Learn more about phenobarbital and other anticonvulsant medications
If your dog has seizures or convulsions, your dog may have epilepsy or a host of other causes for seizures. Take your pet to a veterinarian for a thorough evaluation. Most veterans will try to rule out other common causes of seizures before deciding whether or not your pet has epilepsy.
Phenobarbital, potassium bromide, and diazepam are the most commonly used medications to treat seizures and epilepsy in dogs and cats. There are a number of other anticonvulsant medications that can be prescribed to reduce dog and clan seizures, including an animal-friendly dose of valium.
A word about seizures
Although seizures may seem scary, you may find comfort in knowing that convulsions are not causing any pain to your pet. Your pet is most at risk if your dog starts to have uncontrolled seizures in a dangerous place, such as crossing a street, or if your cat is lounging high on top of a casserole.
Diagnosis of epilepsy in cats and dogs
Although some dogs have it, epilepsy is still very uncommon in cats and dogs. Only about 4 percent of dogs have true epilepsy. The rate is higher in dogs than in cats.
Epilepsy is a disease similar to human epilepsy. Epilepsy tends to be an inherited disease that runs in the family. Some races are predisposed to epilepsy. Women who are prone to or have a higher incidence of epilepsy are collies, golden retrievers, poodles, Siberian huskies, cocker spaniels, Irish settlers, miniature schnauzers, wired cow terriers, Labrador retrievers, and St. Bernards.
Treatment for seizures
Learn more about confiscated and genuine checkup recipes that your veterinarian can discuss with you.
- phenobarbital
Phenobarbital is a barbiturate drug which means it acts as a depressant that reduces activity in brain cells (neurons). Decreased central nervous system activity is what reduces the frequency of seizures. It is relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and has been found to be effective in treating 60 to 80 percent of cases of epilepsy in dogs and cats. - Diazepam (Valium)
Diazepam (Valium) has many uses in dog and cat care. It is commonly used as an appetite stimulant and anti-depressant, as well as a medication to control ongoing seizure activity called status epilepticus or seizure cluster behavior. - Bromide and kaliumit (KBr)
Potassium bromide (KBr) is one of the traditional anticonvulsants used to treat canine and avian epilepsy. It can be used together with phenobarbital , or if a cat or dog cannot tolerate phenobarbital, it can only be used to control seizures. A great benefit of potassium bromide is that it does not seem to affect the liver. For dogs or cats suffering from liver complications, potassium bromide is a good alternative medicine for epilepsy. - Felbamate
In 1993, felbamate was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of epilepsy in humans. At the same time, it was described as an extra-label drug by veterinarians for the effective treatment of seizures in dogs and cats. Felbamate can be used together with phenobarbital or potassium bromide without causing additional sedation. Sold under the brand name Felbatol, felbamate is generally used when other types of anticonvulsant medication have not been successful. - Zonisamide
Zonisamide is an anticonvulsant drug that is not associated with other anticonvulsants routinely used in dogs and cats. It is believed that the medication effectively blocks the calcium and sodium channels, which appear to reduce seizures. Zonisamide can be described as a single therapy, but is most often given as an adjunct to either phenobarbital or potassium bromide. - gabapentin
Gabapentin is used in both dogs and cats. It has two different functions; to relieve pain and control seizure activity. Gabapentin can be used to treat refractory seizures in dogs and cats. Refractory seizures, or uncontrolled or unrelated seizures, are a type of seizure that has not responded favorably to other types of medication. - Levetiracetam (Keppra)
Levetiracetam also goes by the Keppra brand name. It can be used as a primary or adjunctive medicine with phenobarbital or potassium bromide to treat seizures in dogs and cats. Medications are not taken and metabolized by the kidneys, so veterinarians prefer to prescribe it for cats or dogs that have liver or kidney disease. This medication may be helpful in treating severe or otherwise drug seizures.
