idiopathic epilepsy

One of the most important things you need to know how to do is to get your boy through a seizure. Pirate likes someone to sit, indian-style, on the floor with him, and stroke his ears. The more *you* freak, the more upset they get, the worst the seizure. One thing I've wanted to try, but Pirate hasn't had one in a while, is the ice pack technique.

Check out this -> http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/site_map.htm site. They have some good reading material.

Now, about weight gain. Pirate didn't really 'gain' any, per se, he just looked bigger. I split his 2 meals into 4, to keep him 'full'.

How many seizures did your dog have before they put him on pheno?

 VERY often, because seizures are such scarey scarey things an owner is pretty upset, and rather than delay to try to find out *why* the seizures are occurring they call it idiopathic (meaning "no known cause";) and just put them on pheno after one or two seizures. 

It will prevent the seizures -- but please be aware there is a great cost.

Pheno (and potassium bromide) are great drugs for dogs with out of control seizures.  ****BUT**** they have side effects.

before you decide that the dog is gaininng weight please do some more investigating. 

Everything all affects everything else.  A *lot* of things can cause seizures.  but once you start on pheno it is very difficult to get them off.  AND the side effects can be huge. 

In Pirate's case specifically -- he developed a whole separate condition essentially *from* the pheno -- pheno can cause the thyroid to shift (which can cause weight gain).  Pheno can also cause the platelets to drop (which causes other problems immune-wise)... and in PIrates case it caused this huge cycle of events that became very very expensive to diagnose. 

The neuro dept up at the University of Florida actually **recommends** that if your dog is seizing less than 2-3 times a month *average* that you treat with herbals and acupuncture rather than with drugs.  That's a cutting-edge state university -- this is NOT "Weirdo U" - so even if you have never used herbs before please don't shut me off mentally.

Acupuncture deals with the electrical "energy" highway in the body.  We all know that the brain and much of the body neurologically function on **electricity** right??  Acupuncture can stimulate the brain and other neurotransmitters in the body to behave in a more efficient manner.

The very first thing I would suggest to you is for you to ADD a vet.  I'm not saying to leave your regular vet.  not at all.  Particularly not if you are happy with them.

However, please consider **adding** a holistic vet -- http://www.tcvm.com -- that's the Chi Institute website and on the left hand side they have a locator that will help you find a vet near you who does acupuncture (and does it *well*). 

then, please have your dog's thyroid checked -- but in this case please have a very very *careful* check done (the thyroid is difficult at the best of times and it becomes a 'guess' often). But with such a little dog having the thyroid test sent to either Michigan State or directly to Dr. Jean Dodds at Hemapet may give you a more accurate thyroid test (both MS and Dr. Dodds will measure the thyroid according to breed-specific guidelines rather than a one-number-fits all way that most labs will use). 

Your regular vet can surely send the thyroid off to M State or Dr. Dodds. 

but when it comes to seizures -- they are SO scarey, but it is so important to make sure no stone is unturned -- that the vets consider the *entire dog* ... rather than just treating symptoms. 

A dog who is low or 'hypo' thyroid will definitely gain weight -- but it's not because the dog is fat.  but if the pheno affects the thyroid (and it often does) you don't want to starve the dog -- you want to find the real problem.  Does that make sense?

Also, there are dietary ways to help reduce seizures. Feeding a grain free, soy free, dairy free diet high in taurine cut my dog's seizures down to almost nothing. 

i asked about other options before putting charlee on pheno, but he had had four seizures in one week.  the neuro said that was why he needed to be put on meds.  he had his thyroid checked and it came back normal.  i go to one of the top animal medical centers (angell animal medical center in boston) in the country, so i do trust them.  i'll ask about sending his bloods to dr. dodds when it is checked next time.  is there anything else i should be doing?  i have started him on milk thistle.

thanks

I'd really advise you to read up on other options, to help reduce his seizures (even in conjunction with medication). My rotten dog, Emma, was cluster seizures *every* day. Clustering. Daily. Now, with diet and herbal stress management, Em has a little cluster about twice a year. Other things really can help. Some dogs still need medication, but if you can lower the dosage, you can help decrease on the side effects.

could you please post that diet,my dog is on pheno and bromide and still seizes every 10days

thanks Bajaluna

IVD's sensitive diets, and Natural Balance's allergy diets fit within the guidelines.  You can read up on the hows and whys at dogtorj.net. 

thanks jennie_c

Please also try acupuncture -- it can help SO much.  http://www.tcvm.com -- there's a locator on the left.  It's a qualifying agency for vets who do acupuncture, etc.