Seizures in dogs.

Epileptic seizures are the most common neurologic problem of the dog. The ability of a clinician to start proper management does not require elaborate equipment or specialized skills. What is needed is a thorough assessment of the history and examination findings. Dogs with a history of seizures at less than 1 or greater than 7 years of age, a history of behavioral changes, an initial interictal interval of less than 4 weeks, or an initial partial seizure should be suspected of having an identifiable underlying cause for the seizures. As such, an appropriate diagnostic evaluation should be done. Once a cause has been determined, PB is the AED of choice for dogs without underlying liver disease. Factors that enhance successful PB therapy are early initiation of therapy and proper monitoring of trough serum concentrations. Dogs that develop functional tolerance to PB should be given oral potassium bromide as the second AED. Diazepam per rectum can be used as an at-home therapy to stop cluster seizure activity. Overall, improved seizure control can be achieved by establishing a well-thought out therapeutic monitoring schedule. This approach will lead to improved quality of life for the patient, resulting in greater client satisfaction and less clinician frustration.