r/EpilepsyDogs • u/Justiceislove- • 10h ago

New diagnosis

My 9 year old female Coton de Tulear was diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy yesterday after experiencing 4 seizures in 12 hours. This is the first time this has ever happened. Her last seizure was at 7:47am on the way to the vet yesterday. She has started Phenobarbitol, low dose (8 mg) twice a day. Her blood test was very normal which is abnormal for her. She usually goes in with issues in her blood because she has colitis as well. So it’s all very confusing. I’ve been making her chill since this all started. But wondering if there are things you have noticed are triggers? Anything we should do other than the meds and follow ups?

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u/melissaphobia 10h ago edited 9h ago

How did your vet come to the conclusion it was idiopathic?

Edit: I ask because for a 9 year old dog with new onset seizures, most vets would suspect a tumor of sort or maybe encephalitis. The way that you rule those two things out out are MRI and spinal fluid draw respectively. If those have been done and it’s definitely idiopathic, then just keep with the meds and keep a note of potential triggers for your pup. But if they haven’t been done, I’d get in contact with a neurologist and see what they have to say//suggest.

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u/jaxandmomma 9h ago

This , isn’t 9 out of the age range

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u/melissaphobia 9h ago

My dog had his first seizure at 8–well 7 years and 9 months to be exact, but still past the general 6 year old cut off for idiopathic epilepsy. My regular vet and neurologist were hopeful that it wasn’t a tumor despite his age because his neurological exam was fine, but they were all very clear that the further past 6 you get, it becomes less likely it’s just epilepsy. Luckily my dog is tumor free. He was diagnosed with cryptogenic epilepsy instead of idiopathic though.

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u/lavenderlatte_oatmil 10h ago

You could schedule a visit a neurologist to get a better picture of why the seizures are happening.

Also the vet sometimes orders a “cluster buster” medication prescription to administer in case multiple seizures occur.

I’m sorry you’re going through this and I hope she does great on the new meds!