My son was at his vets the other day to pick uo the medication for Shelley,his GSD ,who has epilepsy.The vet told him that there are changes coming in soon affecting the use of phenobarbitone. Apparantly there has to be a blood test done every month,and the vet said this applies to dogs too. My son is really worried as it costs £35 for a blood test,and between that and the medication,it will cost them a fortune.They are struggling as it is,as their older dog is coming up for 12 years of age and is on all sorts of medication for incontinence,arthritis etc.Has anyone else heard of this change in the use of this drug?

Hi Jean,

Won't the change in no charge for prescriptions from vets help a little with some of the meds and off-set a portion of expense?

As to phenobarb, I know years ago when the EU something or other directive came in about no licensing of human meds for animals pheno and pot.brom were marked for withdrawal in favour of Mycoline (sp) but if a vet believed an individual animal benefited more from the previous drugs it could still be given.

Not much help on the blood test but I think I'd check with a few vet practices and find out what the general opinion was.  It's certainly worth shopping around if your son has two dogs which between them are causing high vet fees.

Sorry not to be of more help.  Good luck, Teri :)

Hi there,

I too have a dog with epilepsy who is controlled with Phenobarbitone. My vet has said nothing to me about a change in law affecting frequency of blood testing for levels. How could they possibly justify us going from 6 monthly testing to monthly testing :O It would cost an absolute fortune! I have to call my vet in the next few days and will ask him about this then

Lets hope your sons vet has this wrong!

I work at a vets, yet i haven't heard anything about this? Could it be something to do with the drugs companyy requesting more data? Not only would it cost a small fortune for the owners, but it would be loads more work for the vets and i doubt if they have time for all the paperwork!