Why is my dog on seizure meds lethargic, not eating, and shivering?

Hi there. I am sorry to hear that Chloe is not feeling well. The lethargy, shaking or trembling, being withdrawn, and hanging her head down certainly can indicate that she is in pain or discomfort somewhere. Not eating or drinking can also by a sign of pain or that there is a problem with her intestinal tract or other systems in her body. All of these signs do not point to one specific problem, however, they do tell us that Chloe is definitely ill. A good physical exam and most likely some tests from Chloe's veterinarian will help sort out the problem for her and hopefully get her feeling better soon. Best of luck to Chloe!

I would have your vet re-examine Belle tomorrow. We do not normally see seizures as a result of an ear infection or prescribe phenobarbital short term for seizures. We don't usually see decreased appetite or severe lethargy as a result of ear infections either. Belle may need some additional testing to help determine if there is something other than an ear infection going on, or if your vet cannot find a cause for her symptoms she may need to go and have a more advanced workup at a specialist who has imaging/testing a normal service vet may not offer.

Hi there. While it is not abnormal for Charlie to be lethargic and behave differently when everyone leaves-this is a bit much. I would recommend taking him in to your veterinarian in case something else is going on. Pancreatitis, intoxication, and a few other diseases can start with this presentation. Shivering in dogs is often a pain response (can also be nervousness, cold, etc). If these behaviors continue I recommend taking him in as soon as you can to try to prevent it from getting worse. I hope this helps and I hope Charlie feels better soon!

I'm sorry that Layla is having seizures. Lethargy, stumbling, excessive sleepiness and decreased appetite can all be caused by seizure activity. The brain undergoes an enormous amount of electrical stimulation during a seizure and can take a while to recover. If by the morning she's not improving, I would recommend taking her to your veterinarian for evaluation. They may recommend blood work to look for possible underlying causes of the seizures. Depending on the frequency and severity of her seizures, they may also recommend that anti-seizure medications are started. I hope this helps and that Layla gets feeling better soon!

Poor Chloe! It sounds like she had a seizure or possibly a syncope (fainting) from a heart problem. She should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. Your vet can do an examination, run lab-work, and x-rays, if needed, to diagnose and then determine if any treatment is needed. If another episode happens, try to record so your vet can see exactly what happens during an episode.

Some people do notice lethargy and difficulty walking with levetiracetam, but in general these side effects improve after a few days to weeks. If Milo's seizures started recently I would also worry that the lethargy and trouble with balance could be signs of neurologic disease. Seizures in an older dog are most commonly related to a lesion in the brain such as a tumor. I would recommend rechecking with your veterinarian to have Milo examined - you may want to discuss additional tests like an MRI to determine a cause for the seizures or discuss alternative anti convulsants.

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.