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My dog is sluggish and wobbly on seizure meds. Is it side effect?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Male | 16 years and 7 months old

my dog is having seizures usually when he gets excited or when he barks and if he bangs his head he is on levetiracetam about a month now and i feel like he is less lively is sluggish like he is in pain with the medicine and is walking very slowly and his back legs are shaking when standing and goes down slowly like he cant balance.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 8th, 2017

Some people do notice lethargy and difficulty walking with levetiracetam, but in general these side effects improve after a few days to weeks. If Milo's seizures started recently I would also worry that the lethargy and trouble with balance could be signs of neurologic disease. Seizures in an older dog are most commonly related to a lesion in the brain such as a tumor. I would recommend rechecking with your veterinarian to have Milo examined - you may want to discuss additional tests like an MRI to determine a cause for the seizures or discuss alternative anti convulsants.

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    Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on

    Poor Milo! It can take a few months for seizure medications to completely work, however it sounds like Milo is worsening or the medication isn't working well enough. It is a good idea to bring him back into the vet for further examination and to see if a different medication is viable. Your vet may also recommend some blood work or X-rays to help rule out other issues or potential causes of the seizures.

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