Wolf - Dachshund, 7 years old - Seizures and an adverse reaction to barbiturates. Read his entire adventure here .

It often happens that, when faced with chronic problems that have no definitive resolution, if the clinical situation worsens, the only solution seems to be gentle accompaniment (euthanasia).  

If you don't know all the benefits that Integrated Medicine can offer to your dog or cat, limiting suffering may seem like the right thing to do.

This happened  with my dog, 16 years ago. Despite all the therapies, he continued to have daily seizures, then violent cluster seizures, and then even epileptic status. 

Within a few months, he slipped into a coma, and I chose to gently accompany him on his final journey.

Yupi - A 5-year-old Dachshund with epileptic seizures that began after a physical and emotional trauma. He and his handler were attacked by a Cane Corso. Yupi sustained deep wounds to the back of his thighs and underwent immediate surgery to stop the bleeding. The owner suffered bruises on her hips; she had the dog in her arms when the attacker jumped on her to grab Yupi. Full details here.

It's impossible to know if with all the tools I regularly use today I could have done something more for my Otto. 

For more than 10 years, I have often treated elderly patients in very critical conditions, who seemed truly hopeless. Over 90% of them return to live well and with dignity until their final years.

What are the drug for epilepsy? 

You can find drugs and side effect here

Even when the pathology and symptoms seem petrified and unchangeable, Integrated Medicine can give your beloved dog or cat good life prospects, decisively improving their state of health and energy.  

Especially if your dog or cat has seizures that don't seem to benefit from medication, or if they're very old or have many other ailments, you can give them months or years of renewed well-being!

Search your area for veterinarians specializing in integrative medicine (Western medicine, Chinese medicine, therapeutic nutrition, and other complementary approaches) .

Aron - German Pointer with severe epilepsy and poor response to medications, during Integrated Medicine evaluation

THERE ARE NEW INTEGRATED MEDICINE TREATMENTS

New treatments for older dogs and cats with chronic and progressive pathologies :

NEW TREATMENTS FOR DOGS AND CATS WITH EPILEPSY

DJANGO , weekly cluster seizures, celebrated 1 year seizure free !!!

Discover his story

Caratheristics of Epilepsy disease:

• Epilepsy is a chronic disease. It usually begins with a few minor seizures, occurring at intervals of several months. In some patients with more severe forms, however, it may start with violent cluster seizures right from the onset.

• Epilepsy is an evolutionary pathology that tends to worsen over time. I believe this is one of the most difficult aspects for us, as human companions of an epileptic dog, to accept. Even when therapies are well managed, the underlying brain condition tends to progress, and consequently the seizures worsen, both in frequency and in intensity. Properly managing an integrated therapy—combining medications with supportive measures that enhance their effectiveness—is the most effective way to slow down this progression

• Epilepsy is unpredictable, we never know when a seizure will strike. Some patients experience seizures at regular intervals or under specific, recurring conditions (such as heat, a full moon, strong emotions, or thunderstorms). For others, however, seizures occur randomly and cannot be linked to any systematic trigger. This unpredictability is also very challenging for us as caregivers, precisely because we don’t know when the next seizure will happen; we remain on alert 24 hours a day. As a result, our sleep becomes light, any unusual dog movement puts us on edge, and anxiety often accompanies us throughout the day.

• Living with a dog who has epilepsy does require ongoing commitment (time, financial resources, energy, and sometimes interrupted sleep). But this dedication also strengthens the bond with your dog, making the care you provide even more meaningful.

• About 70% of dogs with epilepsy respond well to medication, while the other 30% show only partial, and sometimes very limited, improvement. For dogs who are lucky enough to achieve good seizure control, it’s important to support the body’s natural detoxification processes, especially the liver, which is heavily affected by long-term barbiturate use. For those less fortunate dogs who don’t respond well to medication alone, complementary therapies such as acupuncture, dietary supplements, and nutrition plans can often make a big difference, not only helping to reduce seizures but also greatly improving overall quality of life.

Anyone who shares their life with a dog or cat facing these challenges knows the frustration of watching their condition worsen and feeling powerless when traditional therapies and medications don’t provide the support they deserve. 

Even as a veterinarian with years of experience, I felt this same frustration with some of my own animals. That’s what drove me to keep studying and searching until I discovered new approaches that could enhance the effectiveness of conventional treatments.

This journey led me to integrative medicine. By combining Western and Eastern medicine with therapeutic nutrition, I finally found the answers I had been seeking for years for my patients. Today, I focus almost entirely on those who need it most: dogs and cats with complex health conditions, fragile balances, and the greatest need for dedicated, compassionate care.

INTEGRATED CARE PATHWAYS combine, in an innovative way, approaches and treatments such as:

• Western Medicine

• Oriental Medicine

• Kinesiology

• Therapeutic nutrition

• Neural Therapy

• Microimmunotherapy

Using an Integrative approach to care helps us better understand the real causes of a pet’s health problems and allows us to offer treatments that are gentle, highly effective, and tailored to each individual. 

Integrative medicine takes a thorough and comprehensive view, one of the most complete approaches available today, and uses techniques that are especially powerful when combined and applied gradually, respectfully, and always in line with the true needs and well-being of our four-legged friends.

Here are some examples of techniques and approaches that can be used alongside traditional medications and, when possible, even reduce the need for them:

• Acupuncture

• Acupressure (Tuinà and Shiatsu)

• Therapeutic nutrition

• Neural Therapy

• Moxibustion

• Kinesiology

• Flower therapy

• Microimmunotherapy