One year after beginning treatment for idiopathic epilepsy, Emerson, my 3-year-old Lhasa Apso, is doing better than I could have expected. He just experienced a three-month stint with no seizure activity. While that might not seem like very long, it reflects a milestone in his battle with this very serious condition.
My friends and family members remember the difficulty of my decision to put Emerson on Phenobarbital, a barbiturate commonly used to control seizures. The veterinarians and PetNurses at Banfield thoroughly explained the potential side effects of Phenobarbital (the most dangerous being liver damage), allowing me to carefully weigh the pros and cons as I made the difficult decision. Once I made the decision, the Banfield team put together a treatment plan, which includes regular blood work to monitor the enzyme levels in Emerson’s liver. Regular analysis of these enzyme levels provides an effective indication of the functionality and health of the liver.
Today marked Emerson’s twice-annual liver screening and wellness exam. Although, I was nervous that his enzyme levels would come back higher than usual, they were normal. This means the Phenobarbital dose is adequate for minimizing the seizures, but so far, not high enough that it is causing unwanted side effects. Unless anything changes, Emerson will remain on his current dose.
Even with proper treatment, Emerson will probably never be entirely seizure-free. Most likely, he will still experience a seizure episode once every few months. Even so, as my veterinarian explained to me, the medication and the ongoing monitoring provides a substantial benefit.
When I speak to other dog owners with epilepsy, I am encouraged by the many success stories I hear. Often, owners of Pets with serious disorders such as epilepsy are more closely bonded with their Pets because of the need to remain in tune with any symptoms or behavioral changes. In fact, I am even learning to better predict Emerson’s behavior prior to a seizure. I know there is not much I can do at home to prevent it; however, I make sure to settle him into a safe place where he can’t fall or injure himself. I also make sure I’m ready to take him to the emergency animal hospital if he has a seizure cluster (more than one in succession). If your dog is struggling with seizures, make sure you keep a log of occurrences and see your veterinarian right away.