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Degenerative Myelopathy In A Dog

by NancyinAZ - January 12, 2019 View Case Report

Hi Steve,
Sammy is a 6 year old male neutered Golden Retriever I was asked to see while he is here for the winter. He has been on a combination of phenobarbital and levitiracetam for seizure activity for the past 5 years with seizures only occurring when they travel through high altitudes on their way from North Dakota to Arizona. He was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy 6 months ago. I was asked to see him for acupuncture therapy and had a visit yesterday. He is a bright happy guy who needs assistance to rise, but is still able to walk. I discussed Settle The Yang supplement as I've been astounded at the responses I've seen to this in the face of DM. She sent me a message today to say he had a seizure one hour after taking his tablets last night. She believes the herbs to be the cause of the seizure and doesn't want to continue. I'd have thought it might help if not be fairly neutral in regards to seizure activity. I usually prefer KBr for epileptic patients, but didn't suggest changing his meds as he was doing fairly well with only occasional seizures. I'd love some help with him. He is a beautiful kind boy and I don't want him to lose his life over mobility if it can be helped.
Nancy

by naturevet

January 12, 2019

Hi Nancy,

We've never seen seizures in response to CHJLGMLT, and as you said, would expect it to be helpful. I'm 100% certain it's a coincidence

If the owner refuses to administer it again, then there are other options. Minor Bupleurum alone is helpful in DM. When dealing with Shao Yang mediated seizures, we've also been using another formula lately - Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang with added Tian Ma. But if the seizures are rare, that may be unnecessary, and XCHT will likely suffice

We also use Milk Thistle routinely, to inhibit sclerosis; and turmeric to inhibit cord inflammation, either alone or in a formula like Open the Canals of the Liver (from Kan Herb; this is a Minor Bupleurum derivative).

Most important, we believe, are routine physical therapies (like chiropractic, osteopathy or massage/mobilization of fixated vertebral segments; and of course acupuncture) and a whole foods low starch diet (i.e. meat and vegetable-based, whether commercial raw or home-cooked)

Hopefully this helps you out. Rest easy that your herbs did not cause the seizures. It was just an unhappy coincidence

Steve

by NancyinAZ

January 12, 2019

Thank you, Steve, for such a quick reply. Sammy's owner had agreed to give only two tablets of the herbs this morning and see what happened. I'll try to reassure her that it was almost certainly a coincidence. I'd like to help her get him off the phenobarbital, perhaps starting KBr to see if it agrees with his stomach. I rarely use phenobarbital on my own patients, but as they spend most of the year in a very small town in North Dakota, don't want to start changes that will be difficult for her to get follow up help with there. I'll keep you and everyone posted here.
Nancy

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