EPILEPSY IN THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG - Page 12

But we DO know at least most of the ancestral dogs implicated.

If that's true that's very helpful. In the lines of my dog, I have no idea where the epilepsy comes from because the breeder is secretive. I did analyze pedigrees from three epileptic dogs from that breeder and found one common ancestor - but when I ran that finding past a doctor he was careful to tell me that I couldn't draw any conclusions from that alone. I would need a lot more information and without that information, there was just no way to tell. So, I'm forced to avoid any and all dogs from all lines represented in those three dogs' pedigrees (luckily there are no really good lines represented, so no big loss). Talk about a "learning experience!"

If there wasn't this devotion to secrecy and defensiveness we'd have healthier dogs of all breeds, that's for sure. 

Thanks for the input regarding CBD oil. My epi-lad has been on it a week now as his Phenobarbital, Libromide and Levetiracetam have really knocked his co-ordination but the Neuro is hoping to wean him off of the Levetiracetam and eventually use it as a cluster buster. I have the full backing of my vet and Neuro regarding the CBD oil and when his bloods are run for his allopathic meds they will check the CBD levels as well. I am also being advised by the vet at Colorado University as they are running tests with CBD oil and epileptic animals. She has told me to contact her if I have any queries.

In my honest opinion his allopathic meds are causing him more frustration as he no longer has the confidence to do stairs and stands at the bottom stamping his front feet on the bottom step. Due to the meds he has become quite needy. That is not due to the fits as as soon as he comes round he wants a game with his brother.

I do worry about this as he is also a DM carrier via his dam.

He still enjoys chasing his brother around the back garden after a ball and on the whole enjoys life. By the way, his brother has the same sire line as my epi-lad's dam line. So slightly worrying situation really.