Question Details
Atypical Idiopathic Epilepsy In A Dog
by LJH - November 18, 2025    View Case Report
Hi Steve, I'm seeing a very sweet 3 yr F(S) Border Collie. Had UTI's as a pup. As adult UTI after vaccine. At 5 months first episode where reluctant to walk, ataxic, falling over, loss bladder control, anxious, no loss consciousness but spacey/ fixed stare, difficulty eating/drinking, no tonic/clonic contractions, very low energy
At 9 months after 3 episodes rDVM found snap 4D neg, U/A CBC, Chem all normal , referred to Vet College Dx'd atypical idiopathic epilepsy/ absence seizures. Owner declined MRI and CFS tap.
Owner thought episodes brought on after exertion/over tired. Started agility last year, notes other dogs go forever, this one does activity then "poops out". Most episodes spring and fall, occasional in summer. Initially occurred overnight < 3 , since then occur in morning<9 or in evening. Occasional drool/vomit at beginning of episode, may wake up from sleep, be ataxic and lose bladder control. Takes 6-12 hr before back to normal
By late Aug/24 lost pigment nasal planum, nose pink, and progressed to pigment loss of hair at corners of eyes and lower jaw, rDVM Dx'd vitiligo. Dog is slight build/musculature, appetite a bit picky ( better now since started raw diet), stool normal, thirst and urination normal, no Hx ear/anal gland/ other skin issues. Is sl Heat avoiding
Tongue sl pale pink, moist, sl lavender tinge centrally . Pulse mod strength to sl weak, a bit deep, sl wiry/toned. Improves with GB pts, Ton BL-40, Ton BL-23. Notable Dips at BL-20, BL-23. I saw Shao Yang issue +/- wind with BL def/stasis, general Qi def, KI and sl SP Qi def (maybe KI Jing def with early age onset). Introduced TMGTY, XCHT and added a bit of YGJ.
Did very well thru summer and patches of pigment coming back on nose. Late Sept, mild episode, no vomit, no loss bladder control, back to normal quickly. Late Oct on wet/windy evening episode wobbly/ spacey/ fixed staring, very low energy. I saw her next morning first time I've seen her close to episode and found her pulse Slow, normal rhythm. Tx'd GB-30, BL-19, BL-23, KI-3, BL-17, BL-20. Energy
and pulse improved, dog panted a bit afterward per owner.
Current episode similar very low energy and slow pulse. Slightly slower response back to normal but noted sl swollen tongue edge. Last week we had added MCT oil and increased YGJ. Presyncope? Qi/ BL def causing stasis or is the weather/MCT etc showing up a bit of Damp. Will see rDVM for repeat blood work, try to catch an ECG strip during episode. Overall has improved quite a bit but obviously not got it spot on. Any thoughts and suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Llewanda
Replies
by naturevet
November 26, 2025
Hi Llewanda,

There is the suggestion of Damp here, given the time when seizures are observed in the morning, the history of UTIs as a pup (which frequently respond to Dang Gui Shao Yao San - a Damp drainer) and potentially the worsening following the introduction of MCTs and increased YGJ dose. In that case, Dang Gui Shao Yao San may help this dog out.

Another possibility is that Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang may help, if the dog is Damp and if you have the sense the dog has Qi deficiency. It doesn't quite fit with a Shao Yang/Yin deficiency/Blood deficiency picture, though.

I guess try the DGSYS and if things still seem unstable, consider an anti-Dampness/Qi deficiency approach, using BXBZTMT.

Hopefully, that helps you out!

Steve
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