Potassium Bromide Epilepsy Management in a Chinstrap Penguin

摘要

A 27-year old male chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy following several seizure-like episodes of circling, diagnostic assessment, and necropsy. Potassium bromide (KBr) had been initiated, and steady stateplasma concentrations were achieved by 8 months within the range recommended for domestic mammals (1-3 mg/ml). Due to breakthrough seizures following an additional 8 months of KBr treatment, phenobarbital was added and aided seizure control for 30 days.However, due to increasing quality of life concerns, euthanasia was elected. Gross necropsy and histopathology identified no cause of seizures. Despite the outcome of this case, KBr control of seizure activity was found useful.