i have an 9 year old saint bernard dog who has just had her second fit tonight and one three days ago been to vet waiting for blood  test to come back but not sure if i can afford what it will cost to keep her on pills not insured stoped work and could`nt keep paying for it would it be unkind to let her go?

Have you contacted the pdsa as they maybe able to help?

Epilpsy isn't an expensive condition to control, and barely affects their life.  Unlike humans they are not at risk to themselves when fitting.  Unless the fits are not controlled with medication it is unfair to put the dog to sleep.
The drugs for a medium sized breed costs just £12 every 6 weeks.  And after a few weeks/months on the medication blood tests are only needed twice a year, and as said above you can find help for the cost of this.
Also, if your dog had 2 fits in 3 days it should be on tablets already, your vet shouldn't be waiting as it is dangerous for your dog for fits to cluster.

The reasons for the fits also need to be established. 

A common reason (according to Dr Jean Dodds) for fits is undiagnosed under-active thyroid, also once diagnosed not difficult to treat with daily syloxine tablets.

Is this what the blood tests are trying to determine?

In general the blood tests are to identify any toxins that could have caused the fit.  Be that a poison accidently eaten or malfunctioning internal organs, I would imagine in a 9 yr old St Bernard the liver would be their first concern.

thanxs for the reply but she would need £35 to £45 per mouth as well as £80 to£90 for blood test every month and i don`t live in an area that as one

my dog had two fits last night and one on tuesday when i took her to the vets and because she weighs 11 stone it will cost me £35 to £40 per month as well as the £80 to £90 for the blood test a month but thanxs for reply anyway

he thinks it is the liver but did the test anyway thanxs for replying

thaxs for replying and yes that is what he thinks it is the liver

Wow some people get ripped off.  At my vets it is £12 for tablets that last 6 weeks, and just under £50 for a blood test.  But this is for epilpsy, not liver faliure/problems.  I would keep your eyes open for a different vet!
Hope they find out what your bitch needs and get her sorted.  Always worth ringing the animal charities, its what they are there for.

Epilepsy can be expensive to treat depending on the combination of drugs used to gain control of the fits + cost of blood tests etc. It can take quite some time to get the drug level correct if the dog has Idiopathic epilepsy and is fitting frequently. There are some very difficult cases.

Fits starting at 9 years old don't sound like idiopathic epilepsy - the usual onset age is between 1 and 3 years.

Agree with LJS. Contact the PDSA. If you are on benefits they will help you.  We have looked after a dog when owners were away and were given her certificate just in case she needed treatment, which she did!   Only you know your dog and can judge her quality of life and when you honestly feel that it would be the kindest thing to let her go,then you have to make that decision,knowing that you have done the best for her. I do hope all goes well for you and your dog. Freja.

Even if you are not on benefits your vet can refer you onto them if they feel that you could not afford continuous visits to them.

Unless it is the thyroid, epilepsy can NOT be detected by any sort of blood test so I'd say that was a waste of money. And blood test every month? That would really be a rip off! The blood tests you do for a dog on epilepsy medication is to check the liver function (usually done every SIX months), as the medication can in the long run damage the liver. With my epileptic dog I have opted to NOT have the blood tests done, as I see no point whatsoever. So what if we find out his liver is failing -there's still nothing that can be done about it. He's been on tablets for several years now and is doing extremely well indeed. As long as he's doing well, we're keeping things as they are, if he starts to become unwell, then we think again.

My response was to Henrieke regarding charges for drugs and blood tests. I wasn't suggesting this particular dog had Idiopathic epilepsy, I should have stated this more clearly.  We have a dog in the family who is severely epilepctic (Idiopathic) and is proving very difficult to control, and yes, the onset age is usually as you have stated.

Blood tests are not only to check for liver damage. Blood tests are also done to check serum levels of Epiphen and KBR.  My own dog who is severely epileptic has serum levels done every few months and in January his blood levels for KBr were toxic and  consequently he had to have his dose of Kbr reduced. If there are liver problems your vet can give liver protection drugs. Another reason for doing serum levels is that if your dog is still seizing frequently the blood levels will indicate whether you can inrease the dose of epiphen.