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Gabapentin can treat and reduce the frequency of seizures and is commonly used as an anticonvulsant to treat or prevent seizures in dogs. Gabapentin may also be used to provide pain relief for dogs, particularly when other medications have proved ineffective or are not well tolerated. There are two clinical reports of gabapentin use as an add-on drug for dogs with refractory epilepsy. Overall, the responder rate of these dogs was between 41% and 55%. Because of its short t ½, gabapentin probably needs to be administered at least every 8 hrs, and possibly every 6 hrs, in order to maintain serum gabapentin concentrations Gabapentin is a commonly prescribed medication for dogs to manage pain, seizures, and anxiety. However, pet parents may wonder: can gabapentin actually cause seizures in dogs? Understanding the effects, risks, and appropriate use of this drug is crucial for your dog’s well-being. Key Takeaways: Quick Answers About Gabapentin and Seizures 📝 Can Gabapentin cause seizures? ⚠️ Rarely, usually The second study evaluated 17 dogs with refractory seizures that were administered gabapentin at a dose of 35 to 50 mg/kg/day divided twice or three times daily, also in conjunction with phenobarbital and potassium bromide (16 dogs) or phenobarbital alone (1 dog).9 This study found no significant decrease in the number of seizures over the Gabapentin has anticonvulsant properties that make it beneficial for adjunctive therapy for dogs with refractory seizures or those whose current medication regime is no longer effective enough. Gabapentin is also an analgesic, meaning it provides relief for chronic pain and neuropathic pain. In a study of 11 dogs, 45% demonstrated improved seizure control with success based upon a 50% reduction in seizure frequency. However, many dogs still exhibited multiple days on which there was cluster seizure activity. Forty-five percent (5/11) of the dogs in this study also demonstrated sedation and ataxia after the addition of this medication. Typically, Gabapentin is used for pain, seizures, or anxiety in dogs. For pain relief, a common dose is around 5-10 mg/kg taken every 8 to 12 hours. If your dog is experiencing seizures, you might need to adjust the dose. Seizure Control: In dogs with epilepsy, gabapentin can help control seizures by stabilizing the electrical activity in the brain, reducing the occurrence and severity of seizures. Refractory Epilepsy. In some cases, KBr and phenobarbital do not provide adequate seizure control, or cause unwanted side effects including sedation and hepatotoxicity. The first step is to get control of seizures by adding a third drug (Table 3). 2, 3, 4 Select a drug with a different spectrum of side effects and a different mechanism of action. For dogs, it’s used to treat seizures, anxiety, and nerve pain. It works by blocking calcium channels in the brain to suppress overly stimulated neurons that cause anxiety, nerve Gabapentin can be prescribed to treat epilepsy in dogs, but it is not usually a go-to drug for dogs who have frequent generalized seizures. Gabapentin may be used to control focal/partial seizures or as an adjunct medication for generalized seizures if the previous medication regimen isn’t working. The recommended starting oral dose of phenobarbital in dogs is 2 to 3 mg/kg q12h. 3,6 A recent study showed that a 3-times-per-day regimen may be beneficial in some dogs. 13 The dose must be tailored to the individual patient based on seizure control, serum blood levels, and side effects. 6 Dogs presenting in status epilepticus or with cluster Gabapentin can be effective in controlling seizures, particularly focal or partial seizures. When other medications fail to manage generalized seizures adequately, gabapentin may be added to the treatment regimen. Conclusion: Addition of gabapentin to phenobarbitone and/or potassium bromide increased the interictal period and shortened the post-seizure recovery in some canine epileptics. In some dogs, seizures were prevented completely, while in others there was an increase in interictal period. For Seizures: Dogs with seizure disorders typically receive Gabapentin every 8 hours to maintain a consistent level of the medication in their system. For Anxiety: If used for situational anxiety (e.g., vet visits, travel), Gabapentin should be given 1-2 hours before the stressful event to allow it to take effect. In dogs with epilepsy, a sudden Gabapentin discontinuation is likely to trigger withdrawal seizures. The vet will help create the best plan for weaning your dog off in terms of decreased dose and administration frequency. The same dose tapering plan should be used for dogs using Gabapentin for pain. Your veterinarian may have prescribed gabapentin for your dog for a variety of reasons, but the overarching theme is to help manage conditions involving pain, seizures, or anxiety. Gabapentin is a versatile medication that works by modulating nerve activity in the brain and spinal cord. In a study of 11 dogs, 45% demonstrated improved seizure control with success based upon a 50% reduction in seizure frequency. However, many dogs still exhibited multiple days on which there was cluster seizure activity. Forty-five percent (5/11) of the dogs in this study also demonstrated sedation and ataxia after the addition of this medication. Seizure Control . Gabapentin is sometimes used as a complementary treatment to other seizure control drugs in dogs with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. Although it may be used alone, it is typically less effective than other anticonvulsants. What Is Gabapentin Used For in Dogs? Gabapentin is a medication frequently prescribed by veterinarians for a variety of conditions in dogs. Primarily, it serves as an anticonvulsant and analgesic, meaning it helps to control seizures and manage pain.
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