Young dog with infrequent seizures

[daisynchewy]

We have a boxer who is 1 year 9 months old. About six months ago she had an episode that scared me where she just collapsed after running around with the puppy. She got up about 3 minutes later and was fine after that but was not acting strange so I didn't really worry about it, I didn't see her fall, just thought it was weird she didn't get up right away and come when I called her. Maybe 2 months later it happened again after she was playing in the yard she ran upstairs, got a funny look on her face, started shaking and fell down. That time I called the vet immediately who said it was likely a mild seizure and to watch her closely and if she acted abnormally at all to bring her in. She recovered and wanted to play again before I was off the phone with the vet and didn't have any other issues. The same thing happened a third time another 2 or maybe even 3 months later. We had some company and she was racing up and down the stairs and on her way down she whimpered and her legs went stiff and she started to fall. My husband caught her and layed her down and she couldn't move for less than a minute then she acted very scared for another 4 or 5 minutes and in less than 15 minutes was up and wanting to play again. We saw the vet after that episode who said she thinks that these are seizures, and I don't necessarily disagree, and thinks the only thing we can do is start her on phenobarbitol.  Her last blood work was clean, she has had all her shots and no major traumas or anything, and without any other symptoms, the vet I think didn't want to waste our money on extra tests when she thinks the most likely thing is seizures. We wanted to do some research and think it through a little. It had only happened 3 times and we had not paid very close attention to the surrounding factors. Well it happened again this morning, it has been 6 or 8 weeks since the last time. She was outside playing came in and just went rigid and fell over. I saw her fall and by the time I was by her side she could move her head and look at me and seconds later she was rolling herself over to a comfortable position. She was up in less than 5 minutes without any help from me and wanted to play with the puppy 15 minutes later. I guess I just want to know if the phenobarb is the best way to go or if there are any more natural, less drastic, measure that we can take to try to prevent these seizures. Our girl has a huge personality and I just am worried that the side effects of that drug will turn her into a different dog. Plus I am just not sure about putting her on an everyday medicine for something that happens less than once a month. One reason I am seriously considering it though is that I don't want the seizures to get worse or happen more often and I don't want her to suffer from them if I can prevent it. Any advice would be great, thank you.

[Punk50]

My chihuahua started having spells as soon as I brought him home. The previous owner said her vet said that it was not seizures just the change of leaving home. They continued and he knows what is going on it is just that his back legs won't work and he wobbles trying to get to me. We had his spine xrayed etc. And the vet put him on phenobarbital and the spells are less frequent but like if someone is shooting a gun he right away goes into a spell. He is high strung and I have had a dog with seizures before but they were not like this. So I am really wondering if they are seizures .......".

[Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM]

We have had very good results avoiding seizures and eliminating the need for phenobarbital in many of our canine epileptic patients using a natural, patented dog vitamin supplement along with an organic or home made dog diet. Should this be of interest, feel free to follow up with me.
Dr Carol Osborne, DVM

[Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM]

We have enjoyed wonderful results in our canine patients that suffer with epileptic seizures.
We begin with blood and urine panels to rule out any treatable metabolic health issues like diabetes and kidney disease  then begin by improving their overall level of nutrition.

We create a custom designed home made canine diet and add an all-natural, comprehensive, patented dog vitamin supplement. Some epileptic dogs are able to stop the phenobarbital completely with no seizure recurrences, others are able to enjoy quality life with reduced phenobarbital dosages.
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Dogs like yours already having seizures at intervals of 30 days or less are generally started on phenobarbital, as your vet suggested. I agree with your vet that starting this makes sense.

As a practicing holistic veterinarian for many years, my recommendation, which would be tailor made specifically for your dog would be to address a natural diet and correct vitamin-mineral-anti-oxidant supplementation. Many dogs that seizure do so because they have trace vitamin-mineral dietary deficiencies which when corrected by proper vitamin supplementation, eliminates the seizures as well as the need for prescription ant-epileptic medications including phenobarbital.

Once we have that issue addressed and we see no canine seizure activity for a 3-4 weeks, then  we begin to slowly wean the dog off the phenobarbital gradually a week at a time.

Should you want to follow up on this with me, that would be fine.

Dr Carol Osborne, DVM