Homoepathy for Beagle Dog.

Question.
My seven-year-old beagle dog has suffered from epileptic fits for the past five years, and tends to get one about every three months. In the early years my vet prescribed some phenobarbitone but it didn't agree with him and also made him very aggressive.

The vet says unless the fits are becoming more frequent it would be best to leave our beagle dog off medication. I was wondering if there are any homoeopathic remedies that I could give him that might either prevent the fits or make them less severe?

Answer.
Homoeopathy, herbal medicine or acupuncture can be very effective in treating dogs with epilepsy.
It is usually a matter of managing the condition rather than curing it. Dogs with epilepsy can benefit from a holistic approach whether or not they are also on pharmaceutical medicines. The treatment must be individualized and I cannot advise which specific treatment your dog would require without a holistic consultation. You usually need to feed your dog a more natural diet that includes certain amino acids and antioxidants and is free from artificial colouring and preservatives.

There are some licensed veterinary herbal medicines for sale over the counter that can suit beagle dogs suffering from epilepsy, such as Denes nerve tablets and Dorwest scullcap & valerian tablets but your dog may need more individualized treatment. There is a potential for herb/drug interactions too, so be very careful using herbal medicines if your dog is also receiving any pharmaceutical drugs. It is very important to seek veterinary attention if your dog's seizures become more frequent or severe.

Rarely, a beagle dog with epilepsy can go into status epilepticus in which the dog has one fit after the other.
This is an emergency situation as some dogs do not recover and die while in this state.

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