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Four year old Bentley’s seizures are managed with acupuncture as a
sole anticonvulsant therapy, Chinese herbals, diet and exercise. In
the perfect world, anticonvulsant medication would completely
eradicate all clinical seizure activity in all cases. Unfortunately,
that is almost never the case. |
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The entire veterinary
clinic was running as we had trained. I stepped over the gurney
resting on the floor
and surveyed my patient. A male German shepherd, middle aged, and
ninety pounds at least. His head was thrown backwards, his
body twisted in a seizure so fierce that two animal technicians could
barely hold it on the floor. They were covered in hair and drool,
and their arms were now marked with long red toenail scratches from
holding down the dog.
Training called for
placement of an intravenous catheter (IV) in the leg so anticonvulsant
medication could be given. The German shepherd was so violent with its
kicking, the nurses abandoned placing the IV catheter, and I called out
the order for the first dose of medication to be given rectally. The
anticonvulsant medication can be absorbed somewhat through the membranes.
This slowed the seizure long enough for a proper IV to be set and
medications to be started.
While I am tending to the
German Shepherd, the technician is speaking with the owner and gathering
valuable information.
How old is the patient and
when was the first seizure? Congenital epilepsy generally develops
between six months to six years of age. Schnauzers, Basset hounds,
Collies, and Cocker spaniels have epilepsy two to three times as often as
other breeds. Young animals could have a bacterial infection or a viral
infection, like canine distemper or feline infectious peritonitis. I would
also consider a liver shunt, a condition in which the liver does not
metabolize the toxins in the body.
Are there any other
existing medical conditions? If the German shepherd was diabetic,
treatment with too much insulin would cause seizures if the blood sugar
dropped too low. Animals in the final stages of kidney disease can
seizure.
Was there any exposure to
a toxin? I’ve seen my share of dogs who ate snail bait. Some cat owners
apply over the counter flea treatments intended for dogs to their cat.
This will certainly cause seizures. The
Japanese Yew, methomyl fly bait,
strychnine, and certain types of fungus can cause seizures. I
a patient is older, then I consider a tumor growing off the skull and
pressing on the brain, a meningioma. Some tumors are operable if found
early.
History and blood testing
helps to determine what treatments are needed. Congenital epilepsy is
often a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning, that no other cause is
identified.
Anticonvulsant medication
is often required. In the perfect world, anticonvulsant medication would
completely eradicate all clinical seizure activity in all cases.
Unfortunately, that is almost never the case.
Other treatments of
seizures include 1) Experimental Surgery to remove the epileptic center in
the brain as is sometimes done in humans. 2) Vagal nerve stimulation,
where an electrical stimulator is implanted 3) Acupuncture, as either a
sole anticonvulsant therapy or in conjunction with traditional therapy and
4) Homeopathy.
Anticonvulsant therapy is
not a recipe--the exact same approach will not work for all patients. It
is a balance of the individual needs of the patient and the side effects
of medications.
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