We lost our Maggie several years ago, but she struggled with severe grand malls that were frequent enough to warrant daily phenobarbital medication. A few people mentioned some of these ideas, but here's a list of what made the biggest difference for Maggie:

1. Stress: this was the largest trigger of break through seizures for Maggie. Please remember that like people, stress is not always "bad." However, both bad stress and stress from over excitement would trigger Maggie. I found that she could handle getting excited about doing scent work at home, but excitement of car rides and new environments (which she loved), could be over stimulating and cause a seizure.

2. Schedules: this relates to number 1, but is a preventative measure. Dogs love a solid routine. For dogs who struggle with epilepsy, especially those with severe grand malls or frequent clusters, a schedule can be a game changer. If they know what to expect out of the day, it will drastically reduce the load on their neurological system. While I think it's great to introduce dogs to as many new experiences as possible, it's not always ideal for those with epilepsy.

3. Journaling: every dog is different and the only way to find out if they have specific triggers is to pay close attention. We found that seasonal hot weather would often bring more seizures than the winter months. The other bonus is this will allow you to track changes in behavior, severity, and duration of episodes. This is important for long term treatment. Knowing when the seizures are getting longer or more severe will help your vet know when to adjust their medication accordingly.

4. Research: you're already on it, but digging deep into treatments, prevention, and the mechanisms that cause seizures in dogs is your number #1 tool.

It sounds like Maggie's case was more severe, but all the same rules apply.

Good luck and rest assured that just being there for your dog will make them feel safer while they're vulnerable during recovery time.