Really pleased that Kit has been fit free for a year now. How old is he and when did he start fitting??
Tina was a rescue dog and had her first fit with us earlier this year when she was just over 2 years old. I have been unable to find out if she had fits before we got her though.[/b]
FWIW I lost a pup many years ago to epilepsy. On both Pheno and potasium bromide and the seizures were never undercontrol. The longest she went was 66 days without a seizure but 2 weeks was typical.
Phenobarbitol can destroy the liver. You need to have fairly frequent liver function tests done. We almost lost our dog to liver failure from Pheno even with monthly testing but because the siezures were never under control she was at or near max doseing, You mentioned 2 siezure 30 minutes apart. Cluster siezure or status siezures ( long continuous siezure) can kill a dog. If I had it to do over again I would insist on a persription for liquid Valium so it could be administered analy in the event of a cluster or status siezure. see
HOME TREATMENT WITH RECTAL DIAZEPAM FOR CLUSTER SEIZURES IN DOGS
By W.B. Thomas DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM (Neurology)
"While a single seizure of short duration is rarely life-threatening, status epilepticus is a medical emergency requiring prompt treatment. Continuous seizure activity lasting 30 to 60 minutes can lead to profound, life-threatening abnormalities and brain damage. 2 Although cluster seizures do not fulfill the definition of continuous seizure activity, they nevertheless represent a serious condition that can progress to status epilepticus. The goal of treatment is to quickly stop the seizure and provide support for the patient. Typically, this involves urgent veterinary care, including administering anti-seizure medication by vein. The financial and emotional distress of repeated emergency treatment is a common reason for a client to have an epileptic pet euthanized.
Why is rectal administration of diazepam recommended?
Rectal administration of diazepam (valium) by the client is a safe method of home treatment of cluster seizures in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.3 Diazepam belongs to the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are the treatment of choice for the emergency treatment of seizures because they are safe, work quickly, and are effective against many types of seizures. Veterinarians typically administer diazepam by vein to quickly stop a seizure, but most clients are not adept at intravenous injections. Absorption of diazepam after injection into the muscle is variable and unpredictable and may cause muscle damage.4 Giving diazepam by mouth is difficult and hazardous when the dog is actively seizing, and absorption after oral administration is slow and unpredictable.4 On the other hand, rectal administration of diazepam results in higher and earlier blood levels compared with either oral or intramuscular routes, making this route of administration ideal for home treatment of cluster seizures.4"
