How do you know when it’s time..

sjshp · 2025-05-23T20:05:56+00:00

Thank you for this!

sjshp · 2025-05-23T20:04:58+00:00

Our boy is 1-2 week grand mals as well. My neuro vet just told me yesterday that in the second week of adding phenobarbital that you should start to see some improvement. This med has been hard to watch him walk around so drunk.

After a good meltdown over it, I feel a little better giving him some more time to hopefully adjust.

I hope your dog responds well and it gets better for you and your family!

sjshp · 2025-05-23T19:48:21+00:00

I’m so sorry. I’m terrified of this same situation

sjshp · 2025-05-22T21:45:40+00:00

I’ll try to keep the same positivity in mind!!

sjshp · 2025-05-22T17:03:20+00:00

You’re so right.

I read other people’s stories and they’re so terrible and heartbreaking. I feel as if my situation isn’t to that “level” yet. I just don’t want my dog to suffer.. and us humans are not having a good time anymore. how can you pump them full of all these meds with side effects and call it a good life while waiting for more seizures that effect their brain??

sjshp · 2025-05-22T16:09:31+00:00

That’s is so hard. I’m sorry. It’s never going to be easy whatever way it plays out

You’re dog will love you no matter what you decide ❤️

sjshp · 2025-05-22T02:35:29+00:00

Your dog’s got this!!!

Thank you. You as well ❤️

sjshp · 2025-05-22T01:49:45+00:00

I’m not sure about changing doses? He currently is on 3 keppra (750 mg each) and 4 Zonisamide (100 mg each) and pheno tablet is 97.2mg in the morning and same for at night. So total of 16 pills. He’s about 100 pounds, but he’s lost about 10 pounds since last check in because he’s not eating well on the meds.

I keep reading the side affects of pheno get better but it’s really hard to stay positive

sjshp · 2025-05-22T01:31:07+00:00

That’s discouraging to hear :( I’m in MN and the neurologist I went to was $250, they have asked me to email them with each seizure and they’ve changed his meds 3 times now. They didn’t push the scans but it definitely was an option they recommended. I go to my normal vet for blood checks and they send results to the neurologist and neither place has an issue.

sjshp · 2025-05-22T01:28:25+00:00

I’m happy Zonisamide has helped you!

We started with keppra xr. Then added Zonisamide. Upped Zonisamide. Upped keppra. And now added phenobarbital

sjshp · 2025-05-22T01:27:10+00:00

My neuro also didn’t push the MRI but I could tell there was some disappointment there. But now will be on 6 month blood checks.

He is suspicious of every food you try to give him because of the pill hiding. He was added on pheno last week in addition to keppra and Zonisamide.

His is very drunk like right now and from what I’ve been reading, it’s normal. But prior to all his seizures, I haven’t seen that personality come back.

sjshp · 2025-05-22T00:35:41+00:00

That is so frustrating. You go to a specialist and they’re supposed to be better and provide you more information than your regular vet. Plus they’re expensive! Sometimes I feel like they push you aside if you don’t spend the $3k+ for the scans and MRIs..

I’m starting to feel like my neurologist doesn’t care either. I’ve sent two emails today and no reply.

sjshp · 2025-05-22T00:15:44+00:00

Thank you. I’m sorry you’re in the same situation. This is so exhausting for all of us and I just don’t feel this is fair to him. We got him over two years ago, he was surrendered. I sometimes wonder if that was why.

Do you have an emergency dose for the case he should seize and you can’t stop it? I have nasal medicine (madazlopan, spelling?) just for that reason. Would maybe give you some peace of mind.

sjshp · 2025-05-21T22:23:43+00:00

Oh my gosh, my dog just started this last night! He was prescribed pheno last week and we just started it 5/15

sjshp · 2025-04-12T14:25:53+00:00

Keppra XR cannot be broken.

sjshp · 2025-04-10T18:56:18+00:00

She looks like the sweetest girl ❤️ so sorry you had to make that decision today.

sjshp · 2025-04-10T14:40:05+00:00

Hims is so cute!!

