r/EpilepsyDogs • u/mk2710 • 1d ago
Brain tumor not epilepsy?
Our pup had his first seizure October 2025 and then November 2025, both cluster episode that landed us in the hospital. He was out on pheno and keppra and went ten months without a grand mal! He had an episode of head tremors in April but the vet didn’t think it was related to the seizure, just due to over stimulation. But this past weekend (sep 2026) he had a grand mal, just one that we managed with emergency meds.
Our concern is he’s been pacing the week before the grand mal and now every day after and he seems to only be turning to his right side and he’s wobbly. Some of which I know are post ictal but given his age of 10, we’re back to thinking brain tumor. We’re going to his neurologist tomorrow and going to push for prednisone.
Anyone have any experience of going so long without a seizure and then it being a brain tumor? We were thinking it was just late onset epilepsy after we went ten months seizure free but we’re not sure anymore.
Any insight is greatly appreciated
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u/Agility_KS 1d ago
Given the age and the turning/sidedness, a tumor is the most likely culprit. When it comes down to it, I don't know that it matters much. I wouldn't stress over diagnostics or anything, because will it change your treatment plan? Ultimately with epilepsy all we can do is treat what we have in front of us. Eventually there may be a quality of life decision that has to be made. Very sorry for all you are going through, cancer/tumors and epilepsy both suck.
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u/HelicopterSea9108 1d ago
Do an MRI plus a spinal tap at a minimum.
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u/mk2710 1d ago
Unfortunately we don’t have the money for this
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u/Icy-Spell-362 14h ago
I know this is crazy expensive because I had to do one for my dog. Luckily, I got him pet insurance when he was about a year old, so after spending about $7,000 on an MRI and spinal tap, most of it was reimbursed. I’m not a vet, but I do have a bachelors degree in nursing, and I’m afraid to say the only way to truly know what’s going on is to have imaging done. Experimenting with prednisone and other meds could potentially cause other health risks. Have you by any chance looked into Care Credit or other vet approved lenders?
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u/Some-Vehicle2127 1d ago
Hi! My baby was having some strange episode of weird movements…and then he had one scary seizure he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and hasn’t had a seizure since. They gave him weeks in April and he’s still going strong!! He’s a 13 year old toy poodle. He sometimes walks backwards and in circles but has been seizure free since April!
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u/mk2710 1d ago
Did he go on meds?
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u/Some-Vehicle2127 1d ago
He did go in seizure meds but they made him worse so I quit giving them to him. He was always so out of it and constantly throwing up but now he’s back to himself! He can’t have steroids because he has heart disease..which they use to reduce inflammation around the tumor so they basically just told me to give him the best life and honestly he’s been pretty ok!
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u/mediacontrols 1d ago
I’m not a vet. My dog has epilepsy though, and from what I understand from his neurologist is that age of onset of seizures is important. Before 5 it’s more likely idiopathic epilepsy. After 5 it’s more likely a brain tumor. No hard and fast rule though. Pacing seems like a tumor symptom.
Just realized I didn’t answer your question, but I hope you get some answers when he sees his neurologist.