- Phenobarbital can cause liver damage (such as scarring in the liver) after prolonged use (over three months).
- In rare cases, it can even cause liver failure, which is why frequent blood tests are necessary for your vet to monitor the liver function.
Subsequently, What is the best anti seizure medication for dogs? Phenobarbitone is often the preferred first choice as it takes effect more quickly (within 2 weeks) than Potassium Bromide (3 to 6 months). Potassium Bromide can be used as first choice in animals with pre-existing liver disease or animals with very low seizure frequency.
Can a dog be weaned off phenobarbital? After 6 months seizure-free, gradually wean the animal off phenobarbital. The rapidity at which we decrease the phenobarbital depends on the serum levels at the time. If the levels are in the optimal range (100 to 130 umol/L) a minimum of 16 weaning weeks should be allowed.
Yet, Does phenobarbital have to be given exactly every 12 hours? Phenobarbitone must be given every 12 hours otherwise the concentration of drug in the blood may dip making your pet more prone to seizures. It does not matter whether phenobarbitone is given with food or between meals.
What not to feed a dog that has seizures? Food that causes seizures. According to the ASPCA, caffeine, dark chocolate, mushrooms, theobromine, ethanol, and xylitol can cause your dog’s seizures.
Can a dog live a normal life with seizures?
It can be hard to hear that your dog has epilepsy, but with a treatment plan in place, it is possible for your dog to live a completely normal life. However, you need to know how to handle the seizures. If your dog has a seizure, you should be sure that they are away from any objects that could hurt them.
Is Keppra safer than phenobarbital for dogs?
Keppra differs from traditional anti-seizure medication in the fact that it does not contain either Potassium Bromide or Phenobarbital, which means it has a wider margin of safety, especially for dogs suffering from a damaged liver, or liver problems.
Does epilepsy shorten a dog’s life?
It is accepted that dogs with epilepsy may have a shorter survival time, estimated between 2.07 and 2.3 years, where poor seizure control and high initial seizure frequency are associated with shorter survival times (Packer et al., 2018).
What is a substitute for phenobarbital?
Carbamazepine is a suitable substitute for phenobarbital, primidone, and phenytoin, alone or in combination, when used in the treatment of generalized tonic-clonic or par- tial epilepsy.
What happens if I stop giving my dog phenobarbital?
Because Pb is in the Barbiturate family, dogs develop a dependency on the drug. When it is reduced abruptly, this in itself can cause a seizure. My vet and I decided to reduce Sage’s Pb 10% every three weeks.
Can dogs go through withdrawal from phenobarbital?
Most epileptic dogs are treated with phenobarbital, which is one of the few AEDs approved for treatment of epilepsy in dogs, but leads to development of physical dependence and the risk of withdrawal seizures upon termination of treatment (14).
What are withdrawal symptoms of phenobarbital?
Common phenobarbital withdrawal symptoms include:
- Seizures.
- Shakiness.
- Anxiety.
- Agitation.
- Insomnia.
- Overactive reflexes.
- Increased heart rate.
- Increased blood pressure.
