FDA approves drug to treat dogs with idiopathic epilepsy

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug to control seizures in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, a type of seizure disorder without a known cause.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug to control seizures in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, a type of seizure disorder without a known cause.  The drug, KBroVet, is only available by prescription from a veterinarian. 

KBroVet is produced by Pegasus Laboratories, Inc. of Pensacola, Florida, and the FDA says it is the first drug conditionally approved under the FDA’s expanded conditional approval authority for certain new animal drugs not intended for a minor use or minor species. 

What we know:

Dogs taking the medication need to be monitored for any adverse reactions, and to avoid bromide intoxication, which occurs when high levels of bromide overwhelm the nervous system. 

The FDA also says it is important to avoid abrupt diet changes in dogs receiving potassium bromide because it could either compromise seizure control or raise safety concerns. Signs of severe bromide intoxication can include depression, behavioral changes, poor coordination, weakness or partial loss of voluntary movement in hind limbs, dilated pupils, stupor and coma.

The backstory:

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) National Library of Medicine, canine idiopathic epilepsy is a common neurological disease affecting both purebred and crossbred dogs with their first seizure occurring between 1 and 5 years of age.