My dog has seizures. How can I stop them or when should I see a vet?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on June 12th, 2017

  Poor Sierra! You should call your vet and give him/her an update. If she isn't eating and you can't get her to take the pills then your vet may need to have the medication compounded into a liquid. You could also try the pills in a pill pocket and see if she will eat that or your vet may need to teach you how to pill her with a pill gun. If your vet did not run blood-work then she should have some done to check her liver, kidneys, etc. Unfortunately when an older dog starts to have seizures, a brain tumor is a possibility. You could take her to a neurologist for an examination and testing to determine the exact cause of her seizures and the best medication to treat. Hope she feels better soon!

  

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• Answered By Elva Ma DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on December 13th, 2017

  I'm very sorry to hear about your dog's seizures. Was a blood test run to check for an underlying metabolic cause or toxin exposure? For example, liver disease or low blood sugar levels can contribute to seizures. Anti-seizure medication is available, but is typically not started until the 2-3rd single seizure episode, after any series of cluster seizures, or after a very severe seizure episode.
  
  It is important to discuss with your veterinarian whether starting anti-seizure medication is the right choice for Bruno. Once started, he will likely need it for life, and he would also require follow-up blood work to ensure that the medication is at a safe and effective dosage. Some common anti-seizure medications include phenobarbital or potassium bromide - you can ask your vet if any of these options are available in your country.
  
  I hope this helps, and Bruno gets the help he needs!

  

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• Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on April 20th, 2018

  If she is otherwise healthy, then a wellness exam would only be needed once a year.
  
  The diagnosis of idiopathic seizures just means that we don't know the cause, but unless she has had extensive diagnostics (i.e. MRI), then it's still possible that a cause can be discovered. To definitely diagnose idiopathic seizures, it would be best to consult with a veterinary neurologist. There are only a few of these specialized vets and their fees plus the costs of diagnostics can get very high, so most people will not go to this extent.
  
  Otherwise, your regular vet will help advise the necessary treatment. We usually don't treat idiopathic seizures unless they are more frequent than once a month.
  
  I hope that helps and all is well with Lacey Mae.

  

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