{"id":630547,"date":"2024-11-20T21:21:26","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T02:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630547"},"modified":"2026-03-11T15:05:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:05:51","slug":"zonisamide-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/zonisamide-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"What is zonisamide used for in dogs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zonisamide<\/span><\/a> is an <\/span>antiseizure drug<\/span><\/a> that helps prevent seizures in dogs. Veterinarians typically prescribe it in combination with another anticonvulsant, but may sometimes use it alone. As a maintenance treatment, zonisamide for dogs only prevents seizures when caregivers give the dog two doses every day. Zonisamide never helps during an active seizure. As a daily medicine, though, zonisamide is a safe drug. Side effects are generally mild.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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RELATED: <\/b>Epilepsy resources and coupons<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is zonisamide used for in dogs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Zonisamide<\/span><\/a> is a daily maintenance treatment for dogs with seizure disorders and is meant to reduce the incidence of seizures. Veterinarians can prescribe it as an initial standalone treatment, but they are likely to use it as an add-on drug when other drug therapies are not adequately controlling seizures.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>How to treat seizures in dogs<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Seizure disorders<\/span><\/h3>\n

Seizures result from simultaneous overexcitement and overactivity of brain nerves. They are often short-lived episodes with symptoms ranging from \u201cblanking out\u201d to convulsions. When seizures happen in a dog more than once in six months, veterinarians diagnose the dog with epilepsy, a condition that affects about <\/span>1%<\/span><\/a> of dogs in the U.S.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians use two types of drugs called anticonvulsants to treat epileptic dogs. Some drugs are used to stop active seizures. They are used only when a dog is seizing. Maintenance drugs are taken daily when the dog is not seizing. They help to reduce the incidence of seizures. Veterinarians prescribe maintenance anticonvulsants only after they\u2019ve diagnosed the pet with epilepsy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One-time-only seizures usually don\u2019t warrant maintenance treatment unless the dog has had a severe or long-lasting seizure or has taken a long time to recover. If seizures are spaced farther than six months apart, the veterinarian may start maintenance treatment if seizures are becoming longer, more severe, or require longer recovery periods. Having more than one seizure in a day, called a cluster seizure, is also a reason to start maintenance treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians usually begin maintenance treatment with only one anticonvulsant. The goal is to reduce the incidence of seizures while minimizing side effects. Using just one drug to treat a medical condition is called \u201cmonotherapy.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When starting maintenance anticonvulsants, vets most commonly prescribe either <\/span>phenobarbital<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>potassium bromide<\/span><\/a>, but zonisamide and <\/span>levetiracetam<\/span><\/a> can also be used. Zonisamide is <\/span>more effective with some types of seizures than others<\/span><\/a>, so the type of seizure disorder will determine if zonisamide monotherapy is appropriate. However, veterinarians also consider seizure frequency and severity when choosing the most appropriate monotherapy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians would prefer to treat seizures with just one drug. It\u2019s easier on the dog. If one drug is not enough to control seizures, a veterinarian will add a second anticonvulsant. Adding drugs to a primary drug treatment is called adjunctive drug therapy. The list of possible adjunct anticonvulsants is long, but zonisamide is a preferred add-on treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nearly all antiseizure medications work by slowing nerve signals and making the nervous system less excitable. Zonisamide works slightly differently. While it can make dogs tired or slow-moving, the drug primarily stabilizes nerve activity. Scientists aren\u2019t sure how. They believe zonisamide reduces nerve electrical conductivity by decreasing the movement of electrolytes into the nerve. Electrolytes like sodium and calcium are responsible for the electrical firing of nerves. By doing this, zonisamide prevents large clusters of nerve cells from firing at the same time, which is <\/span>what a seizure is<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zonisamide stays in the body for<\/span> a long time<\/span><\/a>, so once-daily doses are enough. Its half-life is much shorter in dogs, so they need two doses each day for the medicine to work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is zonisamide safe for dogs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

When used as directed for seizure control, zonisamide therapy is safe for dogs. Based on veterinarians\u2019 clinical experience, side effects are minimal. Unfortunately, zonisamide\u2019s side effects and other potential problems have not been well studied in veterinary medicine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of safety concerns, veterinarians never use zonisamide in dogs who:<\/span><\/p>\n