Dr. Knor Knows
Q: Almost nine months ago, through a sudden attack of seizures that almost claimed her life and left her in the hospital for three days, our 3-year-old Peek-a-poo was diagnosed with epilepsy. Since that time, she's been taking two doses of phenobarbital per day to ward off further seizures. Since she has been seizure free for about seven months, in the last two months we have decreased the dosage that she takes twice a day. What we would like to know is what are the chances of a dog diagnosed with epilepsy being able to be weaned off all drugs and still live a normal, seizure-free life? We do not want her to suffer, but have also heard of side effects from long-term use of seizure medication.
Thank you,
Carla Carpenter
A: Poodles are known to have a high incidence of seizure disorders. If all other potential causes for seizures (infections and metabolic, primarily) have been ruled out, epilepsy is a likely diagnosis.
There are several different treatments available to control seizures. The most commonly used drug is phenobarbital. If your dog is on phenobarbital and seizure free, her phenobarbital intake should be monitored to make sure it is at its lowest possible dosage while still maintaining therapeutic blood levels. Potassium bromide is an adjunctive medication that can allow you to decrease the amount of phenobarbital you are using. Most epileptics need lifelong medication of some kind. You must never discontinue phenobarbital without the guidance of a veterinarian, as this can lead to severe seizures in your dog. If your veterinarian is not able to provide you with adequate answers to your questions I would advise pursuing a consultation with a board-certified veterinary neurologist.
Q: If you were alone and had no way to get to a vet's office, how would you deliver a litter of Chihuahua puppies?Brianna
A: Most dogs can deliver a litter of puppies on their own. There are a variety of guidelines that we use to evaluate a dog prior to medical intervention. I would advise speaking to your veterinarian about your Chihuahua prior to the time of scheduled delivery. Gestation in dogs is roughly 63 days. There are also a variety of good books on breeding dogs and delivering puppies that I would encourage you to purchase and read prior to the end of your
dog's gestation.
Q: I have a 6-month-old kitten with a heart murmur, and possibly other problems. I cannot seem to get him to gain much weight. I give him Nutri-Cal, and high-fat foods. He also has very heavy, almost labored breathing. I am very concerned for his welfare, and want to insure that he has a good life. I have never encountered this in a cat or kitten. What can I do?Thank you,
Dana
A: I would strongly recommend maintaining close contact with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist. Animals that are born with one congenital defect, such as a heart murmur, quite often have others. Sometimes their ability to develop is affected, due to metabolic problems affecting various parts of the body, like the liver, kidneys and digestive tract. Arriving at a definitive diagnosis to determine the extent of the
kitten's problems is crucial to establishing the best treatment plan.
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