Diet for an overweight and seizure prone dog

Grain free is best for seizure prone dogs.

you can put a dog on the best diet food out there - but it wont do a thing w/out exercise. just like with people.

I took phenobarbital as a child....let me tell you, it makes you weird, mad, etc.

Is he regulated? I mean, do they have the levels of the thyroid and seizure medication adjusted correctly?

My last big dog was on thyroid meds, it took a while to get her regulated correctly.

With a seizure dog, one needs to figure out what sets them off. I've managed 2 seizure dogs now without any medication at all, both were pomeranians.

My current one is set off by an over abundance of dust, ANY kind of treat with cheese, over excitement, exercise, too much heat, and not enough sleep.

Putting him on homecooked meals has changed him entirely. He's a LOT healthier, and he ate very good dog foods even before homecooked. I took him off grains entirely, sweet potatoes, carrots, etc are ok, but he gets no grains, period.

His activities are watched, he gets walked every OTHER day, and only for one block, he, otherwise regulates his own exercise in the house and yard, we live on an acre, but we're talking a 5# dog here versus a 70# husky.

It all depends on what they're willing to do, and whether they're going to stick to it. Having a seizure dog is a big commitment, there are times it's frustrating.  

Thank you for the responses.

You know I have been out of the loop with his meds but I do recall they upped his phenobarb when she told me about it last Saturday. She was up here for a party and had video footage of him barking and growling at this certain spots in the house. She thought it was funny and I didn't. I asked when was the last time he had his levels checked and she said 3 months ago. They have been through 3 three vets. The first two basically sat on their asses and not providing any information to her on what she needed to do. The current vet I am sketchy about.

You see the year he started getting seizures, Riley ballooned (got really fat). About over a year of seeing the first two vets, she went to another. They did blood and noticed his tri-glyceride's were through the roof like over a 1100 something like that. So that vet thought it was his thyroids. So he wanted to start thyroid meds which should stop the seizures however at the same time he also wanted to lower the phenobarb dosage. I mean he thought he got the seizures resolved. He had a timetable for 8 weeks to completely get phenobarb out of the loop. It was a quarter dosage removed for every 1 or 2 weeks. I don't remember exactly. Sure enough Riley is on the new meds and a lower phenobarb. Sure enough, Riley had a seizure. So he rules out the thyroid but his triglycerides are now under 200. So I asked him about a lower dose of phenobarb is going to cause the seizures from what I read at the canine epilepsy website. He didn't say anything! So I left sketchy shaking my head. the dog is basically doped up.

Back on topic. He did get walked. And only 'she' does the walking. Her other half, does not or doesn't want to. They both have been at the vet's when the vet themselves stated in black and white that the dog needs to lose weight since it could curb the seizures. She can't do it alone. Since she was doing everything with the dog and everything else was going bad, she wanted to give the dog to a rescue so I get called around and got people wanting to take him. Sure enough, I look like an ass because they can't commit so the dog stays. They obviously can't manage.

She'll call up here complaining about the prices of the prescribed food and I told her that its diet food look at the fat content. It is half. Money doesn't grow on trees and offering on advice falls on deaf ears but it really aggravates me when the answer is right in front of their faces. I have debated on taking Riley and getting back to his proper weight. He's a fat dog that labors and his hind joints are suffering because of it. But I can't because I just got a rescue and he is finally settling down. I debated to buy the food and I would go grain free even go raw.

Its so sad I want to help and literally beat the living crap out of her other half. He just makes things so difficult for her. Like, she wants to control the feeding but he is just a lazy SOB and leaves the bowl out for all the dogs to free feed... with a fat seizure prone dog mind you! When we visit I see through all the BS. She tells us this is going on but we see the opposite.

Their other dog was an abandoned and abused pup that was left at restaurant's doorstep. It hasn't been socialized much and is very fearful. I am waiting for a time bomb. Both dogs are bolters when they have a chance. Not trained. The dogs are convenience more than anything else.

Sorry for the long diatribe but this couple does not need any dogs. I am so tempted to take him and end his misery and give him a new lease on life. Every time I come over he wants me to take him for a walk because every visit I do. He is bored as hell!

I had a Lab with seizures that we switched from the pheno to potassium bromide but that was after her seizures had been controlled.  She did not have thyroid problems. 

I can imagine how frustrated you are with these people and I have no advice that you haven't already thought of.  Just wanted to offer my sympathy and tell you that I know how you feel.  Some people just need to have their heads knocked together and their dogs taken while they are unconcious.

JackieG

I had a Lab with seizures that we switched from the pheno to potassium bromide but that was after her seizures had been controlled.  She did not have thyroid problems. 

I can imagine how frustrated you are with these people and I have no advice that you haven't already thought of.  Just wanted to offer my sympathy and tell you that I know how you feel.  Some people just need to have their heads knocked together and their dogs taken while they are unconcious.

Unfortunately, no matter how much we could help you, it won't help the dog. Unless the dog can be rehomed.

Only bad thing about you changing his food, even if you pay for it, is you're not present with him DAILY to see any kind of reaction good or bad.

It's too bad you couldn't take the dog. I've never understood why people get dogs and never do anything with them....what's the point of having them?

Convenience