Seizure care · medication guide
Seizure Medication For Dogs & Cats
By Dr. Carrie Jurney, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) · Updated November 2026
The seizure medications veterinary neurologists prescribe most often for dogs and cats are phenobarbital, levetiracetam (Keppra), and zonisamide, with potassium bromide as another option for dogs. This guide compares them, then covers when medication starts, schedules and missed doses, rescue medications, and monitoring.
Common Seizure Medications at a Glance
These are the seizure medications our neurologists prescribe most often. Each one links to a full guide. Your veterinarian will choose based on your pet’s seizure pattern, overall health, and what fits your household.
| Medication | Used in | Doses a day | With food? | Blood level checks | Most common side effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phenobarbital | Dogs and cats | Twice | Either | Yes, 2 weeks after a change, then every 6 months | Sleepy or wobbly at first; more thirst and appetite |
| Levetiracetam (Keppra) | Dogs and cats | Three times* | Either* | Usually not needed | Generally well tolerated |
| Zonisamide | Dogs and cats | Twice | Either | No; yearly blood work and urinalysis | Sleepiness, less appetite, vomiting |
| Potassium Bromide | Dogs only | Once | Always | Yes, 3 months after a change, then twice a year | Sleepy or wobbly at first; more appetite and thirst |
| Topiramate (Topamax) | Dogs and cats | Twice | Either | No; blood work and urinalysis every 6 months | Stomach upset, drowsiness |
| Pregabalin | Dogs and cats | 2 to 3 times | Either | No; blood work every 6 months | Sleepy or wobbly; more hunger; vomiting in cats |
*Extended-release Keppra (XR/ER) is usually given twice a day with food and swallowed whole. Your veterinarian sets the dose and schedule; always follow the prescription label.
Phenobarbital
DOGS + CATS
How it’s given
Usually twice a day, with or without food.
Monitoring
Blood levels two weeks after starting or changing a dose, then every six months. General blood work and liver tests once a year.
Common side effects
Sleepiness or wobbliness for about the first two weeks, plus increased thirst, urination, and appetite.
Good to know
It’s a controlled substance, so visits at least twice a year are required.
Levetiracetam (Keppra)
DOGS + CATSHow it’s given
Regular Keppra is usually given three times a day, every eight hours. Extended-release (XR/ER) tablets are usually given twice a day with food and must be swallowed whole, so they are most often used in larger dogs.
Monitoring
In most cases, no routine blood level monitoring is needed.
Common side effects
Generally well tolerated. Sleepiness, wobbliness, or mild stomach upset can occur.
Good to know
Often used alongside other seizure medications, or short-term when seizures come in clusters.
Zonisamide
DOGS + CATSHow it’s given
Usually twice a day, with or without food.
Monitoring
Blood work and a urinalysis once a year.
Common side effects
Sleepiness or unsteadiness, decreased appetite, or vomiting. It can also change urine pH, which may contribute to urinary stones.
Potassium Bromide
DOGS ONLY
How it’s given
Once a day, always with food.
Monitoring
Blood levels three months after starting or changing a dose, then twice a year.
Common side effects
Sleepiness or wobbliness for about the first two weeks, increased appetite, thirst, and urination, and sometimes vomiting.
Good to know
Keep your dog’s diet consistent. Changes in salt intake change how the body handles this medication. Cats should not take potassium bromide because it can cause a severe asthma-like breathing problem.
Topiramate (Topamax)
DOGS + CATSHow it’s given
Usually twice a day, with or without food. It is less commonly used than the medications above.
Monitoring
Blood work and a urinalysis every six months.
Common side effects
Stomach upset, drowsiness, unsteadiness, and irritability or nervousness.
Pregabalin
DOGS + CATSHow it’s given
Usually two to three times a day, with or without food.
Monitoring
There is no blood level test for pregabalin. General blood work every six months.
Common side effects
Sleepiness or wobbliness, increased hunger, and higher liver enzymes on blood work. Cats may also vomit.
Good to know
It’s also used for pain and anxiety, and it’s a controlled substance.
Other Seizure Medications
Less commonly, your veterinarian may discuss felbamate or imepitoin. Imepitoin is not currently available in the United States.
Rescue medications for clusters are covered below and in our guides to oral benzodiazepines and nasal or rectal benzodiazepines.
Not Sure Which Seizure Medication Is Right for Your Pet?
Our board-certified neurology team can review your pet’s seizure history and help build the right plan. No referral needed.
Starting Seizure Medication
Not all pets who have seizures need seizure medication right away, and your pet’s veterinary team bases that decision on seizure frequency and severity. When seizures become too frequent or too severe, medication often becomes part of the plan.
When medication usually starts
For many pets, after more than one seizure in a six-month period
Especially when seizures are particularly severe. The older standard was more than one seizure every six weeks, but newer recommendations are more than one seizure in six months.
At your appointment, your veterinary team will talk through the options and recommend an approach that fits your pet.
Goals Of Seizure Medication
Seizure medications do not cure seizures. Instead, they work to reduce how often seizures happen and how severe they are.
If you stop seizure medication without addressing the underlying cause, seizures usually return. For many neurologic diseases, once a pet starts seizure medication, long-term treatment becomes part of the plan.
Many pets still have occasional seizures even with medication. The goal is to find the dose that gives your pet the best seizure control while keeping side effects as low as possible. Every medication has potential side effects, and the right balance looks different from pet to pet. If you notice anything that worries you, tell your pet’s veterinary team so adjustments can be made safely.
Over time, your pet’s disease process and metabolism may change, so your veterinary team may adjust the dose or choose a different medication. Keeping a seizure log and staying on track with regular checkups helps your team make those decisions with confidence.
