My dog had cluster seizures. How long for recovery and side effects?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. In the initial stages of starting Phenobarbital, dogs develop what we call transient symptoms. These include becoming wobbly (ataxia), drooling, disorientation, panting, etc. These symptoms will eventually subside as the dog's body becomes used to the phenobarbital. If Trapper is no longer having seizures, I would call the veterinarian and ask if the dose can be slightly lowered. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Those are likely side effects from the phenobarbital. For that reason, I would highly recommend that you contact your veterinarian as they may decide to decrease his dose of phenobarbital based on this. Best of luck!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I assume Chhutki was prescribed phenobarbital for seizures. This medication can produce transient elevation of liver enzymes, increased thirst, increased appetite, lethargy and weight gain. It does not affect kidney or heart function and does not cause gallstones formation. If you don't use any anti-epileptic medications for your dog, she will likely have more seizures, which can be longer/more severe than her first seizure.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is very normal in the first 2 weeks of starting phenobarbital. The dogs experience lethargy and the hind legs are wobbly and they appear to walk drunk. This will resolve in 2-4 weeks. The dogs do remain thirsty and have increased hunger on the medication. I wish Ceasar the best!

Hello, Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry this happened to Sputnik. It can take up to 7-10 days for his body to regulate to the medications. It's not really the relaxers necessarily that is making him this way. Those are likely already out of his system. It is hard for me to say though as I'm not sure what he was given, how much, when the last dose was, etc. It is usually the anti-seizure medication that will make dogs lethargic until the body gets accustomed to it. As long as he is eating and drinking, urinating and defecating then I wouldn't be overly concerned at this stage. If after 10 days he is still very lethargic then you need to call your vet or the neurologist and talk about adjusting the dosage of the medications. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Molly should take phenobarbital to avoid further seizures, which is a priority in this situation. You should continue with the dose she has been prescribed. Many dogs are lethargic after the first few doses of phenobarbital but then are back to normal. Please, get in touch with your vet on Monday to confirm that Molly is on the right dose of phenobarbital. If the lethargy and lack of appetite persists, your vet will likely decrease the dose or change the medication. Molly will probably stay on anti-seizure medication for life.

Based on the history, a toxicity seems less likely and a primary disease of the brain more likely. If the seizures are not well controlled on phenobarbital it may be that she needs a higher dose. You should discuss phenobarbital levels with your veterinarian. If the levels are in therapeutic range, a second anticonvulsant such as levetiracitam should be considered. Furthermore, you may consider following up with a veterinary neurologist to discuss diagnostics including an MRI of the brain.