Dear Dr. John,
My spouse and I personal a nine-year-old canine that has developed seizures during the last two years. She is a spaniel mutt that we obtained from a shelter years in the past. Our vet put her on a drug referred to as Levetiracetam. It has executed a superb job of controlling the seizures, however I write to ask if there are any unwanted side effects to utilizing this drug within the quick or long run. When I seemed on-line, I noticed a number of listed which gave me trigger for concern. Are there different anti-seizure medicines which might be generally used or that you just desire to make use of along with your seizure sufferers? Obviously, we wish to hold her wholesome and the seizures minimized. M.G.
Dear M.G.,
Veterinarians often deal with seizures in canine primarily based on their very own consolation ranges and familiarity with any of the a number of anti-convulsant medication accessible to us. Your veterinarian has your canine on a drug generally often known as Keppra. If your canine has efficiently been taking this medicine for a while with out unwanted side effects, then I feel your canine needs to be tremendous.
The generally listed unwanted side effects of this drug in canine embrace drooling, incoordination, and extreme drowsiness. In uncommon instances, gastrointestinal indicators could also be seen. There are a number of different anti-seizure medicines accessible and routinely utilized in canine. These embrace Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide, and Zonisamide. I’ve additionally seen canine which have taken Gabapentin and purchasers that on their very own selected to make use of CBD.
My private desire is to make use of phenobarbital. It can also be vital to have a look at the foundation explanation for the seizures earlier than one elects the drug to make use of. A correct analysis must be executed first with a superb historical past, blood work and a bodily examination. Dog seizures might be caused by low blood sugar or calcium, toxins of many kinds, liver illness, mind tumors, however mostly, particularly in older canine, easy idiopathic epilepsy.
Once on medicine, it is very important monitor blood ranges of liver enzymes and drug concentrations whereas making certain that the seizures are stored beneath management.
Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic .He might be reached at 781-899-9994.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”