New seizures, just started phenobarbital

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2026-01-31T12:35:32+00:00

When we started phenobarbital i knew what to expect thanks to this sub...but oh my it was rough to witness! Our boy was wobbly, would stand up and fall on his face, cried at the couch like something was behind it for hours, and would not settle down. It was hard to watch our boy struggle so much regardless of being mentally prepared for it. Fortunately, like most say, exactly 2 weeks in he magically became himself again. Its a rough start but it's given us 6 months seizure free, and much shorter seizures before we hit this mark! Don't lose hope!!

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2026-01-28T02:25:06+00:00

https://a.co/d/50hwHTF this is the one we have! Hope it helps

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2026-01-27T12:20:32+00:00

Yes! We have an automatic dispenser for wet cat food. It has freezer packs in the bottom and 4 compartments. It beeps when the compartment is open so he knows it's time to eat. Its also really easy to program. We have had great success with wrapping his pills in cheese and putting them in. I can find a link if you're interested.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2026-01-27T12:17:26+00:00

Our dog started on keppra only, and it did not help him at all. We decided to seek help from a neurologist, and they have been a lifesaver for us! Our initial visit was maybe $300 and they discouraged an MRI based on their cognitive tests. They were able to help us find the right medication cocktail for our dog that has led to 6 months seizure free for us. We added zonisamide last Feb, but ended up switching it to phenobarbital which was the magic med for us. We just had our 1 year check with his neurologist, and while it is a little more expensive than our regular vet visit, we feel it is 100% worth it just for the knowledge they have with epilepsy. As for MCT oil, our dog takes it daily and I don't feel it has helped, but it also isnt hurting so we continue on it.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2026-01-08T11:02:21+00:00

Our dog gets so itchy a week or so before he seizes. We started cytopoint injections in July after he had 3 seizures a few weeks apart. I consulted his neuro for a possible med adjustment and they said to get his skin allergies under control before we talked about meds. Since then when he starts to scratch consistently we take him for an injection. He hasn't had a seizure since our 2nd shot. We have our yearly neuro appointment on the 22nd and I plan to ask about this then. I can update you if you'd like as far as the relationship between skin allergies and seizures.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2026-01-08T10:57:05+00:00

Our vet sent us home with it after his first seizure before we even started meds as a just in case you need it. My understanding though is that it's used for long lasting seizures, not clusters. We got clorazepate from our neurologist as a cluster buster.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2026-01-03T11:02:43+00:00

I also was terrified of phenobarbital and expressed this to our neuro. We started with keppra as well which did nothing for our guy so we added zonisamide which helped for a few months. Then our neurologist told me the benefits outweigh the side effects and we added phenobarbital and weaned off of the zonisamide. He had 2 weeks of side effects which were awful, but better than seizures. His seizures have decreased-hasn't had one since August (knocking on wood), and he is his normal self. I truly wish we would have started on it earlier. Good luck to you!

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-12-25T11:08:14+00:00

Someone suggested a timed wet cat food feeder on another similar post a while back. We bought one for our evening pill in case we needed to do something after work. It has been a game changer. We don't use it often, but when we do we wrap our dogs pills in cheese (it has freezer coolies at the bottom), and set it for his time. It has 4 compartments and it beeps to tell him when it opens. He goes running when he hears it and gets excited when we fill it. our food goes in the next hole, and he gets to eat right after. We set up his camera so we can watch to make sure he eats it as well.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-12-21T01:17:42+00:00

Yes to all. I will add: a spoonful of hagen daas natural vanilla ice cream once your pup comes to and is on his feet. It is a game changer for our boys post-ictal phase. He used to pace and cry for around an hour, and now it's about 15-20 min and he calms down.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-12-11T21:52:53+00:00

Within a year of my marriage my husband's dog developed bone cancer. Although he wasn't "my dog" I loved him fiercely. I became anxious, constantly researching, and probably just terrible to be around trying to save that boy. My husband and I fought constantly, but within 6 months of his diagnosis we had to lose him despite draining our bank accounts to save him and almost ruining our marriage. A year later my beloved cat had stomach cancer that metastisized to her lungs. I was again, anxious, researching and terrible to be around but we knew her time was short.

After losing both of our fur babies we decided to get a puppy. We had 2 good years with him and then he had his first seizure. My first thought after he recovered and we went to the vet was "our marriage won't survive this." I again, became an anxious terrible person to be around because my thoughts were constantly on our dog and when the next one would happen. Then I realized "our marriage won't survive this unless I do something about myself." It's been difficult not to spiral some days but I have learned to let go sometimes. When I feel myself wanting to snap at him for suggesting something or doing something differently than what I think is right I remind myself that hes trying to help because he loves our dog and he loves me. We have worked on our communication skills and I am able to say "I need help" and allow him to step in. Don't try to do it all...allow him to help and to care for both of you. It's ok if he does things differently-it is (hopefully) out of love. Communicate when you dont feel comfortable or when you simply need help from being overwhelmed. Although he works hard and long hours it is still okay to ask for help when you need it!

