Canine epilepsy: a natural view

IN a typical epilepsy seizure a dog can be sitting on the floor in his usual favourite place, and next minute can be unconscious, rigid and his body twisted in some strange posture. On waking he will be exhausted and disoriented.

But just a short time later the dog can be romping about as if nothing had happened.

Seizures can be severe or light, frequent or occasional, or they can occur in clusters. In extremely serious cases where seizures are uncontrollable, euthanasia may be recommended ... but ONLY in extreme cases. Often it is the owners who are more upset than the dogs.

Owners need to be very sure of the type of epilepsy their dog is displaying before they approve any treatments and for this you will need to work closely with your vet, making sure it is you who is in control. I am personally convinced that a regimen of epilepsy medication is too often prescribed by busy vets after too little investigation, and that it is time to use more natural remedies wherever possible. However, correct diagnosis is the all-important factor.

True epilepsy is usually inherited, but not necessarily so. Only time and selective breeding will bring the proof. In secondary epilepsy a cause can usually be found such as:
Injury trauma; degenerative or developmental diseases; the presence of toxins such as organophosphates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, strychnine, tetanus or a range of other possibilities; encephalitis; distemper; hypoglycaemia, enzyme deficiency; liver or kidney failure; nutritional deficiencies; parasites or brain tumour. As well as that an allergic brain inflammation can be the result of vaccinations. All these comprise just a portion of possible causes so you will appreciate that correct diagnosis in partnership with your vet is hugely important before you decide to treat your dog naturally.

I would recommend any dog owner who suspects epilepsy read as much as possible about the condition and its causes. There is a huge range of websites with information on both pharmaceutical and natural treatments and depending on what type of epilepsy your dog has you may be able to treat it with either form, or a combination of both - often, even for dogs with frequent strong seizures, a combination treatment will mean fewer pharmaceuticals need to be used. Each dog is an individual so only time and trial will prove the benefit of either method.

Keep as much information as possible on your dog - how often it seizures (jot down the precise times) and how long they last; whether unexpected loud noises make the seizure worse; whether the dog finds it comforting and calming to have its owner present (you could talk to him in a soothing voice); whether the seizure involves the whole body or just part; what involuntary actions are prompted by the seizure and as many other facts as possible.

Very importantly, if you have a dog with epilepsy and there are other dogs on the premises do keep them apart at all times when unsupervised. Dogs have been known to mass attack a kennel mate undergoing a seizure.

Phenobarbitol, perhaps the most commonly prescribed anticonvulsant drug, is one to which dogs rapidly develop tolerance. But the more the dog needs the more likely it becomes that the tolerance will be lost and depression is a common side effect.

The whole trouble when treating dogs for epilepsy is that no two dogs respond in the same way to any given chemical. Side effects can include increased appetite or thirst, impaired liver function, impaired kidney function, depression, sedation, inco-ordination and many other problems. Once a regimen of phenobarbitol is begun it should be stopped only very slowly as a sudden stop may trigger withdrawal symptoms that could include any of the side effects along with worsened seizures. Never alter a dosage prescribed by your vet without first consulting the vet for approval. It could cause side effects or worsened seizures.

Medical treatments can often fail and there are a number of reasons for this. The most common reason is that the owner does not treat the dog at regular times or even make sure the medication is administered. Problems with the dog's digestion could mean that the medication is not being absorbed, or other medication that the dog is taking may cause adverse reaction such as tranquillisers causing a seizure. There may be a brain tumour or similar problem or the particular drug the vet has recommended just does not work for that particular dog.

If your dog has been diagnosed with epilepsy perhaps you want to try the gentler alternative treatments first. This is a good first choice as you can do no harm to your dog by delaying chemical medication as long as the seizures get no worse.

Acupuncture is one choice. Therapy for dogs means up to 10 needles placed at strategic points in the body and left in place for about a month, or even longer. Results from this form of treatment have been mixed and include: relapse after a few months free of seizures; a huge increase in the length of time between seizures; no alteration at all; or even total freedom from seizures.

Vitamin therapy is another very worth considering. Many well-know holistic veterinarians (and even doctors) recommend supplementation of vitamin B6, magnesium and manganese. A deficiency of vitamin B6 or any alteration in its ability to function can cause seizures in dogs or in humans.

