one once a month or goes even longer, medicine will not be needed. If it happens more frequently, he might need this medicine but I am TOTALLY AGAINST IT! The horror stories I have heard regarding the severe side effects of both kidney and liver disease and failure haunt me...and JB is young, not even 5 yet. I am praying and hoping that he NEVER has another one. His bloodwork came out normal. Another alternative I would seriously consider is changing to a Holistic Vet. Any/all input and advice is appreciated!
__________________ JUNEBUG CARRIBEAN QUEEN OF EDGEWOOD |
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10-22-2013, 02:00 PM | #2 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland
Posts: 2,224
| Alfie has been on phenobarbitone for a number of years now ,he has regular blood test and everything is coming back fine. He was initially having the odd fit then every 6 weeks but then got to sometimes having 3 fits a day at his very worst. We then took the advice from specialist at the vet college and he has been on medication since.i was against it at first but it works for him . He does still have the odd fit but is much better on the meds. I hope this is a one off for your little one and that he never has another.
__________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie |
10-24-2013, 12:58 PM | #3 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Michigan
Posts: 927
| My poodle had seizures for half of her life. I found the phenobarbital had more reactions and side effects than the seizures themselves. She was so doped up she couldn't function. She had the seizures twice a week till I started feeding her raw, then they went away.
__________________ Gunner Love of my life. MeSo-toe: |
10-24-2013, 01:20 PM | #4 | |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Southeastern, PA
Posts: 211
| Quote:
__________________ JUNEBUG CARRIBEAN QUEEN OF EDGEWOOD | |
10-24-2013, 01:28 PM | #5 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Pheno is a good drug that fulfills a major need. Dogs aren't put on it for life after just one seizure. In fact, one seizure may be nothing at all (or at least nothing that can be identified). There are side effects just like all meds. The benefits outweigh the risks for many dogs. Other, newer, safer meds are available. There really isn't a reason why you'd have to go right to pheno that I am aware of. My vet has had a problem with it as of late and now she tends to grab the Keppra instead. A boarded neurologist would be the best person to talk to if the seizures continue and you don't want to use this drug. In the case of seizures secondary to liver problems, fixing the problem makes giving anticonvulsants unnecessary, generally.
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10-24-2013, 01:30 PM | #6 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Michigan
Posts: 927
| My vet didn't believe in raw feeding and he wouldn't believe or listen to me if I did tell him, so I didn't. My kids, husband and friends all know they went away the last 18 months she was alive.
__________________ Gunner Love of my life. MeSo-toe: |
10-24-2013, 07:09 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Delray Beach, FL
Posts: 7,984
| My dog Max was on phenobarbital for almost 2 years. He had focal seizures, all day long, every day. It took some time to get the dosage right and also time for him to adapt to the drug. The only side effects he had were lethargy and a HUGE appetite, which lasted a few months. Phenobarbital saved my dog's life.
__________________ I'm Karen - Devoted Mama to the Drama Boyz - Cooper & Max www.alldogboots.com |
10-24-2013, 07:17 PM | #8 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: NJ
Posts: 1,354
| My minature (13lbs) poodle was on it most of her life, I think she was 2 when she started. She lived to be 15.5 years old, she had CHF and untreated leukemia. She didn't have any problems on it, she was very thin and full of energy until the last year. She had blood work every year and it never showed anything bad. She went from taking 1/2 a pill a day to 2 pills a day. |
10-24-2013, 07:20 PM | #9 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Delray Beach, FL
Posts: 7,984
| I also forgot to mention that Max's liver was slightly affected. However he took liver supplements which worked and made his levels that of a normal dog.
__________________ I'm Karen - Devoted Mama to the Drama Boyz - Cooper & Max www.alldogboots.com |
10-26-2013, 06:21 AM | #10 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Phenobarbital is not a bad drug - it's a drug that can make a life livable and/or save a life, but yes has some *potential* side effects like all medications (prescription or non). If my dog needed this med, I would absolutely give it. If I had fears about it, I'd ask about a similar alternative med, if there is one, that has less potential side effects. My Wylie has Atypical Cushings and I have to give him Mitotane (Lysodren) 3x a week for it. It's a CHEMO drug! Do I feel thrilled about that? No. But it's the med that works for his disease and he has no side effects whatsoever. Without that med, his Cushings would be out of control.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
10-26-2013, 07:31 AM | #11 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York
Posts: 3,896
| My Sammy had seizures too and took phenobarbitol and also KBR. He was seizure free for the last 9-10 years of his life. |
10-26-2013, 11:28 AM | #12 | |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Southeastern, PA
Posts: 211
| Quote:
__________________ JUNEBUG CARRIBEAN QUEEN OF EDGEWOOD | |
10-27-2013, 04:59 AM | #13 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts/Florida
Posts: 2,614
| I'll tell you what I tell patients about Phenobarbital. It's a great drug as long as you get your blood labs drawn regularly. As long as you are in the normal range for a liver function test, this drug can be very useful to treat seizures! Prayers for your little one to stop having seizures!!
__________________ LD that's me and Pasquale "If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving is definitely not for you!" |
10-28-2013, 07:39 AM | #14 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Yes, but the *potential* side effects are horrible...hence, this is why I'm making the analogy to the drug you're considering. Just bc there are terrible potential SE, it doesn't mean they'll get a single one of them.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
10-28-2013, 11:17 AM | #15 |
YT 2000 Club Member | I have a sheltie that has been on phenobarb for many years after knocking his head on our lament flooring while playing with my beagle. If he doesnt take it, he has seizures. He gets regular blood work checks along with a compelete work up, (liver kidney etc) once a year and all has come back ok every time. The only thing I have noticed while he has been on the medicine is that he developed a cough that cant be explained, food allgeries, heartworm, kennel cough, cold etc, has all been ruled out.
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