September | 2009 | Canine Seizures

September 2009

Monthly Archive

September 17, 2009

Vet Visit Sept 8, 2009

Posted by dgarrod under Canine Health, Dog Training, Parent, Pets | Tags: epilepsy medication studies, Keppra for dogs |
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Potassium Bromide levels perfect. Three-panel thyroid needs to be redone – so back to vet for more poking – lovely.  This is not something I like to repeat with my dog as the vet visit is very stressful for him. 

Seizure Sept 15 730 a.m. lasted 2M 30 Sec. Grand Mal. Recovery 1.5 hours.  22 days since last seizure.  Again extension from up to June 2009 – 2 weeks apart.  Taurine still being given.

Asked vet about Keppra and answer given, would rather go with scientifically studied drugs.  Phenobarbitol is what veterinarian’s prefer. However, these links provide insight into Keppra and my vet is willing to study it more, and to include in that study Zonisimide.  It amazes me so little is known from veterinarians about seizure activity and more drugs are not being more scientifically reviewed to extend time between seizures or to extinguish them etc. meaning dog can have a better quality of life.  Keppra URLs worth noting are:

http://www.keppra.com/pc/home/default.asp Keppra drug description and humans

http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/Keppra.htm  University of Tennesse study

http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/neuroucdavis/2005/kortz.pdf Veterinary Neurology Symposium paper

http://www.ncsu.edu/news/press_releases/04_05/165.htm  NCSU Study on Keppra

http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/epilepsyresearch/currentstudies.html  NCSU more and owner testimonials

It is a human drug. It doesn’t have side effects and dogs have had success on it.  It does not potentially hurt the liver as phenobarbitol does. Usually for dogs Keppra or Zonisimide (Keppra URLS only in this post) are add-ons with Phenobarbitol and Potassium or Sodium Bromide to date. It is said Keppra is cost prohibitive at about $ 200 a month for a 50 lb dog. However, what is not well-known is purchase of Keppra at Costco is about $ 45 per month for a 50 lb. dog. It can be purchased online at www.costco.com.

September 17, 2009

MRSA found at Washington Beaches

Posted by dgarrod under Uncategorized | Tags: flesh eating bacteria, MRSA, sands of Pacific Northwest, Washington beaches |
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Chancellor has been swimming in Washington beach waters since the age of 4 months old. Below are links causing real potential health hazard concern regarding dogs and people, as MRSA is easily transferrable to humans. You have to ask yourself if this may have caused seizure activity also. Who knows? It is worth reading about and protecting your dogs and yourselves.

Details:

University of Washington identified a highly resistant strain of MRSA, the so-called flesh-eating bacteria, in the sand on five public beaches on Washington’s coast and Puget Sound.

This superbug can pass between humans and pets. Go to – http://www.AnimalsReign.com/blog to read more. Please share this important information.