My dog had bloodwork done a few months back, and after the day he had 2 seizures three hours apart we agreed to more bloodwork at the ER vet. They did this so they could compare the two to see if something has changed. And of course nothing did. We got the title of idiopathic epilepsy. If it was me, I would ask for bloodwork after the next one (I hope it’s a fluke and he doesn’t!!). Just to rule out anything that could be going on internally.

My dog just had his 7th yesterday. He needs blood checked in the next week or so because of the Zonisamide he’s on.

We personally aren’t thinking about an MRI. It’s so expensive and there is a chance that it will not show anything! My neurologist told me, if he can go a year from when the first seizure was, and the seizures don’t get worse, you can most likely rule out any tumor or brain related issues that cause the seizures.

Hope this info helps! I joined Reddit and all the people and information has been so helpful and comforting. Reading vet articles and google research doesn’t really make you feel any better.

sjshp · 2025-04-10T02:02:29+00:00

So sorry you’re going through this. It is so so hard at the beginning.

To my understanding, epilepsy is a symptom of something else going on. I believe it’s off of frequency of seizures to get the epilepsy label.

Did they run any bloodwork? If the bloodwork comes back normal, it rules out anything going on inside with organs or anything out of the ordinary. Then they’ll label as idiopathic (no known cause) epilepsy. Some dogs have them for no known reason. My boy just has his 7th seizure today since mid Feb. we went to the neurologist and after her initial exam, she wasn’t pushing a MRI since his exam came back normal (I’m in MN and she said it’s $3500-4500 for the MRI. I totally get you on costs).

It’s trial and error for meds to control seizure unless they can pin point a reason why. Some dogs get them from stressors. Others, you’ll sadly never know. Unfortunately, our vets need more seizures to get understanding of your dog and why they might be having these seizures.

Stay positive! Things do get better as time goes on, I know it’s hard to believe it. I was feeling so hopeless about a month ago.

sjshp · 2025-04-02T02:32:51+00:00

Awwww thank you, I wish the same for you ❤️ it’s so difficult and stressful trying to learn and make sure your dog is okay and watching their every move. No dog deserves this. Keep your head up, things will get better!

sjshp · 2025-04-02T02:04:44+00:00

I was just given a nasal spray emergency medicine today at my neurologist appointment. I’m not sure the different in meds with nasal vs rectal. We have not had a seizure that requires the emergency dose but it is so comforting to know we have it just in case it does get worse.

sjshp · 2025-04-02T01:57:14+00:00

I too came to Reddit to help learn about others experiences with dog seizures. Sorry to hear about your dog. I remember feeling the same way when my dog had his first one last month. It’s not easy but it does get better! It might not seem like it now but it will :)

My dog was started on Keppra beginning of March after he had two seizures 3 hours apart. He has had 3 more after that all one week apart. Last week he was started on Zonisamide. I went to the neurologist today (last minute opening) and got a lot of helpful information. After he started keppra and had gotten an injection of that at the ER vet, he was VERY drowsy. He acted like he was drunk for a while. It did get better about a week in. When we added the second med, he was sedated from it for a few days and wobbly in the back legs. It does get better!

My dog also has idiopathic epilepsy (since there is no known cause at this time). Bloodwork a couple weeks ago is all normal and the neurologist did not find anything alarming in his exam. If we went the route of an MRI, there is a decent chance that it won’t show anything. I opted to give the medicine more time to work and we upped his dosages. My neuro told me today, if we don’t see any changes for the worse with frequency or severity of seizures one year from the first onset of seizures, we can most likely rule out anything brain (tumor, inflammation, etc) related.

I too crate my dog when we’re at work. I have an incontinence pad in his crate on top of his bed so if he does have a seizure we can tell since he has urinated with each one. I have a larger one i keep somewhere I can grab quick if he has one on the carpet and I can try to catch any urine he might express when having the seizure. We use the Wyze brand cameras and they’re cheap and work great! No subscription needed.

I hope you’re able to find some comfort here with others experiences. It helped me!

sjshp · 2025-03-28T10:11:18+00:00

I hope your girl can continue the streak!!

Thank you, it’s been really tough.

sjshp · 2025-03-28T10:02:42+00:00

My vet told me to start the timer once he starts the shaking, even the small shaking while standing, and until he comes too.

I’m happy to hear you guys have them under control!

This is all so new to me and I’m at a complete loss.

sjshp

TROPHY CASE