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Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions owners ask me most often. If you cannot find what you are looking for, send me a WhatsApp message on 0745 145 033.
Consultations and booking
How do I book an appointment?
Fill in the appointment form, or send a WhatsApp message to 0745 145 033 or an e-mail to helga@demed.ro. For non-urgent cases, please write rather than call. You will get a call the day before the consultation to confirm.
What are the opening hours and where is the practice?
The practice is open Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 18:00, and closed on Saturday and Sunday. The address is Piața 1848 nr. 2, Cluj-Napoca.
What happens during the neurological examination?
It takes about 20 minutes, is painless, needs no sedation and is done with you present. The vet watches your pet’s behaviour, alertness, gait and posture, then checks the postural reactions, reflexes and cranial nerves. The examination shows where in the nervous system the problem lies; finding the cause often needs further tests.
What should I bring to the consultation?
Bring the existing medical records, previous test results, any MRI or CT reports, videos of the episodes and a complete list of the medicines your pet is taking, with the dose and time of each. If you keep a seizure diary, bring that too.
Can I send the history before the consultation?
Yes, on WhatsApp at 0745 145 033 or by e-mail to helga@demed.ro: the seizure history, videos and MRI or CT reports, so the information can be read before the visit.
How much does a consultation cost?
An epilepsy consultation costs 200 lei, a neurological consultation 380 lei, a neurological follow-up 150 lei and an emergency consultation outside opening hours 500 lei. The full list is on the prices page.
Can I reschedule the consultation?
Yes. If your plans change, let the practice know in good time by WhatsApp or e-mail and agree on another date. Rescheduling is not a problem, as long as you give notice in advance.
In which languages are consultations held?
Consultations can be held in Romanian, Hungarian, German and English. Say which language you prefer when you book.
What do I do in an emergency?
For emergencies, also outside opening hours, send a WhatsApp message to 0745 145 033 with a few lines about what is happening and, if you can, a short video; if it cannot wait, call 0745 145 033. The emergency consultation, outside opening hours, costs 500 lei. If your pet is having a seizure right now that has lasted more than 5 minutes, or repeated seizures without recovering in between, do not wait: go straight to the nearest emergency vet clinic that is open now. Non-urgent cases are booked through the form, by WhatsApp or by e-mail.
Which laboratory tests are available?
Haematology costs 150 lei, blood biochemistry 175 lei, and collection and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, the fluid around the brain and spinal cord) 450 lei. Other tests cost between 150 and 300 lei. The vet will tell you at the consultation which of them are needed.
EEG
What is an EEG?
An electroencephalogram (EEG) records the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex. It can pick up abnormal discharges between seizures, which support a diagnosis of epilepsy and help to identify the type of seizures. More on the veterinary EEG page.
Does my pet need sedation for an EEG?
Often, yes: a short sedation, because the animal has to stay still during the recording. Anaesthesia is a separate procedure from the EEG and is charged separately. The electrodes are attached to the scalp with paste or placed under the skin, and along with the brain activity the heart rhythm, breathing and muscle activity are recorded.
How do I prepare my pet for an EEG?
The last meal should be at least 12 hours before the appointment, because the EEG is usually done under sedation. For regular medicines, ask when you book how to give them on the day.
How much does an EEG cost?
An EEG under sedation costs 450 lei. Anaesthesia is a separate procedure, often needed for an EEG, and is charged on top.
Does a normal EEG mean my pet does not have epilepsy?
No. Epilepsy is diagnosed mainly on clinical grounds, and seizures may be infrequent, so the recording may not pick up any changes. A normal EEG does not rule out epilepsy, and the result is interpreted together with the history, the videos and the other tests.
Epilepsy
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a brain disease that causes epileptic seizures to happen repeatedly. The diagnosis requires at least two unprovoked seizures at least 24 hours apart. When no cause is found in the brain or elsewhere in the body, it is called idiopathic epilepsy. More in the guide to epilepsy in dogs.
Can epilepsy in dogs be cured?