Think of it like this: if a seizure is like a cough, seizure medication is like a cough drop.
It doesn’t remove the reason the symptom is happening, but it helps make that symptom less frequent and less severe.
Medication Schedules, Refills, & Missed Doses
Once your pet starts seizure medication, steady, consistent dosing matters. Set up a routine you can realistically keep, and plan refills early.
Refill a week early
Keep a refill available at least one week before your current supply runs out.
Set a reminder
Phone or watch reminders often help.
At the same time, life happens. If you’re delayed and a dose is about an hour late, don’t panic. There’s also no need to wake up in the middle of the night for a dose.
For pets taking medication three times a day, Remedy recommends:
First thing in the morning
In the afternoon
Before bed
Aim for a consistent schedule, but an hour earlier or later isn’t usually critical.
What To Do If You Miss A Dose
Just remembered?
Give it now
If you miss a dose, give it as soon as you remember.
Close to the next dose?
Skip it and stay on schedule
If it’s close to the next scheduled dose time on the prescription label, skip the missed dose and give the next dose at the regular scheduled time.
If the medication schedule feels overwhelming, tell your pet’s veterinary team. There may be options that feel more manageable for your household.
Do not stop seizure medication or change the dose without guidance from your veterinarian. Seizure medications are safe when used correctly, but unsupervised changes may lead to harmful side effects. The Remedy team is here to support you through these decisions.
Rescue Medications For Severe Seizures
For pets with particularly severe seizures, your veterinarian may prescribe a rescue medication. These medications are used during or immediately after a seizure, and your veterinarian may have you continue them for a few days. The goal is to stop an ongoing seizure and reduce the chance of more seizures soon after.
Ketamine is also used as a rescue medication. In some cases, your veterinarian may temporarily increase the dose of the maintenance seizure medications listed above as rescue therapy.
When A Seizure Is An Emergency
A seizure that lasts five minutes or longer, or 2 or more seizures within 24 hours, is an emergency. Go to the closest emergency hospital right away, unless your veterinarian has given you a different plan. Our guide to seizures in dogs and cats covers what to do during and after a seizure.
Seizure Management As A Partnership With Your Veterinary Team
Managing your pet’s epilepsy works best as a partnership with your veterinary team.
One Primary Veterinarian
Different veterinarians sometimes approach treatment a little differently, so having one primary veterinarian oversee seizure care helps keep the plan consistent and clear.
After An Emergency, A Recheck
If an emergency comes up, follow the emergency veterinarian’s recommendations in the moment. Once things are stable, schedule a recheck with the veterinarian overseeing your pet’s seizure management to review what happened and adjust the plan if needed.
Check Before Any Change
Before you make any medication changes, check in with your veterinary team. Seizure medications are generally safe when used as directed, but changing doses or stopping medication without guidance may lead to serious complications. Remedy is here to guide you through each step.
Learn more about canine epilepsy and feline epilepsy. Many families also ask about diet and seizures and CBD and seizures.
Regular Check-Ups & Lab Work for Seizure Management
Regular checkups are an important part of seizure management. These visits often include blood work to monitor medication levels and watch for potential side effects. Many pets need blood tests 2–3 times per year, depending on the medication plan your pet’s veterinary team recommends.
How to Help Your Appointment Go Smoothly
Bring your pet’s seizure log. This helps your veterinarian track the frequency and severity of their seizures. Need one? Download our free seizure log.
Bring all medications. This includes the bottles so your vet can verify the dosing is correct.
Ask about fasting and medication timing. Some tests require fasting for up to eight hours beforehand, and some depend on when your pet last took their medication.
Confirm appointment duration. Ask how long the visit will take, as some tests may take several hours.
Veterinary Seizure Medication FAQs
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Not all pets who have seizures need medication right away. For many pets, treatment starts after more than one seizure in a six-month period, especially when seizures are particularly severe. The older standard was more than one seizure every six weeks, but newer recommendations are more than one seizure in six months.
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No. Seizure medications don’t cure seizures. The goal is to reduce seizure frequency and severity.
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Medication may not eliminate seizures entirely. The goal is to find a dose that supports the best possible seizure control while limiting side effects.
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For many neurologic diseases, once a pet starts seizure medication, long-term treatment becomes part of the plan. If you stop medication without resolving the underlying cause, seizures are likely to return.
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Consistent dosing on a regular schedule matters. Aim for a steady routine and plan refills early, with a refill available at least one week before your current supply runs out.
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If you’re delayed and a dose is about an hour late, don’t panic. An hour earlier or later usually isn’t critical.
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Tell your pet’s veterinary team. There may be options that feel more manageable.
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Rescue medications are prescribed for particularly severe seizures. They’re given during or immediately after a seizure and may continue for a few days. The goal is to stop an ongoing seizure or reduce the likelihood of more seizures soon after.
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Managing epilepsy works best as a collaboration with your veterinary team. Different veterinarians may approach treatment a little differently, so one primary veterinarian helps keep the plan consistent and clear.
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Checkups often include blood work to monitor medication levels and watch for potential side effects. Blood tests are often recommended two or three times per year, depending on your pet’s medication plan.
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Bringing the medication bottles to your pet’s appointment allows your veterinarian to confirm the current dose and schedule.
Ready to talk about your pet’s care?
You don’t need a referral to schedule with Remedy. Tell us what’s going on with your pet, and our team will help you choose the right appointment and explain what to expect, including costs, before anything is done.
New to seizures, or still looking for answers? Start with our guide to seizures in dogs and cats.
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