Medications & Their Side Affects for Dogs With Siezures

There are many causes of seizures in dogs and only a few medications that can effectively help control this condition. There are currently no permanent cures for seizures in dogs.

Types

Generalized (Grand Mal) Seizures -- Involves entire body stiffness or stiffness/contraction cycles. The dog typically loses consciousness and urinates or defecates.
Partial Seizures -- These seizures only involve a specific region of the body but may eventually involve the whole body.
Psychomotor Seizures -- These are behavioral seizures seen by involuntary snapping, howling, circling or other abnormal behaviors.

Causes

Dogs under 1 year -- Typically, the cause is an infection in the brain.
Dogs between 1 and 5 years -- Typically, these animals are diagnosed with epilepsy, which simply means they have a seizure disorder with no unknown causes.
Dogs over the age of 5 -- Typically, the cause is a tumor growing in the brain.

Tests

In younger dogs, an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid can be performed.
To diagnose a brain tumor, a CT scan or MRI is required.

Treatment

In the case of brain tumors, they can be surgically removed if found early.
Otherwise, treatment involves medications to suppress seizure activity.
The two most common drugs used are pentobarbital and potassium bromide.

Side Effects

Pentobarbital -- Decreased respirations and body temperature.
Potassium bromide -- Nausea, excess thirst and urination and drowsiness or grogginess.

Drug Interactions

Pentobarbital -- Other central nervous system drugs, depressants, valproic acid, chloramphenicol, oral anticoagulants, corticosteroids, beta blockers, quinidine, theophylline or metronidazole.
Potassium bromide -- No known drug interactions.

Warnings

Pentobarbital shouldn't be used in patients allergic to barbiturates.
Pentobarbital shouldn't be used in patients that are dehydrated, anemic or have been diagnosed with Addison's disease, heart disease or lung disease.
Potassium bromide can affect the measurement of chloride in the laboratory.
Potassium bromide should be given with food to avoid nausea.

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