In most cases it cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Treatment is usually lifelong, and its aim is to make seizures less frequent, shorter and milder. In studies, a seizure-free period of 1-3 years on treatment was reported in 15-24% of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.
What should I do during a seizure?
Stay calm, move away anything your pet could hit and time the seizure. Do not put your hand or any object in the animal’s mouth. Film it if you can. If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or another one follows before the animal has recovered, go straight to the nearest emergency vet clinic that is open now. The detailed steps are in the article what to do during a seizure.
Apart from epilepsy, what else can cause seizures?
Seizures can also be caused by low blood sugar, low calcium, poisoning, infectious diseases, liver or kidney disease, brain tumours and other brain diseases. That is why blood tests and, if needed, imaging are done before a diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy. See causes of seizures and diagnosis.
When should treatment start?
The European IVETF guidelines recommend long-term treatment if the animal has 2 or more seizures within 6 months, cluster seizures or a prolonged seizure, very severe signs after a seizure, or seizures that are becoming more frequent or more severe. The decision is made at the consultation, together with the vet.
Can cats have epilepsy too?
Yes. Epilepsy affects both dogs and cats, of any breed and age. In cats, seizures can look different, so filming the episode is just as useful. Read about epilepsy in cats.
Treatment and everyday life
I forgot to give a dose. What should I do?
Give the missed dose as soon as you remember. Stopping treatment suddenly, or missing doses now and then, is one of the most common triggers of seizures. If you only remember close to the time of the next dose, call your vet before giving two doses close together.
My pet vomited after the medicine. What should I do?
If your pet vomited less than an hour after taking it, give the medicine again and see your vet to find out why it vomited. Repeated vomiting can reduce how much of the medicine is absorbed and needs to be discussed.
Can I stop the treatment if there are no more seizures?
Never stop antiepileptic treatment suddenly on your own, because stopping abruptly can trigger cluster seizures or a prolonged seizure. Any reduction is discussed with your vet, usually only after a long seizure-free period, and is done gradually.
What side effects do antiepileptic medicines have?
The most common is increased appetite, and in the first few weeks there may be sleepiness, unsteady walking, thirst and more frequent urination. A balanced diet and regular exercise help to keep weight in check. Tell your vet if the effects do not ease or if new signs appear, such as loss of appetite, vomiting or yellowing of the gums and other mucous membranes.
Why are blood tests needed during treatment?
Blood tests show whether the medicine is at the right level in the blood and whether the liver and other organs are coping with it. How often they are done depends on the medicine chosen and is decided by your vet. More about the treatment routine in the article living with an epileptic dog.
Is epilepsy a reason for euthanasia?
Epilepsy in itself is not a reason for euthanasia; in most cases it needs lifelong treatment without seriously affecting quality of life. If you are considering this decision, make it with full information and together with your vet, who can help you assess your pet’s quality of life and the treatment options that remain.
Patients from outside Cluj
I live in another town. How do I start?
Send the videos of the episodes and any test results in advance, by WhatsApp to 0745 145 033 or by e-mail to helga@demed.ro, then book the consultation through the form. That way the information is read before the visit and tests already done are not repeated. More on the page for patients from outside Cluj.
Can a diagnosis be made from videos, without a consultation?
No. Videos and test results sent in advance help to prepare the consultation, but they do not replace examining the animal. A diagnosis needs a clinical and neurological examination and, where necessary, further tests.
Book a consultation
For non-urgent cases, fill in the appointment request or send me a WhatsApp message or an e-mail.
Non-urgent cases
Fill in the form or send me a WhatsApp message or an e-mail. For non-urgent cases, please write rather than call: you will be contacted during opening hours to arrange the day and time.
helga@demed.roEmergencies, also outside opening hours
Write to me on WhatsApp first, with a few lines about what is happening and, if you can, a short video. If it cannot wait, call. The emergency consultation, outside opening hours, costs 500 lei.
- PracticeDEMED, Piața 1848 nr. 2, Cluj-Napoca
- Opening hoursMonday to Friday, 10:00-18:00. Emergencies also outside opening hours.
- LanguagesRomanian, Hungarian, German, English