DOGS · Real veterinary cases
7 year old husky with grand mal seizures on keppra and seizures stopped but was monthly. Blood tests as normal. We know he has an abnormal liver enzyme level from a genetic test. He is skinny.
A pet owner asked our search engine this exact question. We pulled 18 matching peer-reviewed veterinary case reports from our library of published veterinary papers. Here's what they say — in plain English, with citations.
Plain-English synthesis
## What these cases have in common Many of the cases involve dogs experiencing seizures related to low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), often due to insulinomas, which are tumors in the pancreas that produce excessive insulin. These conditions can lead to serious neurological symptoms, including seizures, and are often complicated by other health issues such as liver abnormalities. ## Treatments that worked - **Surgery**: In several cases (3 of 5), surgical removal of insulinomas led to significant improvements in seizure control and blood sugar levels. - **Dietary management**: In 2 of 3 cases, changes to the dog's diet, including high-fiber foods, helped stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce symptoms. - **Medications**: Diazoxide was effective in 1 of 1 case, helping to manage hypoglycemia by inhibiting insulin secretion. ## Outcomes The treatments varied in effectiveness, with surgical interventions showing the most consistent success in controlling seizures and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Dietary changes also contributed positively in some cases, but results were less uniform. ## Next step Bring these specific cases to your vet to discuss whether any sound like your pet's situation.
Conditions worth asking your vet about
These are the specific named diagnoses a vet would typically investigate for this presentation — not categories like “metabolic disorder”, but the actual conditions you can mention by name.
Hepatic encephalopathy (portosystemic shunt)
A liver shunt routes blood around the liver, letting toxins like ammonia reach the brain — causing seizures and weight loss. The abnormal liver enzyme and seizures in this husky suggest a possible liver shunt. A bile-acid test can help screen for this condition.
Liver disease (chronic hepatitis)
Chronic hepatitis can cause liver dysfunction, leading to seizures and weight loss due to metabolic disturbances. The abnormal liver enzyme level in this dog suggests liver involvement. Liver biopsy and imaging can help confirm this diagnosis.
Hypoglycemia (insulinoma)
Insulinoma is a pancreatic tumor that causes excessive insulin production, leading to low blood sugar and seizures. Weight loss and seizures in this dog could be due to hypoglycemia. Blood glucose testing during a seizure episode can help diagnose this.
Idiopathic epilepsy
Idiopathic epilepsy is a common cause of seizures in dogs without an identifiable underlying cause. The control of seizures with Keppra suggests this as a possibility, although the abnormal liver enzyme level suggests further investigation is needed.
Brain tumor (glioma)
Brain tumors like gliomas can cause seizures and weight loss in older dogs. The age and seizure history of this husky warrant consideration of a brain tumor. MRI imaging is typically used to diagnose this condition.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism can cause weight loss and seizures due to metabolic imbalances. Although less common, the weight loss and seizure history in this dog make it a consideration. Thyroid function tests can help diagnose this condition.
Easily confused with: Addison's disease · Cushing's syndrome · Pancreatitis · Lead toxicity
Real peer-reviewed cases
Each link below opens the full PetCaseFinder write-up of a published case report. Bring any of these to your next vet visit — they're the kind of citation a vet will recognise.
#1 match
Hypoglycemia and seizures associated with canine primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma.Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc · 2021 · United States
A 10-year-old male Labrador Retriever had trouble standing and experienced severe seizures. Blood tests showed he had very low blood sugar, some liver enzyme changes, and a low white blood cell count. Despite attempts to treat the seizures with sugar and medications, he continued to have problems and was ultimately euthanized due to his poor quality of life. An autopsy revealed firm masses in his liver, and further examination identified these as a rare type of cancer called primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma. Unfortunately, the treatment did not work, and the dog’s condition was too severe to recover.
Read the full case →#2 match
Insulinoma in dogs: a review.Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association · 2012 · United States
Insulinomas are rare tumors in dogs that develop in the pancreas and cause the body to produce too much insulin, which can lead to low blood sugar levels. This can result in various symptoms, including weakness, confusion, and even seizures. Diagnosing and treating insulinomas can be difficult, and the outcome can vary greatly depending on the treatment options chosen. This review looks at the latest information on how to diagnose, treat, and understand the prognosis for dogs with insulinomas.
Read the full case →#3 match
Insulinoma in a dog with pre-existing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association · 2007 · Canada
A 10-year-old golden retriever, who had been living with insulin-dependent diabetes for three years, started having repeated low blood sugar episodes and seizures. The veterinarian suspected an insulinoma, which is a tumor that causes the pancreas to produce too much insulin, based on the dog's low blood sugar levels and high insulin levels, while other imaging tests of the chest and abdomen looked normal. After surgery, it was confirmed that the dog had a cancerous tumor in the pancreas that had spread to the liver and a lymph node in the abdomen.
Read the full case →#4 match
Osseous metaplasia within a canine insulinomaVeterinary Clinical Pathology · 2014 · United States
An 11-year-old male mixed-breed dog was brought in because he was very tired, had trouble walking, and was experiencing low blood sugar levels. An ultrasound of his abdomen showed two lumps in the pancreas, and tests on one of these lumps suggested it was a type of cancer called insulinoma, which affects hormone-producing cells. Further examination confirmed this diagnosis and also revealed that a significant part of the tumor had turned into bone tissue, which is unusual for this type of cancer. This case is notable because it is the first time such a change has been reported in an insulinoma.
Read the full case →#5 match
Ectopic insulinoma in a dog with insulin-induced hypoglycemia: a case report.Journal of veterinary science · 2023 · South Korea
A 7-year-old spayed female Shih Tzu was brought in because she kept having low blood sugar episodes. Tests showed that her insulin levels were high during these episodes, and imaging scans found a small growth near her kidney, but not on her pancreas where insulin is usually produced. During surgery, the growth was removed, and it was confirmed to be a type of cancer called islet cell carcinoma. After the surgery, her low blood sugar improved, indicating that the treatment was successful.
Read the full case →
Your pet's case is probably already published.
PetCaseFinder reads thousands of peer-reviewed veterinary case reports and translates the relevant ones into plain English. Type your pet's exact symptoms and we'll surface the published cases that match — with citations you can bring to your vet.
Run a personalised search →Frequently asked questions
What does 7 year old husky with grand mal seizures on keppra and seizu… usually mean in dogs?
Published veterinary case reports most often link this presentation to: Hepatic encephalopathy (portosystemic shunt), Liver disease (chronic hepatitis), Hypoglycemia (insulinoma). Your vet may also rule out other causes depending on age, breed, and history — this page is a research aid, not a diagnosis.
How many real cases did PetCaseFinder find?
We surfaced 18 peer-reviewed case reports from our library of published veterinary case reports. The top matches are listed above with full citations.
Is this veterinary advice?
No. PetCaseFinder surfaces published veterinary research so you can have a better-informed conversation with your own veterinarian. Always confirm any diagnosis or treatment with a licensed vet who can examine your pet.