If a veterinarian has prescribed Keppra for your canine companion, you’ll want to get acquainted with everything there is to know about this medication. You may wonder, “Can I give Keppra early to my dog?”
One of the challenges of giving your dog a prescription medication is administering it at the right frequency. Providing medicine at the correct times is usually crucial, too. Missing or giving a dose at the wrong time can negatively affect your dog.
Keep reading to learn more about how to properly give Keppra to your dog, plus a lot more!
Before you scroll down to a more in-depth answer to this guide, “Can I Give Keppra Early to My Dog,” you can check out these other dog-related guides from our team at We Love Doodles: Can I Give My Dog Milk for Constipation?
What is Keppra?
Keppra is an anticonvulsant and anti-seizure prescription medication. Its active ingredient is levetiracetam. The word Keppra is a brand name for a company that produces levetiracetam.
Like any other medication, you should only give Keppra to your dog if your veterinarian has prescribed it. Only veterinary professionals know if Keppra is the right choice for a specific animal. Talk to your veterinarian if you think your dog might benefit from taking Keppra.
How Does Keppra Help Your Dog?
If your dog has epilepsy and your vet prescribes Keppra, this medication will help your dog in several ways. Primarily, Keppra helps to prevent seizures.
In many cases, your veterinarian will prescribe Keppra together with other medications. For example, some vets will give dogs Potassium Bromide or Phenobarbital along with the Keppra. This means you’ll have to remember to give your dog more than one medication and balance each one’s schedule and dosage accordingly.
What Dogs Need Keppra?
A dog should take Keppra only if a veterinarian has prescribed it. As this is an anti-seizure medication, vets prescribe it to dogs prone to seizures. If your dog has epilepsy, your veterinarian may prescribe Keppra.
Epilepsy in Dogs
While only 0.75% of dogs develop epilepsy, it’s still the most prevalent neurological disorder in canines. Brain abnormalities lead to epilepsy and its characteristic seizures.
When it comes to the cause of epilepsy, there are several possibilities. Most commonly, epilepsy in your dog may be genetic; in other words, your dog inherited epilepsy.
Another possible cause of canine epilepsy has to do with structural issues in the brain. Not every case of epilepsy, however, is connected to this kind of structural problem. Experts aren’t yet sure what causes epilepsy in dogs that don’t have brain problems.
What are Seizures in Canines?
Canine seizures are events where a dog displays involuntary physical movement or behavior ranging from mild to alarming or dangerous. Falling to the ground, shaking, or twitching are common in seizures.
Epilepsy causes seizures, but there are other potential causes, too:
- Epilepsy
- Brain cancer
- Stroke
- Problems with electrolytes
- Poison consumption
- Encephalitis
- Liver disease
- Head injury
- Blood pressure problems
- Anemia
- Kidney disease
Seizure Symptoms in Dogs
To recognize a seizure in your dog, you must first understand the symptoms. The following is a list of seizure symptoms in canines:
- Twitching and jerking
- Foaming at the mouth
- Chomping
- Drooling
- Tongue chewing
- Falling over
- Stiffening
- Losing consciousness
- Confusion
- Losing control of the bladder or bowels
If your dog has a seizure, you must take care of them during and after the episode. Your pet will be confused and may not even be able to see or walk straight for some time.
How to Help A Dog Having A Seizure
If your dog has a seizure, be there for him and ensure he doesn’t injure himself. In addition, make sure that your pet isn’t near hard or sharp objects. He also shouldn’t be near or on stairs. There must be nothing in your pet’s mouth during a seizure.
Stay with your dog and watch him for the whole seizure. Don’t leave him alone until he has fully recovered; talk to him and provide comfort as he does. Even if it takes hours for your dog to return to normal, you must remain nearby.
Call your veterinarian after or during the seizure and ask for guidance. You must also make an appointment if you don’t know what caused the spasm and need a diagnosis. You should keep track of all your dog’s seizures.
Does Keppra Have To Be Taken at the Same Time Every Day?
You should follow the instructions provided by your veterinarian when giving your dog Keppra.