The deficiency may be of vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin D, zinc, taurine, magnesium and/or calcium. So a plan of attack to control your pet's epilepsy should involve a lifestyle change and a nutritional natural diet. Another vitamin that often needs supplementing is vitamin C. Dogs do make their own vitamin C, but any illness, stress, chemical intervention etc. can cause a depletion that the dog can not cope with.

For those looking for natural pet health products to help their epileptic dog there are many good ones on the market that deserve a trial. Because they are natural herbs and vitamins their effectiveness improves over time rather than the opposite effect from prescription medications. The ingredients they contain can include garlic, parsley, kelp, rosemary, nutmeg, koto kola, basil, sage, skullcap, valerian, rue, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, niacinamide, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid, cobalamin, biotin. The idea with these is to achieve wholly natural anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant and sedative actions that bring your pet's health back to normal slowly but steadily.

It has been estimated that at least 50 percent of human epilepsy sufferers have low blood sugar, causing fatigue and stress, and may trigger seizures. The same could also be expected of dogs. Serious health problems that could be causing your pet's seizures include hypoglycemia. The latter is in recent years becoming more and more common in dogs and many authorities put this down to the very low quality commercial foods on today's markets.

A hypoglycemic attack can include staggering or collapse, general weakness, aggression, mood swings, glassy eyes, a dazed stare or seizure. A dog with these symptoms needs energy and the best energy source is honey which comprises about a third protein. Also included are amino acids and many nutrients including carbohydrates (sugars), minerals, vitamin B complex, C, D and E. Honey will inmmediately raise the dog's blood sugar level, but if you do not have honey available try karo syrup, maple syrup, treacle or even jelly (the type you spread on bread, not the dessert). Put a small amount straight into the dog's mouth and it will absorb quickly - about a tablespoon for a large dog or a teaspoon for a small dog.

To prevent further hypoglycemia attacks a suggested menu is: 7:00am breakfast - a very high quality dry food or a home-cooked meal; 11:00am snack; 3:00pm snack; 7:00pm dinner - again a very high quality dry food or a home-cooked meal; 11:00pm high protein, high carbohydrate snack such as plain rice biscuits with peanut butter in the middle; egg and wholemeal toast or chicken and brown rice.

For snacks during the day try celery, carrots, apples, pears, bran biscuits, rice biscuits, plums, peaches, hard-boiled or scrambled eggs, cottage cheese or yoghurt, meatballs (home-made of course) or chicken.

The next thing to do is to make sure there are no toxins or allergens around the house or yard. Confine the dog to a safe area when you are using floor polishes or any form of household cleaners, and cease to use flea collars or sprays, air fresheners, carpet powders of any type, or any type of yard control sprays, liquids or powders (this will all be good for you as well, as you will not be ingesting or breathing these products, and flea control or weed control will mean more exercise for you - an hour's weed hoeing in the yard every week, and a daily brush and flea comb for your dog).

Exercise is another essential for your dog - a good average is an hour a day, but that needs to be tempered with a consideration of circumstances. Exercise burns fat and increases metabolism so do not over-exercise a dog with hypoglycaemia, epilepsy, or heart disease. If your pet seems tired and drained of energy after a walk then reduce the walking time. Pets can become exhausted just like humans. But if your dog is young and healthy and looks as full of energy after a walk as before, it could be that your pet needs a longer walk (and long or short, let you pet have time to sniff things along the way and leave some pee-mail messages for other neighbourhood dogs).

You may want to add supplements to your dog's diet. If you do, make sure the one you choose is well balanced, contains no preservatives, colourings, msg etc, and that everything is in easily digested and natural form. Keep in mind that all animal life needs a balance of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to remain healthy.

Finally, I must mention the breed clubs and their influence on inherited epilepsy in certain breeds. Previously honesty has not been rewarded - it has been treated with ignorance and those honest breeders who admitted epilepsy in their kennel were made outcasts. But I hope now that has changed. Any club worthy of its membership will list all instances of the disease and will actively help the breeder to trace the infected line or lines, whether or not they involve the top 10 breeders of the year and their progeny. Many breeders have been known (off the books of course) to sweep instances of the disease in their lines under the carpet and claim theirs to be totally epilepsy-free lines. I can't speak for anyone else, but for myself I would rather deal with an honest breeder who said openly there is a case of epilepsy here and another there in the ancestry but they are working on the problem with a lot of help and "although the pups offered for sale are thought to be from epilepsy-free stock please contact the breeder at the first sign to the contrary". - EP