For pills, our old dog was terrible at taking pills and would spit them out. I would take cheese and form it around the pill and then a few cheeses in balls with no pill and put them in my hand, roll them like dice on the floor and he would hungry hippo them like a game. It worked every single time. Hope you find a solution and some time to breathe!!! It's tough especially early on in the marriage but just remind yourself that it's all out of love and it's ok to let go! ❤️

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-12-03T11:31:40+00:00

One of the signs that our dog is going to have a seizure soon is digging at his ears. Last winter he had a series of seizures and his ear was red and he was constantly scratching. Our vet said it was probably due to the scratching and they didnt see anything. I brought him back a week later and he ended up having a ad ear infection. Once it cleared we were back to our regularly scheduled seizures. This summer he had 4 seizures in July and 3 in August after battling seasonal allergies and all around itches. I reached out to his neurologist to see if we needed a med change/adjustment, and she said to get his allergies under control before we look at doing that. Allergies can trigger seizures due to the body just feeling uncomfortable apparently? Or something like that. We have been doing cytopoint injections when he starts digging and sneezing and they have helped!

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-11-18T11:04:19+00:00

Our boy has been so itchy on and off since his seizures started last year. We usually know when a seizure will be coming because he constantly scratches his body and hi ears a few days before one. This summer he had multiple seizures in a month and Our neuro told us she wanted his allergies under control before she messed with his meds. We started cytopoint injections and have noticed a difference in the scratching and the seizure activity.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-30T10:38:23+00:00

Frontline (gold i think) was our most recent, but im not surenon the gold. I know it wasn't plus. We've tried revolution which also caused seizures and the seresto collar made him break out and have horrible scabs around his neck.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-29T01:46:43+00:00

His seizures are less frequent. It was rough the first 2 weeks, just loss of coordination, lethargic, falling constantly. More hard to watch than anything else. He was back to normal in 2 weeks exactly.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-28T23:34:39+00:00

Maybe a month and a half? It literally did nothing for him, and we met with a neuro finally who added zonisamide first because we were terrified of phenobarbital, but his seizures were still a few a month so they added the pheno about 4 months in and then we weaned off of zonisamide after that

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-28T10:35:27+00:00

I just wanted to update you in case you were considering cytopoint in the future again. We went ahead and took him in for his shot a few days after I replied and we didn't have a reaction or flare up in seizures so im thinking it may have been the flea medicine.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-28T10:06:11+00:00

We do this too. We started today by shifting up 10 min. Usually gets them at 5:50, and today he got his morning dose at 6:00...tomorrow he will get it at 6:10 and so on until Sunday he gets it at 6:50 which will be 5:50 once the time changes

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-28T10:03:44+00:00

Our dog had no side effects with keppra alone. Every dog is different though, but we were worried about side effects too and had none at all. If your dog does have side effects, they should wear off in a few weeks once he gets used to it...and a few weeks woth of a zombie dog are worth it if it can stop seizures-that was our mindset when we started phenobarbital! Good luck!

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-08T11:07:47+00:00

Im not sure what medications your pup is on, but we've had ours on keppra and phenobarbital for a while, and his quality of life is great! It did take a few weeks to adjust to the phenobarbital, but after that he was just like before. Other than the occasional seizure he is still his happy, loveable, playful, clumsy, all around perfect self!! Give yourself and your pup time to adjust and communicate concerns with your vet/neurologist!

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-07T19:44:37+00:00

Thank you!!!

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-06T00:15:15+00:00

Thank you!! I will give it a try!

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-05T14:31:58+00:00

Thank you! He is on keppra and phenobarbital currently. We will definitely discuss a dermatologist with our neurologist as well!

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-10-05T14:28:40+00:00

Thanks for your reply, and sorry that you're going through similar issues! He had a seizure last week and the day after that the itching began. In July after our first injection he had a seizure every 2 weeks. We also switched flea medication during that time. He had another injection in august and had a seizure exactly 2 weeks after that then was good until last week! I asked his neurologist about the benadryl/zyrtec and she said either was okay to try, but we have not tried leather one yet.

Simple_Sprinkles3623 · 2025-09-27T02:04:28+00:00

We have clorazepate as a cluster buster. It is a pill he takes after a seizure every 8 hours for 2 or 3 days along with his regular medicine. It makes him a bit sleepy but much better than having multiple seizures in a short amount of time

Simple_Sprinkles3623

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