My dog's liver is bad from pheno. Will Keppra control seizures?

Question

My dog Yogi is 8.5 years old and has been on phenobarbital 32.4mg and potassium bromide 1mg for 6 years to control his epilepsy. He has his liver levels tested every 6 months and we just got the results back that his liver is suffering as a result of the pheno. My vet wants to take him off the pheno and put him on keppra and also keep with the potassium bromide. His seizures are currently under control, but I am worried that the keppra will not work as well. Has anyone had experience switching f. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 8 years and 7 months old | 13 lbs

Linda G, MS, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Keppra is an excellent anti-seizure medication used extensively in human & veterinary medicine. The advantage to keppra over phenobarb, is the keppra is metabolized unchanged by the body, thus the liver does not ever see it.. Therefore, it is an excellent drug when the liver has become compromised by the phenobarb. Not every dog needs to be switched, but when they are, the seizures are very well controlled. Hope this helps.

My dog's liver is bad from pheno. Will Keppra control seizures?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

My male dog's penis is stuck out and his scrotum has a painful rash.

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

My ferret has bloody urine and bladder stones. Is it an emergency?

Dog licking paws, fur loss, and jaw wound: Could it be allergies?

Is there a chart for dog food protein biological value and digestibility?

Why does my puppy have bloody, mucousy stools despite diet changes?

Share