Hi Susan,

Thanks for your question and I am sorry that you’re dealing with this.

I’m going to get right to the point here. I always like helping people as much as possible, but there are some cases that I think are best to be referred to a specialist and this would be one of those cases. We have an article about seizures and I recommend you look at it, it is titled “Epilepsy and Seizure In Pets: What You Should Know”. It will give you a good basis of understanding for treating this disease overtime. However, the fact that there are bone plates on the skull leads me to think that there could be a more complicated reason for the seizures. I can’t be certain whether they are playing a role or not, but I really think you should be seeking advice from both a veterinary neurologist and a veterinary surgeon to deal with this problem. A quick search of the literature does not reveal support for the theory that bone plates can cause seizures in dogs. I would recommend that you find a referral center that offers both of those specialties. There are many emergency clinics that run referral services out of them and I’m sure that there would be one not far from you.

As veterinarians, we have to self-regulate ourselves and know when it’s time to seek advice beyond our skill set. I could tell you to just keep using the Phenobarbital to control the seizures, but there are so many different types of anti-epileptic medications on the market, that a neurologist may be able to guide you to one that will work better. A veterinary surgeon would be able to discuss the impact of bone plates on the skull.

Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. I wish you the best.

Dr. Clayton Greenway