Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine can help seizures

Published: Saturday, July 4, 2009 1:36 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

There are many causes for seizures in animals. The overall incidence of seizures in dogs is estimated at 1 percent, but goes up to 15-20 percent in purebred dogs.

Should your pet have seizures, a minimum evaluation should include a thorough physical exam, blood work, urinalysis, heart worm test, fecal exam and possibly chest and abdominal radiographs, and abdominal ultrasound.

Sometimes CT or MRI Scans, cerebrospinal fluid tap and analysis, or EEG are performed. Many times after a thorough evaluation, no abnormalities are found and this is called idiopathic epilepsy. In idiopathic epilepsy treatment options include Western drugs, Western herbal medicine, acupuncture, and traditional Chinese herbs.

In most cases, idiopathic seizures can be controlled with Western medications, the most common being phenobarbital. Anti-convulsant medication must be given every day, can cause drowsiness and can have side effects on the liver.

Seizures in Chinese medicine are considered internal wind. There are several causes and the treatment is slightly different. Acupuncture points and Chinese herbs are selected according to the pattern that is diagnosed. This case illustrates the use of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine on a case of idiopathic epilepsy.

Story continues below

A 5-year-old female spayed beagle was presented for seizures of unknown cause. She had been having seizures for almost a year.

Initially the seizures were every two months then started being monthly. The last seizure had been almost a month before presentation. The owner and veterinarian were discussing the possibility of putting the dog on seizure medication.

The owner was concerned about having to give phenobarbital on a daily basis and its side effects. The dog was diagnosed with internal wind due to liver and kidney yin deficiency, excess heat and stagnation.

The dog was treated with acupuncture and scheduled for an appointment a week later. The dog had a mild seizure the night before the appointment. A second acupuncture treatment was done, Chinese herbs were prescribed and food therapy was initiated. Several follow-up appointments were scheduled with increasing time in between. The dog has had no seizures for eight months and is doing extremely well.

The dog is still on a Chinese herbal formula but at a reduced dose and if doses are missed there are no adverse problems. Not all seizure problems can resolve as quickly as this case did but traditional Chinese veterinary medicine gives owners another alternative.

In all cases, a thorough Western evaluation is recommended. Chinese practices can be safely used in conjunction with Western medications and can be used in any species.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Health care bill clears Senate hurdle

What a total and utter waste. They should all be sent home without their...

Has no chance for the UNLV job. Please - Dick, get your story straight.

USA is on the path to bankruptcy!

Utes crush Aztecs 38-7

Looks like we ended weak. Probably means we will start out weak next week.

Please go back to the Catholics or a Bar. We don't want you.

I am proud of my Leaders for voting against this EVER increasing devestation...

Glenn Beck to enter politics?

Why would Beck want to take the pay cut?

Glenn Beck can go take a long walk off a short pier.

Utes crush Aztecs 38-7

I was at the game and heard a lot of vulgar comments by our MUSS against...

Utes crush Aztecs 38-7

We've done okay against the lower tier teams, but I am really worried about...

Advertisements