Still thinking of you both and send good vibes to get Loki back to his former self asap. Hugs from this corner of the world.

Hope things are better today!

Hi Linda, I've just found this update Seems like your rollacoaster ride isn't over just yet eh? As SB said, I hope you've spoken to the vet if Loki isn't happy on the drugs - But I'm glad that he is back at home, with familiar surroundings and lots of love and hugs - he must be so scared when he can't comunicate in a way we understand. All the luck in the world to you and Loki - I really hope a solution can be found for him, Take care xx

Thanks again everyone - just to let you know, the vet thinks he's not doing too well on them so we've stopped for now while she consults with the specialist again. Think this is going to be a tough one and maybe this isn't the way forward for Loki. In the meantime I'm supplementing like mad and reading/trying everything I can.

I did ask the specialist about brain damage/death from these fits and he said it's very rare for either to occur and that we had to look at the balance between the good/bad effects of the drug against those of the fits.

No advice to give just (((hugs))). Poor Loki, I hope you find something that helps xx

Same as everyone else Lucky, all the very best for your little man, so sad

I, too, managed to miss this when the first posting appeared (dunno how, key words like "cluster", "siezure" and "fit" usually smack me right between the eyes!).

This is more-or-less what my vet said when we started Snorri-dog on the medication road - controlling epilepsy this way is always a veterinary balancing act, BUT, in my experience with Snorri, it has worked out simply - he has been on Phenobarbitone for four years, and recent blood tests show him to be fine, internally. Phenobarb is a well-known, well-tested drug, and whilst it can cause damage when used long-term, this is not the same thing as saying that it will .

Be prepared for the possibility of changed behaviour while Loki's system adjusts to the drug, but, if any occurs, it should wear off in a couple of weeks. With Snorri-dog, the worst we saw was an increased tendency to drop off to sleep, and an increase in his appetite (if you see this happen, don't give in to Loki's requests for more treats or nosh in his dinner-bowl - you'll just make him fat!).

You may have seen this:
http://www.dogweb.co.uk/talkdogs/liv...psy_14937.html

- there are some links that may help.

You might want to ask your vet about diazepam rectubes - they are handy to have if another cluster rears its ugly head, or if a siezure looks like hitting the five-minute mark. Some vets are reluctant to dispense these because of the possibility of misuse, so make it clear that you are only wanting them as an emergency stand-by for those occasions when you may not be able to get immediate vet attention.

Since he went on Pb four years ago, Snorri-dog has had only one attack, and that was when, with vet approval, we tried to wean him off the stuff (you shouldn't try to make Loki go "cold turkey"!).

The thing to remember is that when you have the epilepsy under good control, it IS just control, not a CURE. So far, there does not appear to be a cure, sadly (although research continues), but drug therapy DOES work in the majority of cases, and the sufferer goes on to lead a perfectly normal life. Julius Caesar was epileptic, had no access to drug treatment, but still went on to take charge of the known world! Dogwebbers look out! Loki is set to be the next World Emperor!

Snorri

P.S. Avoid feeding him anything which contains added salt - there may be a link to fit frequency.

Typical things to avoid are crisps - most dogs like them, but they contain a bit of fat, and (as you probably know already) you shouldn't be giving them anyway - salt is now an extra reason for keeping them off Loki's menu!

Snorri

Thanks Snorri - I appreciate your advice. I hadn't heard about salt and epilepsy, only in conjunction with using potassium bromide, which makes sense as xs sodium chloride can affect the levels of the bromide ... I tend not to give Loki salty things as a rule but I am shocked to discover that he may be getting some anyway. I remember giving him a rice cake with Philadelphia that night and also poached fish, which I seem to remember was quite salty. I wonder if this could have contributed?

Thanks again.

I'm no neurologist (perish the thought ), but I suspect that the salt intake affects the electrical conductivity of the brain - epilepsy is basically an electrical brainstorm - and that the increase in sodium and chloride ions makes it easier for an "overload" to occur. Of course, the addition of the potassium and bromide ions from the KBr meds would add to this, making extra salt a bad idea

I will never knock the idea of epilepsy being affected by the dog's diet, but I remain unconvinced, as Snorri went on for ages on canned food, after his affliction became clear, with no ill-effect. I switched him to raw mince for other reasons (price and bad breath), but it might well be helping with the epilepsy as well - I don't know that it does, but equally, I don't know that it doesn't, either.

American sites tend to swear by Potassium bromide, but it wasn't licensed for use in the UK until recently, so I can't comment on whether or not it's more effective than Phenobarbitone: sometimes (in the US) both are given at the same time. Best ask your vet! Snorri-dog has only ever had Pb, and it works for him - four years clear!

Snorri