Nausea or vomiting. Runny or stuffy nose.
Weight gain
. If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Does levetiracetam cause weight gain in dogs?
Levetiracetam also
does not cause ravenous appetite and weight gain
. It is considered so safe that regular monitoring is not usually necessary.
What are the side effects of Keppra in dogs?
Are there any potential side effects? The most common side effects include
sleepiness and incoordination
in dogs. In cats, a decreased appetite, incoordination, drooling, and sleepiness most commonly occur. Serious side effects include persistent vomiting or sudden changes in behavior.
Does seizure medication cause weight gain in dogs?
Dogs taking AEDs can experience side effects but they will often clear-up over the course of a few weeks. Possible side effects from anti-epileptic drugs may include sleepiness, increased appetite and thirst, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness,
weight gain
, restlessness and other behavioral changes.
Does Keppra increase appetite in dogs?
Side Effects of Keppra
Here are some other side effects to watch out for:
Decrease Appetite
. Drooling. Persistent Vomiting.
How much Keppra should I give my dog?
Medication should never be administered without first consulting your veterinarian. In dogs, Levetiracetam is often started at
5 to 10 mg per pound (10 to 20 mg/kg) three times daily (every 8 hours)
. Higher doses are often needed for emergency treatment of active seizures including doses up to 20 mg/kg.
How well does Keppra control seizures in dogs?
After 2 months of levetiracetam oral treatment (10 mg/kg TID),
8/14 dogs responded significantly to the treatment and seizure frequency was reduced by 50%
. In dogs that remained refractory, the dosage was increased to 20 mg/kg TID for 2 months.
How long does Keppra stay in a dog’s system?
Levetiracetam (Keppra®) is characterized by a half-life of
2 to 4 hrs
in dogs (regular release) and 4 to 7 hrs in cats; variability among animals is likely to be marked. For extended release, the half-live may be 1-2 hrs longer.
Does Keppra cause ataxia in dogs?
The most frequently reported side effects in veterinary medicine are vomiting, sedation, and ataxia
(10).
Does Keppra cause upset stomach in dogs?
Similarly, most dogs appear to tolerate Keppra quite well, with side effects similar to those of their human counterparts: Drowsiness. Behavioral changes.
Gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting or diarrhea
.
What is the best anti seizure medication for dogs?
- Phenobarbital. …
- Potassium Bromide. …
- Levetiracetam (Keppra®) …
- Zonisamide (Zonegran®) …
- Premidone. …
- Per Rectal Diazepam. …
- Modified diet. …
- Supplements.
What is the side effects of levetiracetam?
- Dizziness.
- Headache.
- Irritability.
- Loss of strength and energy.
- Mood and behavior changes.
- Sleepiness.
Can a dog being overweight cause seizures?
Obesity in dogs is the number one preventable disease in pets. Those extra pounds are not just a physical trait, they are subtracting years from the life expectancy of your furry pal.
Obesity can lead to: Seizures
.
What not to feed a dog that has seizures?
Things to Avoid
Chemical preservatives, such as BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin
may increase seizure activity, as well. At least initially, organ meats such as livers and kidneys should be avoided. An article in Whole Dog Journal suggests that the diet of a dog with seizures should be free of gluten.
What are the side effects of seizure medication in dogs?
Are there any potential side effects? Common side effects in dogs include
anxiety, agitation, lethargy, or sedation when therapy is started, and increased thirst, urination, and appetite or elevated liver enzymes on bloodwork
are possible. Side effects such as incoordination may indicate a dose that is too high.
What is the best time of day to take Keppra?
Keppra must be taken two times a day,
once in the morning and once in the evening
, at about the same time each day. Taking Keppra at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take the tablets/oral solution. It does not matter if you take Keppra before or after food.
Does Keppra have to be given every 8 hours for dogs?
Keppra is administered every eight hours (3x/day)
. Serum level is needed with most drugs with the exception of Keppra. The monitoring interval depends upon the half-life of the drug (how fast the drug is eliminated from the blood), the side effects seen and the control of the seizure.
What happens if I give my dog too much levetiracetam?
What should I do if my pet is accidentally given too many doses? Contact your vet immediately if your pet is given an overdose of levetiracetam. Information regarding overdose of this drug is limited in veterinary patients. However,
overdose is known to cause drowsiness in people
.
Is levetiracetam safe for my dog?
Levetiracetam can be used alone or in combination with other seizure control medications.
Levetiracetam can be used in either cats or dogs
. It may be given with or without food.
What are the chances of having a seizure while on Keppra?
Response and effectiveness. Keppra is rapidly and almost completely absorbed after oral administration.
It reduces seizure frequency by about half in 20 to 40%
of people who take it.
Should I put my dog down if he has seizures?
If your dog only experiences one seizure and is otherwise healthy, then you don’t need to consider putting it down
. However, if your dog is having multiple seizures and does not respond well to treatment, then euthanasia may be the best decision for both you and your pet.
Is Keppra for dogs the same as for humans?
At Honeybee Health, one of the most common prescriptions we fill for dogs is levetiracetam (Keppra) which is used to treat seizures that result from epilepsy. But it’s also a well-known anti-seizure medication for adults and children.
Read on for how the medication works in both humans and our furry friends
.
Do dogs with seizures live long?
Approximately 40-60 percent of dogs with epilepsy have one or more episodes of cluster seizures or status epilepsy, and a
mean lifespan of only 8 years
, compared to 11 years for those with epilepsy without episodes status epilepsy.
