Interesting info from Cornell Vet School

So as many know, we are dealing with seizures in both Meadow (epilepsy) and Faith (brain tumors). It has been challenging. One thing I noted on the Cornell Vet site was this:

Adjunctive therapies
Stimulating your dog’s vagal nerve may help lessen the duration and severity of a seizure. If you can safely do this, gently push on your dog’s eyes, with closed lids, for 10-60 seconds. This can be repeated every five minutes. If you recognize your dog’s early (pre-ictal) signs, you may even be able to stave off a seizure with this maneuver.

Well, we've tried this with Faith, and it seems to work! It has stopped a seizure when we've caught it immediately. We just clamp a hand over her head/eyes and hold pressure. She doesn't seem to mind it. If we're a little late getting to her, it still seems to lessen the severity and her recovery is quicker. I am so glad I did some research and found this.

Unfortunately most of Meadow's are in the middle of the night, so by the time we get to her she's in a full blown seizure and it's hard to hold the pressure on her eyes.

Faith is holding her own. 3 months after her diagnosis she is only having seizures once or twice a month. The steroid has made her feel young again so she is VERY active, playful, her arthritis pain seems gone. She's so happy, God love her.

Meadow had to start another medication since she started having more frequent seizures. So she is on generic Keppra plus Zonisimide. She has not had another seizure since she started this regimen.

Wanted to pass this info on in case anyone can use it or pass it on.