Regulate your epileptic dog's appetite
It is very common for dogs with epilepsy to have an increased appetite. It is a common side effect of antiepileptic treatments. The risk is therefore that the animal eats more and gains weight. His diet must therefore make it possible to satiate him well so that he does not suffer too much from hunger while limiting his energy intake in order to control his weight.
To feed an epileptic dog, two solutions are then possible. It can be given either:
- very good quality croquettes rich in protein and fiber and with a moderate fat content, such as "light" croquettes intended for overweight animals or croquettes specially formulated for epileptic dogs.If these croquettes are not satisfying enough for the dog, it is possible to increase the volume of its ration by adding cooked vegetables such as green beans or zucchini rich in satietogenic fibers.
- a "classic" or starch-free household diet (see "A ketogenic diet" ). Homemade food has the merit of being more satiating than croquettes because, at equal calories, it is richer in water than croquettes and therefore occupies a larger volume in the stomach than croquettes. To cook well for your epileptic dog, two precautions are nevertheless necessary:
- Always remember to have the ration assessed by a veterinarian and to accompany it with an essential mineral-vitamin supplement your dog's nutritional balance. Among other elements, this supplement will provide him with the vitamin B1 necessary for the proper functioning of his brain.
- Do not s alt the foods that go into your dog's menu.Indeed, a diet that is too s alty can promote faster elimination of antiepileptic drugs and lead to the reappearance of seizures under the effect of a decrease in the blood concentration of antiepileptic molecules.
Satiety: the phytoboost
There are appetite-regulating plants that can naturally cut off your epileptic dog's hunger. They can be used in a synergy with other plants intended to limit the administration of conventional antiepileptic drugs and/or to support the proper functioning of the liver, often heavily stressed by the heaviness of antiepileptic treatments. Always seek the advice of a specialized veterinarian before administering plants to your epileptic animal, in order to avoid any interaction with its medication.
To reduce your dog's feeling of hunger, also consider dividing his daily ration into 2 to 3 meals a day.
A ketogenic diet
The ketogenic diet has been used for therapeutic purposes for more than 90 years in treatment-resistant epileptic humans. Although no scientific study exists on this subject, it could also be of interest in dogs.
Its principle is based on the reduction of carbohydrates (sugars present in starches) in favor of the relative increase of lipids (fats) and proteins in the dog's diet. In doing so, his body will produce ketone bodies that will serve as fuel for brain cells, instead of glucose. Usually, glucose - resulting from the digestion and assimilation of carbohydrates - is used by brain cells as a source of energy. But, in dogs with epilepsy, the brain cells fail to use glucose properly and so it is better that they receive ketone bodies to be better nourished.
In dogs, the preferred lipids that have been shown to reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures are medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). They are found in particular in coconut oil or in purified form in kibbles for epileptic dogs.
The kibbles - including the kibbles specially formulated for epileptic dogs - all contain sources of carbohydrates without exception.
To control your dog's carbohydrate intake as closely as possible, it is obviously best to opt for a household ration without starch (and therefore low in carbohydrates), with a moderate fat content but with a contribution of coconut oil rich in MCT with anti-convulsant properties. Be careful, however, not to give too much coconut oil to your dog because, distributed in too large quantities, it can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. Ask your veterinarian for advice on adjusting the amounts of coconut oil to your dog's weight.
And omega 3 in all this?
Of course, the ration of the epileptic animal must also provide him with enough long-chain fatty acids from the omega-3 family such as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (doco- hexaenoic). Although these fatty acids have not demonstrated anticonvulsant effects, they are particularly beneficial fats for the brain and essential for the nutritional balance of the dog. It is possible to bring it to your dog in the form of fish oil capsules or by providing fatty fish such as sardines, mackerel or herring. Some good quality industrial foods already contain enough.
Stable diet, stable weight
The No. 1 enemy of epileptic dogs is change, including in their diet! Indeed, any change in the dog's diet as well as in its weight can have an impact on the way in which its body metabolizes its epileptic drugs and therefore on its effectiveness.
More than any other dog, the epileptic animal therefore needs a stable diet, both in its composition and in its frequency of distribution. Always take the precaution of having any change in diet validated by a veterinarian and accompanying it with a very gradual dietary transition.