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Idiopathic Epilepsy In A Dog

by CorinneC - December 13, 2024 View Case Report

Zara is a 6yo FS Golden Retriever that was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy 2 years ago at her rDVM, had to go to emerg late at night. I met her in Oct 2023. She was on Keppra 750mg 1/2 tab TID. Had had AQ 2 with another holistic Vet but was still having seizures - usually midday 1-2pm, last~ 5min, very small in comparison to first which was a grand mal, always comes to O first. She is a "runt", small for breed.

Very loving girl, confidant, will go up to anyone, but can be startled if concentrating, esp with nosework. Wood personality according to O but I see more Earth. She is fed West Coast muffins, has been on raw as well, but lately the O had also been feeding her 'mechanically separated chicken" ?!? Her tongue was pink-lavender, dry edges, moist in centre, normal size; pulses on the wiry side, superficial.

My TCM ddx: Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency, Blood deficiency with Wind Invasion; Five Element - Water not feeding Wood, not enough Yin

Rx: AQ & B12 injections + Xiao Yao San (she was on this from previous Vet) + I added Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin to subdue rising Yang (seizures), clear Heat, descend Blood and moisten Yin to accept and reintegrate with Yang, calm Spirit. Also Probenz probiotics. Rec more Jing tonifying foods, foods to improve on Essence - eggs, small nuts & seeds, sprouts, organ meats (beef kidney, chicken hearts), berries (blackberries, Goji berries), black sesame oil, bone broth.

1 mth later she had had 1 small seizure and I added in Rehmannia 6 and weaned off XYS.

Went to March 2024 (so 3 mth) without seizures then had 1 small one. Then end of April 2 in 2 weeks. Had O stop feeding the mech separated meat and added in Wu Mei Wan to hopefully quell future breakthrough seizures.

Went all summer seizure free and then had small ones on November 1, 19, and Dec 9. Had accidentally eaten half a stick of butter last week, maybe Wed, then also accidentally found some moldy cheese on Sat (meant for rat traps). This is the only thing O can think of that was different. Feeding extra lean gr turkey, West Coast muffins now, no longer feeding the mechanically separated chicken. She has been shaking her ears a lot this weekend too. O cleaned out the other day and got a fair amount of stuff out, but I could find no erythema or exudate, just wax. Her tongue today was lavender-pink, moist, sl flabby with a few strands of thin white phlegm, normal size; pulses initially a little weak but then nicely toned after laser AQ. I rec'd to increase dose of TMGTY and WMW for 2 weeks, and during times of heavy winds but I feel like I'm missing something?

Love to hear your thoughts!
Corinne

by naturevet

December 20, 2024

Hi Corinne!

Sorry, I've been away the past couple of weeks and was locked out the email that notified me of submitted cases. I thought I had managed to remedy that by having everything forwarded, but I guess notification about this case was missed.

Given the success you've seen so far, you're obviously close to resolving these breakthrough seizures. The timing of these most recent seizures in November December represents a struggle to internalize Yang. That can arise from Jue Yin excess, which you're already treating with Wu Mei Wan; and Shao Yang disharmony, which we don't have anything on board to address yet. The ear shaking may well have been due to a sense of Yang rising instead of an ear infection, so the third formula I would add is probably Halscion, if you have it.

Halscion helps subside Yang into the interior through its content of CHJLGMLT, and has extra Blood and Yin tonification in the form of YGJ. That trio of formulas - Halscion, TMGTY, and WMW - should be enough to get the dog seizure free, since it addresses both Yin and Yang causes to why there would end up being too much Yang in the head.

Hopefully this helps you out!

Steve

by CorinneC

December 21, 2024

Awesome Steve! That makes total sense, thank you. Should I still continue giving the Liu Wei DI Huang Wan as well or just the three you recommend?

Merry Christmas,
Corinne

by naturevet

December 26, 2024

I think just the three I suggested should be enough, but it's not a problem to use the LWDHW if you feel the dog does better on it

S

by CorinneC

March 14, 2025

Ok, so I have seen Zara now twice in 2 mth and she continues to have breakthrough seizures, 3 since I last checked in. Interestingly today her pulses were better toned if not a little taut (Halscion addition?). I did not cont LWDHQ after adding Halscion. Today I rec'd increasing her TMGTY to 1/2 tsp BID from 1/4 tsp BID, cont'd Halscion and WMW as is at 1/2 tsp BID. Her pulses didn't really change much with AQ either. O is distressed as we had such a solid run of being seizure-free from March - October 2024. Any thoughts? Restart LWDHW?

Thanks so much,
Corinne

by CorinneC

March 14, 2025

Ok, so I have seen Zara now twice in 2 mth and she continues to have breakthrough seizures, 3 since I last checked in. Interestingly today her pulses were better toned if not a little taut (Halscion addition?). I did not cont LWDHQ after adding Halscion. Today I rec'd increasing her TMGTY to 1/2 tsp BID from 1/4 tsp BID, cont'd Halscion and WMW as is at 1/2 tsp BID. Her pulses didn't really change much with AQ either. O is distressed as we had such a solid run of being seizure-free from March - October 2024. Any thoughts? Restart LWDHW?

Thanks so much,
Corinne

by CorinneC

March 14, 2025

Ok, so I have seen Zara now twice in 2 mth and she continues to have breakthrough seizures, 3 since I last checked in. Interestingly today her pulses were better toned if not a little taut (Halscion addition?). I did not cont LWDHQ after adding Halscion. Today I rec'd increasing her TMGTY to 1/2 tsp BID from 1/4 tsp BID, cont'd Halscion and WMW as is at 1/2 tsp BID. Her pulses didn't really change much with AQ either. O is distressed as we had such a solid run of being seizure-free from March - October 2024. Any thoughts? Restart LWDHW?

Thanks so much,
Corinne

by naturevet

March 14, 2025

There should be enough Yin tonification in Halscion to handle things. I would guess the addition of TMGTY and the continuation of the others should tilt things in your favour. She may well be entering another low seizure season given it is now March 2025, so between the TMGTY and the time of year, the owner shouldn't feel too distressed yet.

S

by CorinneC

March 14, 2025

Ok thanks Steve, I'll keep a close eye.
Corinne

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