Question Details
Partial Seizures In A Dog
by JLoCh - April 11, 2019    View Case Report
Hi Maggie is a 12yo speyed mixed breed 28kg dog. She has very chronic osteoarthritis in both stifles (has had surgery 6 years ago on both for ACL), hocks and hips with occasional sore muscles along back. She has incontinence and will get flare ups of inflamed and itchy feet and ears. She has been getting monthly Synovan injections and has been maintained on Propananol, Gabapentin, Tramadol and a herbal formula of Bacopa, Devil's Claw, Nettle, Rhemannia and Withania.
4 weeks ago she has started having the occasional mild seizure event when she may remain standing or fall to the ground with whole body convulsions, no opisthotonus, occasionally urinating. Usually this is sparked dt anxiety.
Blood and urine tests revealed iron deficiency most likely from inflammation (microcytosis and hypochromic red blood cells, elevated globulins, total protein and reduced albumin), elevated ALP, elevated ALT, elevated canine specific pancreatic lipase, low TT4 and a UTI. I have taken her off the tramadol, placed her on Clavulox for 3 weeks and changed her herbal formula to astragalus, dandelion, withania, st john's wort, chamomile, baical skullcap and milk thistle. Her owners are not wanting to do further investigations and would like to try and avoid anti-seizure medication.
Yesterday her pulses were deep and weak especially left side, her tongue is pale pink/lavender and she had a mild seizure event the day before. Her appetitie has been excellent and energy levels have been reasonable but she does sleep a lot. I was wondering if a chinese herbal formula would be able to address her osteoarthritic pain, seizures, pancreatitis, hypothyroidism, incontinence. I am not very experienced with chinese herbs but I was thinking something like Dan Gui Shao Yao San but this wouldn't necessarily help with OA and seizures.
Thank you for your advice
Cheers
Jodie
Replies
by naturevet
April 12, 2019
Hi Jodie,

The formula that springs to mind for me is a version of Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Combination). For cold dogs, we often use Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang. If the dog struck you as on the Hot or Dry side, then I would recommend Chai Hu Si Wu Tang (containing a 2:1 mix of XCHT and Si Wu Tang). Regardless which you use, I'd suggest adding 15 to 20g of Tian Ma (Gastrodia).

I'm guessing of the two possibilities, the latter is a better choice, given the anemia and rashes. Both formulas are top considerations, where symptoms are otherwise appropriate, for problems worse in spring and fall, around the equinoxes.


The other complaints that Minor Bupleurum and its derivatives can address include:

  • pancreatitis

  • incontinence

  • osteoarthritis of the stifle joints and along the GB channel, as well as the sacro-iliac region

  • elevated liver enzymes


To the extent the thyroid issues are caused by thyroid autoantibodies, the formula may address that, too, through its immune regulating effects. I'd give it a try.

Let us know how it goes, if you do!

Steve
by JLoCh
March 8, 2023
I'm sorry to give this update so much later than the original post.
Maggie's owner was unfortunately not keen on trying anything new with Maggie. He was grieving the recent loss of his beloved wife from cancer and Maggie was essentially his wife's dog. He felt that Maggie was only hanging on for his wife. So he opted to have Maggie euthanatized.
It was all very sad.
by naturevet
March 15, 2023
:-(

Thanks for letting us know, anyway

Steve
Reply to this question.
You must be logged in to reply