What tests do vets conduct on a dog before perscribing phenobarbitol?

Question

(Anti-seizure medication)

Answer 1

Depends on the veterinarian, but my vet always does a GHP/CBC (General Health Profile and Complete Blood Count) on dogs before prescribing it. They mainly do it to make sure that something else isn't going on that could cause the seizures or be made worse by the phenobarb.

They will also periodically run blood tests to check that the dosage is correct.

Answer 2

There are many monitoring protocols. A phenobarbital blood level drawn at the time of day when the level is the lowest 3 to 4 weeks after starting phenobarbital followed by a similar phenobarbital level every 6 months. They also run a liver function test called a bile acids test every 6 months to accompany the phenobarbital level.