Bobby has idiopathic epilepsy

[JES72]

Bobby is my dad’s 13 year old Australian cattle dog cross. Dad has just sent a message saying that he has idiopathic epilepsy and has had a number of seizures recently. He’s now on medication but I don’t know any more. Does anyone know any more about this illness?

To be honest Bobby has done well to get to thirteen as he has arthritis and suffered from a grass allergy when he was younger and put on steroids which gave him weight issues.

 

[kateincornwall]

Yes, I do . I have had two dogs who suffered seizures , one due to brain issues and one due to idiopathic epilepsy . First thing , dont panic please , the drugs available today are wonderful , usual one being phenobarbitol which worked like magic for my girl . Your Dad will have to take Bobby for blood tests every six months or so , to make sure that the dose is therapeutic , and also to check on kidney function . Usual dose is twice daily , 12 hours apart and it is vital that this is followed as missing a dose can itself cause a seizure . My little girl was having seizures at an alarming rate often two or three daily, but after starting the medication , she only ever had the odd breakthrough mild one .I would urge your Dad to keep a diary so that he can log when the seizures happen , just in case there is a common denominator , a trigger , I hope Bobby will do well on his meds , there is help out there xx

 

[kateincornwall]

Just to add, sorry ! When Bobby has a seizure , just leave him be . They are far more distressing to us owners than they are to the dog who is usually unaware of what is happening . Bobby may be a little disorientated afterwards , just keeping calm and relaxed will help . You mentioned weight , well unfortunately , phenobarbs do cause an increase in appetite ! So , your Dad is going to have to steel himself against a constantly hungry dog , sorry ! However , all in all , he neednt treat Bobby any differently , if you need any more information , dont hesitate to ask me , I will help if I can x

 

[M.F.]

It’s very frightening when your dog has a seizure. Snowie started having grand mal seizures at 1.5 years old. Onto epilepsy meds at 3.5 years old. Now, at 7.5 years old, he's seizure-free—no seizures for over two years, and been off epilepsy meds for one year. I do believe the seizures were caused by tick, flea, and worm tablets and spot ons. Since stopping them two years ago, the seizures stopped. My vet concurred that they can lower the seizure threshold.

A Keto diet is used in humans to manage seizures.

 

[M.F.]

They are far more distressing to us owners than they are to the dog who is usually unaware of what is happening .

In Snowie’s case, he got very anxious leading up to a seizure, and would seek us out immediately, and then shortly after have a grand mal seizure. He also whimpered a few times while coming out of a seizure, which made me very sad. His anal glands got very full leading up to a seizure, and our vet said this could be due to anxiety and feeling a seizure coming up. Since he’s stopped having seizures, his anal glands are mostly fine.

 

[kateincornwall]

In Snowie’s case, he got very anxious leading up to a seizure, and would seek us out immediately, and then shortly after have a grand mal seizure. He also whimpered a few times while coming out of a seizure, which made me very sad. His anal glands got very full leading up to a seizure, and our vet said this could be due to anxiety and feeling a seizure coming up. Since he’s stopped having seizures, his anal glands are mostly fine.

It is strange, how they vary isnt it ? My little Lily never gave any indication of a pending seizure , hers were Partial Seizures . Glad that Snowie is fine now x

 

[JES72]

In Snowie’s case, he got very anxious leading up to a seizure, and would seek us out immediately, and then shortly after have a grand mal seizure. He also whimpered a few times while coming out of a seizure, which made me very sad. His anal glands got very full leading up to a seizure, and our vet said this could be due to anxiety and feeling a seizure coming up. Since he’s stopped having seizures, his anal glands are mostly fine.

 

[JES72]

M.F. Am I remembering right that you are in Cape Town? My Dad lives near Stellenbosch.

 

[M.F.]

M.F. Am I remembering right that you are in Cape Town? My Dad lives near Stellenbosch.

Yes, I am. Atlantic Seaboard.

In that case, I’d say to tell him to stop all tick and flea pesticides, and dewormers. I don’t think there’s a risk of biliary in Stellenbosch? And for worms, he can ask the vet to do a fecal float to check for worms and only deworm if necessary. I feed Snowie ground pumpkin seeds every day—apparently a natural dewormer. His fecal float came back clear.

 

[JES72]

Thank you for your quick replies. I’ve passed on your messages to my Dad. Bobby is getting on in life and so is my Dad. Dad will be heartbroken when he goes especially as my mum is getting tricky to deal with at times.

 

[JES72]

Bobby has only been on his meds since yesterday and already raided the bin for chicken scraps bones and all twice in a row which is something he’s never done before. Uh-oh!

Back to the vet tomorrow to discuss his situation more.

 

[M.F.]

The epilepsy meds affect the satiety centre in the brain. With Snowie, he only became a “proper” hungry Lab after going on meds. Before the meds, he left food if he was full. Now, it’s habit, and even though he’s off meds, he’s still hungrier than he was before meds. And drools A LOT, which he never did before the meds. But at least he doesn’t stand at the fridge crying for food since being off the meds.

 

[JES72]

Poor Bobby he’s suffered from being on steroids for too long when he was young and had grass allergies so put on a lot of weight which never lost. Now he’ll suffer from feeling starving and want to scavenge for food.