Introduction
Canine epilepsy is an extremely distressing condition, for both the animal patient and the human family. When this diagnosis is given by a vet, there is great heart-sink, with a very gloomy outlook offered. It is often said that the dog is faced with progressivley worse fits, leading eventually to brain damage and death. At best, a life-time of depressant drugs is offered.
It does seem that some breeds are more prone to fits, giving rise to the belief that the condition is hereditary. In most cases, we find that it is not inherited in itself but the tendency may be.
Happily, alternative medicine, especially in the shape of homeopathy (homoeopathy), can offer a somewhat better outlook. In our experience, at the AVMC (www.alternativevet.org), 80% of treated dogs recover, usually to the extent of ceasing the fits altogether and no need for drug treatment.
It does seem that some breeds are more prone to fits, giving rise to the belief that the condition is hereditary. In most cases, we find that it is not inherited in itself but the tendency may be.
Happily, alternative medicine, especially in the shape of homeopathy (homoeopathy), can offer a somewhat better outlook. In our experience, at the AVMC (www.alternativevet.org), 80% of treated dogs recover, usually to the extent of ceasing the fits altogether and no need for drug treatment.
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Homeopathic approach
While a diagnosis, of most cases of epilepsy that visit us, often after expensive MRI scans, is 'primary idiopathic hereditary epilepsy', we find that the huge majority have their first fits within three months of a vaccination event, whether the primary vaccination course or one of the annnual boosters. Often, there has been a history of itchiness, ear problems or skin problems, before the fits emerged, which may have been suppressed by steroid drugs, ointments or lotions.
We set about choosing a homeopathic medicine for each patient, according to the patient's personality, symptoms and constitution. We also look into diet, since we believe that natural feeding is very important as a platform for health and healing.
We look into lifestyle and environment since these factors can be very important 'obstacles to cure'.
In those patients who have been treated successfully, when the correct medication has been found (not always at the first attempt), we have often observe a steady diminution in frequency, and severity of the fits, along with emergence of itchy skin (pruritus) or even skin lesions. This tends to prove the supposed link between skin problems and epilepsy. These usually eventually clear, as the case progresses.
In the unlucky few who do not respond, we believe that these are the true epilepsy cases, the others having an identifiable cause despite the specialist 'hereditary' diagnosis given at the outset.
Some important triggers for epilepsy:
Vaccination
Poisons/toxins
Injury
Meningitis/Encephalitis
Garden chemicals
Anaesthetic
Suppression of skin disease
Status epilepticus
In some cases, a cluster of fits can occur. When the patient emerges from one fit straight into another, we call it 'status epilepticus'. This is reputed to be a very bad sign, increasing the likelihood of a bad outcome. This has not always been our own experience, however. We avoid administration of Diazepam-type drugs, since we have found these to increase the likelihood of a bad outcome, in the patients we have seen.
The author is independent of commercial interest or sponsorship and cannot endorse any products or advertising material attached to this lens.
There is more information on this subject and that of vaccination at http://www.alternativevet.org
We set about choosing a homeopathic medicine for each patient, according to the patient's personality, symptoms and constitution. We also look into diet, since we believe that natural feeding is very important as a platform for health and healing.
We look into lifestyle and environment since these factors can be very important 'obstacles to cure'.
In those patients who have been treated successfully, when the correct medication has been found (not always at the first attempt), we have often observe a steady diminution in frequency, and severity of the fits, along with emergence of itchy skin (pruritus) or even skin lesions. This tends to prove the supposed link between skin problems and epilepsy. These usually eventually clear, as the case progresses.
In the unlucky few who do not respond, we believe that these are the true epilepsy cases, the others having an identifiable cause despite the specialist 'hereditary' diagnosis given at the outset.
Some important triggers for epilepsy:
Vaccination
Poisons/toxins
Injury
Meningitis/Encephalitis
Garden chemicals
Anaesthetic
Suppression of skin disease
Status epilepticus
In some cases, a cluster of fits can occur. When the patient emerges from one fit straight into another, we call it 'status epilepticus'. This is reputed to be a very bad sign, increasing the likelihood of a bad outcome. This has not always been our own experience, however. We avoid administration of Diazepam-type drugs, since we have found these to increase the likelihood of a bad outcome, in the patients we have seen.
The author is independent of commercial interest or sponsorship and cannot endorse any products or advertising material attached to this lens.
There is more information on this subject and that of vaccination at http://www.alternativevet.org
by ChrisDay
Christopher Day is a vet with 35 years of experience in equine, cattle and small animal mixed practice. He now runs a referral clinic in alternative m...
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