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  • 1.  Idiopathic Epilepsy in mid-life dog (4-8 years old) - best resources?

    Posted 04-21-2025 11:59 AM

    Just wondering if anyone has solid sources for epilepsy advice in dogs - there is lots of contradictory advice on the web.

    Pup has grand mal seizures after vomiting (e.g. once he ate a raisin cake, vomiting was induced and he had a seizure). He seems to pant more than his sister (who does not have seizures) - we are going to start taking temps to track this. He also has a much more sensitive gut than his sister and I am wondering if there is a connection with gut health.

    He was seen by a neurologist in 2024 who did a thorough exam and basically said he was fine, did not need meds, and that there was not much we could do.

    History of seizures

    May 2021   4 years old (had been on Nexgard which is linked to seizures)
    Dec 2021    4 years (now on Frontline)
    Sep 2023    6 years
    June 2024   7 years 
    April 2025  8 years old

    Thanks for your help!


    #Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

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    Mary Culliton
    Parent
    TWT
    TX
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  • 2.  RE: Idiopathic Epilepsy in mid-life dog (4-8 years old) - best resources?

    Posted 04-22-2025 09:04 AM

    Even in human medicine, with all the diagnostic modalities available, idiopathic epilepsy is difficult to diagnose or pinpoint a cause for.  Rare seizures (fewer than one per month) are not generally prescribed medications. Seizure meds can have significant adverse or undesirable effects and require regular monitoring so are not innocuous. 

    Most doctors and veterinarians only recommend starting treatment (phenobarbital, potassium bromide, etc.) if the seizure are occurring so regularly that they are a QOL issue or if they are progressively becoming more violent or severe. Otherwise, if this is a pet available for adoption, we just disclose that we are aware of a history of seizures and share any medical records or experiences in the shelter and council them about how to recognize, document and manage them when they occur. 

    This is definitely a disorder to be especially wary about internet and social media "advice" :-) 



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    Rachel Powell DVM
    Director of Surgery
    Greenhill Humane Society
    Eugene, OR
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Idiopathic Epilepsy in mid-life dog (4-8 years old) - best resources?

    Posted 06-19-2025 09:57 AM

    Hello! I was wondering if you learned anything new? We have a 4 year old beagle that has had 4 seizures that we have seen (we originally also thought it was related to flea meds, but have totally taken him off them and he had 2 more).

    1st April, 2023 for about 3 minutes. 

    2nd July, 2024 for 10 minutes!

    3rd May, 2025 for 7 minutes.

    He went on Keppra and we got midazolam. 

    4th June 2025, gave midazolam and it stopped at 3 minutes. 

    We are meeting our doctor tomorrow to possibly change meds. 

    Thanks! 



    ------------------------------
    Caroline Bloom
    Executive Director
    Beautiful Chaos Animal Sanctuary
    NC
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    Original Message


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