Stitch Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 Does anyone have any experience using epilepsy drugs on their dogs? I would appreciate any feedback so I can make an informed decision on my girls future meds. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Where are you in Qld, Stitch? There is a vet at Kedron, I think, who people rave about. She used to be mentioned a lot in the Rescue forums, but I can't remember her name. DOLer Ams who used to rescue Shar Pei would know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Yep I feel for you. Its a hard road. Mac is very wobbly - probably with a generalised neuropathy, with oesophageal involvement, laryngeal paralysis, arthritis and probably some dementia. He's also deaf, losing his night vision and pretty incontinent these days and although I love my general vets I didn't feel they were taking me seriously enough. So after a bit of a tussle, I diplomatically asked for and got a referral for ongoing management to an internal medicine specialist. Sorting his medication has made a huge difference - Gabapentin at night and Loxicom in the morning. (He's also on compounded Zantac and Cisapride twice a day and Stilboestrol twice a week.). I think an internal medicine specialist is the key - mine has been very helpful and Mac has been much happier and more comfortable since he spent time with us and really helped us sort through his symptoms and got his medication regime right. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ams Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Dr Susan Dawson or Dr Rod Marshall of Anvet Kedron cnr Gympie Rd and Wallin St, Kedron. 33591812 was my vet for all the years I was involved in rescue. The vets and staff are brilliant. Grosby was a blind shar pei I had who was on epilepsy meds. They made a huge difference to him and his seizures were easily managed when he was able to absorb his meds. Unfortunately he also had pica so constantly got intestinal blockages that interferred with the uptake of his medications. Dr Susan is very pragmatic and she won't beat around the bush in letting you know what she thinks of the options available to you and will explain it to you in terms you will understand. She is also great with liaising with other vets involved in the care of your pet so her ego doesn't get in the way of a holistic approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitch Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 Thank you for all your replies. The internal medicine vet has given me the two treatment alternatives. My girl is also currently on Zantac for mild tummy rumbling or if she goes off her food, plus Metrozine if the IBD gets worse at any time... she is also on Stilboestrol.. one weekly. Seeing as I have to choose the next direction we go in, I am leaning towards trying the epilepsy meds. Does anyone know if they have side effects? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Good luck with your girl, Stitch. Westiemum - who was your internal medicine specialist? Danny seems to be best when he has his medicines (Ranitidine, Cisapride and Carafate) three times a day. He still picks at his food and throws up fairly regularly, but not huge food filled vomits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Thank you for all your replies. The internal medicine vet has given me the two treatment alternatives. My girl is also currently on Zantac for mild tummy rumbling or if she goes off her food, plus Metrozine if the IBD gets worse at any time... she is also on Stilboestrol.. one weekly. Seeing as I have to choose the next direction we go in, I am leaning towards trying the epilepsy meds. Does anyone know if they have side effects? I have a dog on a low dosage of phenobarbital. It made her sleepy at first, but she developed tolerance in a few weeks and there have been no noticable effects since (now four years). Higher doses can have bad consequences for the liver (if my memory is correct). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitch Posted December 12, 2014 Author Share Posted December 12, 2014 Thank you for your reply Sandgrubber. Sounds like epilepsy meds will be the logical next ones to trial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Shepherd mom Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Casper's back legs would shake a lot as his Degenerative Myelopathy progressed. It didn't seem to bother him. I would massage and manipulate them, sometimes it worked, mostly it didn't. Different dogs have different reactions to the phenobarb. Casper was on anti-seizure meds since the age of 3 as he was epileptic. They initially affected his balance a fair bit until he got used to them. I hope whatever you try next works for your girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitch Posted December 12, 2014 Author Share Posted December 12, 2014 Thank you WSM. My girls shaking doesn't seem to be related to any weakness in her hind quarters at this stage. It will be interesting to see if I can eventually find out exactly what is causing the shaking. You tend to think that they know everything but there really are many things that medical science has great difficulties diagnosing and treating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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