By: Laura Vasquez, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)
For years, veterinarians have avoided acepromazine in animals prone to seizures over fear of a lowered seizure threshold. A 2006 retrospective study looked at 36 dogs with seizure histories sedated with acepromazine. None of the dogs experienced seizures up to 16 hours post administration. A 2007 retrospective study looked at 31 dogs presenting for seizures. 22/31 dogs had a previous history of seizures and 15 were on anti-seizure medications. 27/31 dogs did not experience seizures after being administered acepromazine as part of hospitalization. A 2012 retrospective study reviewed acepromazine as a pre-medication in dogs undergoing myelography. One of the risk factors of myelography is seizures due to chemical irritation. In the study, there was no significant increase in seizure activity noted in dogs pre-medicated with acepromazine/methadone versus methadone alone. These studies support the use of acepromazine safely in dogs prone to seizure activity.