Treatment of Seizures and Epilepsy in Cats and Dogs

Treating Cat and Dog Seizures?

• strengthen the brain,
• strengthen the liver,
• avoid toxins,
• provide a stable environment,
• medicate to prevent uncontrolled brain activity,
• provide surgical relief to brachycephalic dogs, and
• include alternative therapies.

When the tendency to develop seizures is inherited, it is best to neuter or spay affected pets.

1. Strengthen the brain
Supplements that strengthen the brain and build healthy nerve cells and neurotransmitters decrease the likelihood of seizures:

• Cholodin helps make the brain neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
• SAMe in Denosyl provides antioxidants that benefit the brain (and liver).
• Nordic Naturals Omega 3-Pet contains Omega 3 fatty acids that normalize brain cell membranes.
• Be Well for Dogs and Be Well for Cats contains Omega 3 fatty acids that normalize brain cell membranes.

2. Strengthen the liver
The liver is responsible for removing toxins from the blood. It also controls blood glucose and the amount and type of blood proteins. When the liver is weak and functions poorly, materials enter the bloodstream that can penetrate the blood

brain barrier and trigger seizures. To strengthen the liver and keep the blood that circulates through the brain healthy, do the following: Feed no chemicals, fillers, or dyes which the liver will have to process. Provide a natural, wholesome diet, such as Eat Great Be Well. Provide filtered water. Supplement with milk thistle (silymarin or silybum) such as found in Marin. Supplement with SAMe to provide antioxidants and liver purifying glutathione Use homeopathic medications such as Hepar from HeelUSA.

3. Avoid toxins
Exposure to poisons or toxins stresses pets’ livers, predisposing them to seizures. The following are potential toxin exposures:

• garages,
• workshops,
• bathrooms,
• new carpets,
• recently painted walls,
• recently treated decks,
• lawns recently treated with fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.

It can be convenient to put a pet in a garage or bathroom so that it does not damage the house or run loose, but this is unwise. Garages, workshops, and bathrooms are full of volatile compounds, such as paints, thinners, and gasoline, cleaners, bleaches, and hair products. Exposures such as these, especially for puppies and kittens, may cause abnormal brain development and lead to seizures. Pets that explore garages, workshops, and bathrooms and then lick their paws or groom themselves both inhale and ingest these toxins.

4. Provide a stable environment
Most pets with seizures have difficulty adjusting to even small changes in their environment, exercise level, food, or medication. Among the events that can increase the tendency for these pets to have seizures are:

• changes in the family structure, such as the addition of a baby or another pet,
• traveling,
• loud music,
• loud holiday company,
• missed meals,
• late bedtime or changes in sleep cycle,
• sudden changes in any medication, and
• changes in the amount of exercise.

Exercising pets regularly is part of providing a stable environment, but if your pet has epilepsy, choose activities that are stimulating but non-stressful. For example, tracking may be a better activity than flyball. Many believe that it is not safe to take dogs with epilepsy swimming.

5. Medicate to prevent seizures
The two most commonly used prescription anti-seizure medications are phenobarbital (PB) and potassium bromide (KBr). Diazepam is not used to prevent seizures in dogs because the effects last about 20 minutes. Cats with epilepsy can use diazepam as well as PB and KBr because the effects last 20 hours in cats. Primidone, which is metabolized to phenobarbital in the body, is prescribed for dogs, but many veterinarians do not recommend it for cats.

For pets with primary or idiopathic seizures, anticonvulsant medication addresses the problem. For pets with secondary seizures, a group that includes most cats, anticonvulsant medication may resolve the symptoms but it doesn’t address the cause.

Most pets that start on anti-seizure medications must take them for life.

Effectiveness of BP and KBr
Even when diets, dosages, and all else remains ideal, between 20-30% of dogs are not helped by either PB or KBr.

Side effects of BP, KBr and Primidone
Unfortunately, PB, KBr, and Primadone and may have serious side effects:

• liver damage,
• drowsiness,
• weight gain,
• change in personality, and
• interfering with bone marrow so that the pet has insufficient infection-fighting white blood cells and blood clotting cells (thrombocytes).

PB, KBr, and Primadone: slow to act
If your pet is diagnosed with seizures and prescribed these medications, be aware that PB and KBr are slow to become effective: Phenobarbital takes 2 weeks to reach a steady state and KBr takes 3-4 months. Periodic blood tests are necessary to measure blood levels.

KBr and salt intake
For pets on KBr, it’s important not to change the amount of salt in the diet. Because KBr is a salt, it competes with normal table salt to remain in the body. If the pet’s salt intake suddenly increases because you switch to a different dog food or give salty treats such as hot dogs, luncheon meats, or ham, the kidneys recognize there is sudden increase in salt. To control the salt level, the kidneys eliminate KBr along with sodium chloride. This elimination lowers the therapeutic blood levels of KBr and can lead to seizures.

BP and Primidone affect hormones and other medications
Phenobarbital (PB) and Primadone can lower thyroid hormones (T4) and increase thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), creating hypothyroidism in dogs. In addition to affecting hormones, PB can affect and be affected by other medications. For example, PB decreases the effect of these medications: oral anticoagulants such as warfarin, corticosteroids such as prednisone, antibiotic doxycycline, the asthma drug theophylline, and metronidazole.