Most veterinarians recommend giving Keppra to your dog at the same time daily. Administering Keppra at the correct intervals is crucial to ensure maximum effectiveness. If you ever forget to give your dog a dose, give him his regular dosage at the next scheduled time.
If you have any concerns about your dog’s medication, talk to your vet as soon as possible.
Does Keppra Have To Be Given Every Eight Hours in Dogs?
Your veterinarian will most likely instruct you to give your dog Keppra every eight hours, which works out to administering the drug three times daily.
In many cases, veterinarians prescribe the kind of Keppra that must be given every eight hours. However, some vets will prescribe the extended-release version, which must be given every 12 hours.
Should Keppra Be Taken Every 12 Hours?
Humans taking levetiracetam usually do so every 12 hours (twice daily). However, this is different from the dosage schedule for dogs. For canines, veterinarians generally say to give your pet Keppra every eight hours.
Sometimes a veterinarian may prescribe extended-release Keppra, which you can give to your dog twice daily (once every 12 hours).
In general, vets avoid giving animals the extended-release version of Keppra because you cannot crush it before giving it to your dog, making it more difficult to administer.
What If I Miss Giving My Dog Levetiracetam?
If you forget a levetiracetam dose for your dog, wait until the next scheduled dosage and give him his regular dose of medication then.
Don’t make the mistake of trying to double-up on doses, as it is dangerous to your pet.
Can I Give Keppra Early to My Dog?
You should stick to the set medication schedule for giving your dog Keppra. Avoid giving him his medication early.
If you give Keppra early to your dog, he may get too much of the medication in his system. Instead, you should wait and give your dog the medicine at the correct time.
Can I Give Keppra an Hour Early to My Dog?
You should avoid giving Keppra to your dog an hour early. It’s better to give your pet the medicine at the correct time.
Tips for Giving Your Dog Medication On Time
While the ideal is to give your dog his medications at the correct times, we know that life gets busy. That is why you’ve got to organize yourself and make a plan.
One of the hardest parts of giving your dog medication is getting him to take it in the first place!
Tips for Giving Your Dog Medication
Your veterinarian should advise you on the best way to administer medication to your pet. But there are certainly some general tips that you can remember during the process.
Put it in a Treat
Hiding medication in a treat is a classic way of giving medication to pets. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to put the Keppra in a treat, and your dog will eat it without noticing. In some cases, dogs can taste the pill and spit it out.
If your dog takes the extended-release version of Keppra, you won’t be able to crush or split the pills before your dog eats them, meaning they’re likelier to taste it and spit it out.
Use Butter or Margarine
Some people put a bit of butter or margarine on the pill to help it slide down their pet’s throat more easily. Make sure to consult your veterinarian before using this method.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Give your dog lots of praise and pets after he swallows his first pill. That will make him more amenable to the medication you give him in the future.
Do a Throat Rub
After you give your dog any pill, you should rub his throat. That will help the dose go down properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Keppra does have some side effects for dogs. Potential side effects of this medication in canines are diarrhea, behavioral changes, fatigue, and vomiting.
As elderly canines are more likely to have health conditions than young ones, they’re more common in these pets. There are many root causes of seizures in old dogs, including liver or kidney disease, diabetes, and tumors.
The four different types of seizures are:
1. Generalized seizure (or “grand mal” seizure)
2. Focal seizure
3. Psychomotor seizure
4. Idiopathic seizure
Can I Give Keppra Early to My Dog? The Answer is No
As we’ve learned, you shouldn’t give Keppra early to your dog. Instead, stick to the medication schedule that your veterinarian gives you.
If you’ve accidentally given Keppra to your dog at the wrong time, talk to your veterinarian to ensure there won’t be a problem.
If you find this guide, “Can I Give Keppra Early to My Dog,” helpful, you can check out these other dog-related questions answered by our team at We Love Doodles:
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Dr. Sabrina Kong graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 2016 and has been working at a small animal clinic in Northern California since then. She grew up in the Bay Area and got her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through a program at the University of Tennessee.
When she isn’t in the clinic taking care of her four-legged patients, she enjoys traveling and trying new foods with her friends and her three-legged dog, Apollo. She adopted Apollo from her clinic when he was a puppy with numerous health issues. Dr. Kong truly cares about taking care of animals.