my daughters dog has epilipsy what can she do meds are not helping?

Answer 1

What meds is she on? Phenobarb? Potassium Bromide?

I am so sorry the medications are not controlling her seizures.

I would say that diet, environment, and vaccines all need to be considered for a dog with epilepsy. I have a Saint Bernard with epilepsy and feed her a raw diet. I feed her Dr. Billinghust's BARF diet (www.barfworld.com). Many commercial foods contain ingredients (ex. rosemary) that have been linked to causing epileptic dogs to seize. Since I started her on the BARF diet her seizures have GREATLY reduced.

I truly believe America over-vaccinates their pets. I only vaccinate my dogs for Rabies (because it is required by law, every 3 years in my state) and Distemper. I do not vaccinate them for anything else. And I have their blood levels checked each year to see if vaccines are even needed. I have found that the Distemper vaccine can last anywhere from 3-7 years! It is crazy how people will just go along with an annual distemper vaccine.

Also, I use ice packs to stop her seizures. Recently in a prestigious veterinary journal, an article appears that describes using an ice pack to stop seizures or avoid them altogether. The idea of using ice to stop or avoid a seizure makes a lot of sense. Most dogs get so hot during a seizure that putting an ice pack on the small of the back (NOT the neck) could stop or slow down a seizure. The ice bag should rest between the middle of the thoracic vertebrae and the middle of the lumbar vertebrae.

With a properly sized ice bag, you should not have to worry about being too exact: aim for the middle of the back, and the correct area will be covered. Application of ice to other areas of the body (head, neck, legs and other areas of the spine) was not found to be effective. Ice bags on the middle of the back was the only area found to work. It will stop her seizures within 3 seconds of application.

I also give her plain vanilla ice cream after she is done seizing. The reason behind this is that blood sugar levels often drop drastically before or during seizures and the ice cream will bring the blood sugar level back to normal. The way it works is the sugar in the ice cream will bring the blood sugar level back up to normal while the butter or fat holds the sugar in suspension so that it doesn't cause a sugar rush which plain sugar or honey or molasses would. Bringing the blood sugar level up too quickly is not good which is why ice cream is recommended!

I will keep this angel in my thoughts and prayers. I know it is not easy to have a dog with epilepsy. It is heart breaking.

P.S. Believer is absolutely correct. The internet is a wonderful resource. Just be careful not to believe everything you read. What has her vet suggested??

Answer 2

She can make an appointment with the vet and dicsuss other options with him/her and she can seek out another vet for a second and/or third opinion.

If you google vets and dog epilepsy you will find a lot of references - and there are several sources that give you "must ask" questions for your vet. Why not start there.

Answer 3

She needs to go back to the vet and have the medications adjusted. It takes time to get the right medication and dosage. Also she needs to be aware that she needs to take her dog back to the vet periodically for a recheck and for bloodwork.