New anti-seizure medications
Several new anti-seizure medications are being investigated. They have the benefit of becoming effective within a couple days rather than weeks and have few side effects. Among the new drugs are

• Clorazepate,
• Felbamate,
• Gabapentin,
• Levetiracetam, and
• Zonisamide.

Unfortunately, these medications are prohibitively expensive and can cost several hundred dollars a month.

Anti-seizure medications that don’t work in pets
Do not be tempted to try

• phenytoin,
• valproic acid, and
• carbamazepine.

These are effective human anti-seizure medications but they do not work the same in pets as they do in people.

Medications that should never be given to a pet with epilepsy
Some medications increase the possibility that pets will have seizures. These prescription medications should not ever be given: acepromazine, ketamine, and xylazine (Rompun).

Which pets should take anti-seizure medication?
Anti-seizure medication is recommended for pets that

• have more than one seizure every 4-6 weeks,
• have cluster seizures,
• have extremely violent seizures,
• are less than a year old when seizures begin,
• have structural problems within the brain causing the seizure (hydrocephalus, cancer), or
• are aggressive during recovery.

6. Provide surgical relief to brachycephalic dogs
Surgery helps brachycephalic dogs with short, flat noses so that more oxygen reaches their brains. The surgery shortens the soft palate so that the throat doesn’t collapse and widens the tiny nostrils so that more air enters the nose. Among the breeds that may benefit are English Bull Dogs, Pugs, Pekingese, Shih Tzus, and Boston Terriers.

7. Consider alternative therapies
Holistic veterinarians recommend the following to decrease the severity and frequency of seizures:

• Be Serene, the calming flower remedy,
• Chinese herbs that improve liver health, such as Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin,
• Gold bead implants at acupuncture points,
• Homeopathic Aconitum 30 C or Cocculus 30 C,
• Magnesium 25 mg/10 pounds body weight for pets with healthy kidneys,
• Vitamin E 25 mg/10 lb,
• Taurine: 60 mg/10 lb, and
• Melatonin 1-3 mg at bedtime.

What to do during a seizure
Seizures stress the pet and the family, but being able to take effective action helps your pet and helps your family. These are some guidelines:

• Remain calm and speak to your pet in a soft, comforting voice.
• Put light pressure on the eyeballs for a minute if it is safe for you to do so.
• Prevent injury and protect your pet from damaging its head by moving objects away from the pet. Do not try to move a seizing pet because you may be bitten.
• Do not approach the head or the mouth because you may be bitten.
• Do not put medication in the mouth of a pet having a seizure or unable to swallow.
• Clean up urine or feces without punishing the pet.
• Document the event and what led up to the event in a seizure diary.
• Get emergency help if seizures last more than 5 minutes or if a second seizure occurs before the brain has completely recovered.
• Give medications as prescribed by your veterinarian, such as rectal Diazepam.

Eyeball pressure
Pushing on the eyelids enough to depress the eyeball slightly for 10-60 seconds stimulates the vagus nerve. The vagus increases signals from the calming (parasympathetic) segment of the nervous system and this slows down rapid nerve cell activity characteristic of seizures. If your pet is having a seizure, eyeball pressure helps decrease seizure duration.

Applying eyeball pressure for a minute or two every day before your pet falls to sleep, may help decrease the frequency and severity of seizures. Eyeball pressure also lowers blood pressure.

Medications during a seizure
It is dangerous for the pet and the care giver to place anything in a seizing pet’s mouth. Seizing pets don’t swallow normally and medication put in their mouths can run down into the lungs. It is also dangerous to the pet guardian because seizing pets can bite. Diazepam (Rx) can be given rectally to a seizing pet. The flower remedy Be Serene can be dripped onto the skin or put in sprayer and misted on a seizing pet. Homeopathic medications, such as Aconitum, Cocculus, and Nux Vomica, can be given rectally.

If a pet has gold beads implanted at acupuncture points, they can be massaged during a seizure.

Pets are just like people, so keep them healthy as best as you can by following the same advice as you would for a human. The Epilepsy Foundations says keep healthy and fit...

The articles here were answered by a variety of pharmacists and veterinarians   Date Category Topic 10/09/06  Seizure Disorder  DOG HEALTH 09/10/06  Seizure Disorder  SEIZURE 08/22/06  Seizure Disorder  SEIZURES IN BROTHER & SISTER COCKERS 08/20/06  Seizure Disorder  SEIZURES 08/01/06  Seizure Disorder  I THINK MY CAT IS STARTING TO HAVE SEIZURES??? 07/29/06  Seizure Disorder  DISCONTINUING SEIZURE MEDICATION? 07/15/06  Pain/Inflammation  RIMADYL FOR MY DALMATIAN? 07/11/06  Seizure Disorder  PLEASE HELP 05/01/06  Seizure Disorder  YOUR OPINION 03/21/06  Pain/Inflammation  PAIN MEDICATION 01/29/06  Seizure Disorder  CHIHUAHUAS 01/01/06  Bone & Joint Care  JOINT PAIN 12/19/05  Seizure Disorder  HAIR LOSS IN TAIL 12/17/05  Seizure Disorder  EPILEPSY 12/16/05  Seizure Disorder  MEIDCATION 1 2 »»

 

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