I'm brand new at this. My shepherd mix started seizing about 6 months after I got him as a rescue, at 5 years old. We're coming up on 2 years this March. Some people suggested I take him back to the rescue, but I could never do that.
The first seizure seemed like a one off, but Riley has ramped up to clusters about every 4 to 6 weeks since November 2017 to present.
We started extended release levetiracetam, 1.5x, 500mg pills, twice a day and are up to 4 pills twice a day (4000mg a day - I have to hide the pills in velveeta). I have learned NOT to crush the pills and how to sleep with my ears opened on those cluster days. I found an app from the Royal Veterinary College in London, which helps to keep track of seizures (though I can think of a few improvements, it still helps. I WISH the compiled report would be more comprehensive and easy to manipulate).
We have not plateaued yet.
I have tried CBD oil, up to 300mgs twice a day. But while I have heard great stories for everyone else, it does not seem to work for us. I thought for a time that maybe it was working, but I really think that it was wishful thinking. I would like to see a more standardized way to give CBD and I wish that the Feds would back off this research. I suspect that CBD can be VERY helpful for some. I just think that Riley needs very LARGE doses. I do still give it to him as after care hoping it helps. He does not like to taste it so I have to give it in food.
Riley has very violent seizures. Lots of foaming saliva and thrashing and slamming into the floor. He looses control of his bladder and staggers around drunkenly as he is recovering. He becomes clingy, often very hungry, and active - circling and checking everything in the house. The most he's had in a cluster is about 8 (I'm never sure if I miss any) over 3 days.
But this last time he had a moment where he did NOT know me as he was coming out of the seizure. He was scared of me - which is a first! Within 10 mins he'd crashed to the floor again for another full seizure. And then he responded "normally". We had 4 more over 3 days... not the worst, but not great (obviously).
After this last cluster I have begun to think that the moon is a trigger... He had seizures over New Year's and then just last Sunday through Tuesday. I keep meaning to look up the dates I have in my record to see if there were any other full moons - I am sure that other people notice the littlest things and think they've found a trigger just like this. But every time I think I have an emotional handle on things I fall back down the rabbit hole again... *sigh*
I have managed to get video of some of the seizures, though never the starts - I've only ever seen 2 begin and one of those I didn't have my glasses on. He seems to start yawning and then grimacing, almost as if there is something in the back of this throat, which shows his teeth, but not in a menacing way. Then he crashes and slams into the floor or planter, or chair or whatever... He's usually asleep when they start too! Though not all the time.