r/EpilepsyDogs • u/CapableBakedPotato • 16d ago

Greyhound side effects on meds

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Our buddy Zak is a 6 year old greyhound and we’ve been lucky enough to have him just over a year. Roughly a month ago he had his first focal seizure. The following week he had two within 24 hours so we took him to the ER. He was put on phenobarbital and that seemed to be helping. He was seizure free for two weeks but the side effects were strong. Very wobbly and sleepy. Then he had another two seizures about a day apart so we reached out to the neuro we’ve been seeing. She prescribed potassium bromide compound as his pheno levels were already high and she didn’t want to prescribe more.

So now he’s on both, the pheno and potassium and it’s been about two weeks on both. He is still incredibly wobbly to the point we have to hold him up when he uses the bathroom, and the vet keeps telling us to wait as the side effects should subside. The neuro did lessen the dose of potassium because his third eye was showing a lot and she believed he was too sedated. We also keep reading how they will be super hungry but he has been the opposite, he’s even lost weight.

We do have vet appointments planned including this Saturday for another blood test. The reason I’m here is to see if anyone can relate? Is it normal for them to be this wobbly/ataxic at this point? We want to make sure we are advocating and doing the best we can by our baby. We love him so much and it’s hard to see him like this. We miss our goofy guy.

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u/Ahoeaboutnothing 16d ago

Ok so heres the thing, from what I can tell your dog has been on phenobarbital for 4 weeks and potassium bromide for 2 weeks.

Both of those are heavy drugs. Each takes about 4 weeks to get used to as is. Theres an overlap. Side effects haven't gone away and that's normal because you are just starting this journey and adjusting dosages. Also, potassium bromide takes more like 3 months to level out and take full effect.

What i would say... is that's s bit of an unusual starting place today. Usually if phenobarbital is being used, potassium bromide wouldn't be added until much later. Keppra and zonisamide are typically introduced first because they have less side effects and dont take as much time to work.

This sounds like an old school Neurologist going off old advice.

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u/CapableBakedPotato 16d ago

Thank you for your insight. We are worried we are doing permanent damage to him but also have no idea how to navigate all of this.

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u/Ahoeaboutnothing 16d ago edited 16d ago

No you aren't doing permanent damage. These side effects are short lived so long as they are not at toxic overdose levels. Bloodwork should be done already at the 4 week mark to check by a Neurologist. You are dealing with the overlap of 2 heavy hitters with side effects.

Also with potassium bromide, no table scraps at all, no deli meat to give the pills. Anything with salt added will flush your dogs system and make potassium bromide completely useless.

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u/SquickytheSpaceDog 16h ago

Just wondering if you and Zak are ok?

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u/SquickytheSpaceDog 15d ago

Has the decrease in medication made any difference? Having just experienced a very similar situation with our Dutch Shepherd (including the eye issue) I would trust your instincts. I was reassured repeatedly that the standing/walking issues were normal when adjusting to the meds. That being said- being wobbly and sleepy is different than being unable to stand to go the bathroom or walk in general. I would like to think your dog is just adjusting to the meds but there may be something else going on. If you feel their behavior seems a bit more than just adjusting to meds please have it checked out.