Can potassium bromide cause seizures in dogs?
Discuss with your veterinarian any changes in your dog’s diet. Bromide toxicity can occur in animals that are changed to a low-salt diet. Increased salt intake will decrease bromide levels, placing the animal at risk for a seizure.
Can phenobarbital be harmful to dogs?
Phenobarbital is a relatively safe and well-tolerated option for dogs with seizures, but your dog will need to have regular blood tests done while taking this medication.
What are the long-term side effects of phenobarbital in dogs?
Common short-term side effects of phenobarbital are mild sedation and some incoordination. Longer term side effects may be increased appetite, and, occasionally, increased thirst and urination. After 7-10 days, these effects wear off and your pet should appear normal again.
Is potassium bromide better than phenobarbital?
When compared to phenobarbital, potassium bromide seems to be similarly effective and has fewer undesirable side effects. Potassium bromide may be used alone (as “monotherapy”) or can be combined with other anti-medications. Potassium bromide works by competing with chloride ions for access to brain tissues.
Is potassium bromide harmful to dogs?
As with any medication, potassium bromide does have the potential to cause side effects in dogs. The side effects that may be seen with potassium bromide include: Increased appetite. Increased thirst.
What does potassium bromide do for dogs?
Bromides (brand names: K-BroVet®, Libromide® also known as KBr) are a group of anticonvulsants used to treat seizures in dogs, either as a primary or adjunctive therapy. The two most commonly used bromides are potassium bromide and sodium bromide. Its use in dogs to treat seizures is ‘off label’ or ‘extra label’.
How long can a dog take phenobarbital?
Phenobarbital can cause liver damage (such as scarring in the liver) after prolonged use (over three months). In rare cases, it can even cause liver failure, which is why frequent blood tests are necessary for your vet to monitor the liver function.
Does phenobarbital cause liver damage in dogs?
Long-term administration of phenobarbital has been reported to cause hepatic injury in dogs. Phenobarbital induces hepatic enzymes, and it may be difficult to distinguish the effect of enzyme induction on serum liver enzyme activities from actual hepatic damage.
Is potassium bromide safe for dogs?
Do not use bromides in pets that are allergic to it. It should be used cautiously in older pets, pets with kidney disease, pregnant or lactating pets, or in those that have other diseases; use lower doses in these cases. It should be used with extreme caution or not at all in cats as it can cause serious side effects.
Can my dog take Keppra and phenobarbital?
Keppra for dogs is often used in combination with Phenobarbital or Potassium Bromide to treat seizures or epilepsy that is not responsive to these drugs, or for animals that have an adverse reaction to these drugs.
How long does potassium bromide stay in a dog’s system?
Potassium bromide is eliminated by the kidneys [5,6]. KBr monitoring in dogs is difficult because KBr has a long elimination half life of 25 to 46 days [7,8].
Is phenobarbital or bromide better for dogs with epilepsy?
Both phenobarbital and bromide were reasonable first-choice AEDs for dogs, but phenobarbital was more effective and better tolerated during the first 6 months of treatment. Comparison of phenobarbital with bromide as a first-choice antiepileptic drug for treatment of epilepsy in dogs J Am Vet Med Assoc.
Do you have to give a dog a loading dose of phenobarbital?
For dogs already on phenobarbital, a loading dose is probably not necessary and can cause significant sedation. A loading dose is indicated if bromide is being started alone in a dog with frequent or severe seizures, or if phenobarbital or primidone must be discontinued rapidly in the face of hepatotoxicity.
How long does phenobarbital stay in a dog’s system?
This is because the elimination half-life of phenobarbital in most dogs is much greater than 12 hours, and serum drug levels are sustained well throughout a 12-hour period. Phenobarbital does induce its metabolism over time, and induction may increase for at least three months, depending on dose.
What is the best add-on antiepileptic drug for dogs with epilepsy?
Phenobarbital or potassium bromide as an add-on antiepileptic drug for the management of canine idiopathic epilepsy refractory to imepitoin Vet J. 2017 Feb;220:51-54.doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.01.002.