Monthly Archives: May 2013

Ask the NorthStar VETS Vet: Transitioning from phenobarbital to Keppra for seizures


Luckily, Keppra (a.k.a. leveteriacetam) is a drug that does not require a loading period to reach therapeutic levels like some other anti-seizure drugs such as phenobarbital and potassium bromide. Consequently, therapeutic benefits can be seen immediately upon dosing the drug and there is generally no need to “transition” your dog onto this drug. Continue reading

Posted in Pets, Veterinary Medicine | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ask the NorthStar VETS Vet: Living with an anxious cat and long-term use of Prozac (fluoxetine)


There are many strategies that can be employed to try to manage these problems and what is ultimately effective will vary from pet to pet and be dependent upon a variety of factors (i.e. presence of underlying medical conditions, underlying cause of the anxiety, the patient’s unique environment, the presence of other household pets, etc.). Continue reading

Posted in Pets, Pets, Veterinary Medicine | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ask the NorthStar VETS Vet: Avoiding back problems in Dachshunds


“Back problems” in Dachshunds can be more accurately described as “spinal problems.” While the most common site for a dachshund to develop a spinal problem is in the back or thoracolumbar spine, they can also suffer from problems in the neck, or cervical spine. To clarify further, when we talk about spinal problems in Dachshunds, we are almost always talking about issues associated with intervertebral disc disease. This is a condition in which an intervertebral disc is protruding to some degree, or completely prolapsing, causing some level of compression of the spinal cord, and resulting in pain and/or neurologic dysfunction. Dachshunds are frequently associated with this disease and are likely more susceptible to it than any other breed. Continue reading

Posted in Pets | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment