Natural Canine Seizure Remedies

Dogs with epilepsy generally respond well to natural canine seizure remedies, such as dietary supplements, herbal remedies, and flower essences.

There are quite a few causes of seizures in dogs, from poisoning to brain tumors, and it is important to get a proper diagnosis to find out and treat the underlying cause.

To control seizures, anticonvulsant drugs (such as phenobarbital) are often prescribed. However, they are not without side effects. In particular, long-term use of phenobarbital is known to cause liver damage in dogs.

If your dog is being treated for seizures, and you want to use some natural canine seizure remedies to complement the treatment, this page is for you! There are indeed quite a few seizure remedies that can be used safely and effectively to control seizures in dogs, including herbs, vitamins and amino acids, and flower essences.

Please note, however, that natural remedies cannot be used to replace conventional medications, especially without consultation with a holistic vet. Natural canine seizure remedies, if used appropriately, can complement conventional drugs, so that the dog patient can have a reduced dosage of the drugs.

Managing Canine Seizures By Diet and Supplements

Diet

There are a lot of anecdotal reports from holistic vets and dog parents that feeding epileptic dogs a natural, high-quality, protein-based, grain-free, home-cooked diet can make a difference.

If you are unable to feed your dog a homemade diet, pay attention to food items that may be problematic to epileptic dogs. For example, many dog foods now use natural preservatives such as rosemary and sage extracts - these are known to be able to trigger seizures in some dogs.

You may also want to feed your dog smaller meals 3-4 times a day to keep his blood sugar stable, since low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is one cause of canine seizures, especially in small breed dogs.

Vitamins and Supplements

In addition to a natural diet, daily doses of vitamins and supplements that are beneficial to the nervous system are good canine seizure remedies that should be fed to an epileptic dog.

Vitamin B1: Vitamin B1 is essential for helping brain function.

Fatty Acids: Fatty acids (fish oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, or borage oil) can reduce inflammation and degeneration of brain tissue.
Dimethyglycine (DMG): DMG is a compound that is produced naturally in both humans and animals. It forms an intricate part of animal and human metabolism. It also has antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fugal properties. In animals, DMG also has anti-seizure effects.
Here is a natural product of DMG: Vetri-Science Vetri-DMG Liquid
Amino acids: The amino acids L-taurine and L-tyrosine can increase the resistance to seizures. The amino acid L-tryptohpan can soothe the brain and is therefore beneficial for dogs with seizures.

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Herbal Canine Seizure Remedies

Dogs prone to seizures are usually emotionally sensitive. Tension, stress, sudden stimulation or over-excitement can trigger an episode of seizure in these dogs. Herbs that have calming effects can be used to help dogs prone to seizures.

Here are some useful herbs for canine seizures:

Skullcap: Skullcap is a nervine and is effective in moderating overactive synaptic activities in those parts of the brain where seizure episodes are triggered.
Passion flower: Passion flower is an herb that is frequently being used to soothe the nerves and support the nervous system.
Valerian: Valerian has stress-relieving effects and is often used to reduce overexcitability, tension and anxiety. It soothes the nerves and relaxes the patient.

Other herbs that have a calming effect and are beneficial to the nervous system include St.-John's Wort, Oat, and Chamomile.

An Effective Herbal Product for Canine Seizure
Doc Ackerman's Epilepsy and Seizure Formula

This natural herbal formula contains useful ingredients (such as valerian, St.-John's wort, and chamomile) that are effective for treating canine seizures and epilepsy.

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Flower Essences for Canine Seizures

Flower essences work very well on dogs and cats at an emotional level as these remedies were developed to deal with emotional disturbances. They help balance the emotional attitudes of your pet, and can in turn heal the body for physical problems such as seizures.

One flower essence blend that is specifically indicated for dog seizures is Seizures Flower Essences.

Another flower essence blend that is very beneficial to epileptic dogs is Bach Flower Essences Rescue Remedy. This remedy can dramatically calm an anxious, scared, or excited dog. Immediately before or during an epileptic episode, try rubbing a few drops of Bach's Rescue Remedy on the dog's ears. This will sometimes moderate the seizure and calm the dog.