5 Questions to Ask Your Vet About Epilepsy
Hearing that your dog has epilepsy can stop you in your tracks. You leave the vet’s office with your heart pounding, your head spinning, and a list of new words you’ve never heard before. I remember that day with Ruby like it was yesterday. I had a million questions but didn’t even know where to start.
Over the years, I’ve learned that asking the right questions early on can make all the difference for both your peace of mind and your dog’s care. So today, I’m sharing five questions every pet parent should ask their vet when navigating a new epilepsy diagnosis.
What Type of Seizures Is My Dog Having?
Not all seizures look the same. Some dogs experience full-body, generalized seizures, while others have focal seizures that affect only part of the body or specific behaviors—like twitching, snapping, or “spacing out.”
Understanding what kind your dog is having helps your vet create the right treatment plan and helps you know what to expect during future episodes.
Do We Need to Start Medication Right Away—or Can We Wait?
This is one of the most common questions I would imagine pet parents would ask. Sometimes vets start medication after a single seizure, while in other cases, they may wait until a pattern develops. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, so ask why your vet recommends their approach. Understanding the reasoning behind that decision will help you feel confident about your dog’s care plan.
What Medication Are We Starting With, and What Are the Side Effects?
Each anti-seizure medication works a little differently, and every dog responds in their own way. Some medications may cause drowsiness or increased thirst, while others affect appetite or energy levels—especially when first starting out.
Knowing what’s normal (and what’s not) helps you stay calm and better prepared to support your dog through the adjustment period.
How Often Will My Dog Need Checkups and Bloodwork?
Ongoing monitoring is a key part of epilepsy management. Bloodwork helps your vet see how your dog’s body is processing the medication and ensures levels stay in the safe, effective range.
Ask your vet how often they’ll need to recheck bloodwork. This helps you plan ahead for both time and budget. Staying on schedule keeps your dog’s treatment safe and effective long term.
What Should I Do During and After a Seizure?
This is the question that weighs on every dog parent’s heart. What do I do when it actually happens?
Ask your vet to walk you through exactly what they recommend. How to keep your dog safe during a seizure, what to record, what to do once it’s over, and when it's an emergency. Having a plan written down can ease a lot of that initial fear and help you act quickly and calmly when your dog needs you most.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
Those first few weeks after diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but you can do this. With the right information and a supportive plan in place, caring for a dog with epilepsy becomes manageable—and even routine—with time.
If you want more help learning how to build that plan, track seizures, and feel confident talking with your vet, my course My Dog Was Diagnosed With Epilepsy – Now What? walks you through it step by step. You’ll learn everything I wish I had known when Ruby was first diagnosed—so you don’t have to face it alone.