My dog keeps having seizures!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your dog on monthly flee and tic preventatives?

Yes

I know of 3 people whose dog's seizures were likely linked to these meds. Seizures stopped once meds stopped. I'll try to find out the brand.

Same here.

Friend's dog stopped having seizures right after she took him off monthly flea & tick meds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vet here. A few comments.

First, I am sorry your dog is having seizures. They can be very scary to watch. Phenobarbital used tobe the first medication recommended, but it can cause am elevation in liver enzymes. Keppra is a wonderfully effective medication, but in smaller pets needs to be given three times daily.

There is a class of flea and tick medications (isoxalines) that DO NOT CAUSE SEIZURES but can lower the seizure threshold in dogs that are already having them or are prone to then. This class includes Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica among others. If your pet has a seizure in the day or two after taking one of these medications, you may want to change meds.

To address the poster who commented about the vet recommendation of tests and thinking them unnecessary. Hmmmmm. So happy to hear your dog was not affected by its heart murmur. But if an owner wants to know if a pets murmur needs attention, may I ask how else you think that should be done ? Doing an echo of the heart is the only way to check a pets heart function. What if your dog had issues regarding its heart and you had not known to go to the veterinary cardiologist. Bet you would be blaming the vet then for not recommending it. My point is you don't know what you don't know. The vet was just recommending the next step of you wanted to find out more. Please be kind rather than suspicious. It is an easier way to go thru the world.

Just want to thank you for all you do.
Being a vet is a hard job.