Daylight Saving Time ends soon, and for those of us caring for dogs with epilepsy, medication timing matters more than ever. Even a small shift in timing can affect your dog’s blood levels of anti-seizure medications (AEDs), which may increase the risk of breakthrough seizures. Planning ahead helps you avoid unnecessary setbacks.
When We Fall Back (End of Daylight Saving Time)🍂
When the clocks move back one hour, you have two choices:
1️⃣ Shift with the new time
Example: If your dog gets medication at 8:00 AM/PM, you’ll now give it at 7:00 AM/PM (new time).
✅ This keeps the 12-hour interval consistent and often works best for most families. Earlier doses help maintain stable blood levels, making this the easiest and safest option.
2️⃣ Stay on the “old” time
Example: Still giving meds at 8:00 AM/PM (old time) after the time changes.
⚠️ This creates a 13-hour gap between doses instead of 12, which can allow AED levels to dip. If you choose this route, make gradual adjustments (15 minutes earlier each day over several days) leading up to the time change. This helps minimize the risk of breakthrough seizures.
When We Spring Forward (Start of Daylight Saving Time)🌸
When the clocks move forward one hour, the situation is a little easier:
1️⃣ Shift with the clock
Example: 7:00 becomes 8:00.
There’s no gap — it just bumps the schedule forward an hour. Most people can switch right over without issue.
2️⃣ Stay on the “old” time
Gradually adjust forward over several days if you want to maintain your original 12-hour interval.
🐾 How I Handle It With Forrest’s Meds
Forrest’s regular medication schedule during Daylight Saving Time is 8 AM / 8 PM.
- When we fall back, we switch to 7 AM / 7 PM to maintain a true 12-hour schedule.
- When we spring forward, we shift back to 8 AM / 8 PM again.
If you’re planning any schedule adjustments for your dog, it’s wise to check with your neurologist about using pulse doses of Keppra or Diazepam during the transition period to help prevent breakthrough seizures. Forrest’s neurologist has advised using Diazepam this way if we stick to our regular 8:00 schedule instead of falling back to 7 AM / PM like we always have before. I’ve been considering it, but the thought of adjusting his meds makes me nervous, so as of now I’m unsure what I will do.
Why This Matters: Circadian Rhythms and Seizures🌙
Our epi dogs have very fragile circadian rhythms, and many seizures are tied to these natural cycles. When the time changes, their rhythms shift, too.
Forrest’s seizure log shows this clearly:
- During Daylight Saving Time, most of his seizures happen closer to the time we usually wake up.
- When Daylight Saving Time ends, his seizures tend to occur earlier, between 1–3 AM.
Understanding your dog’s patterns can be incredibly insightful. Here’s a tip: Plug your dog’s seizure dates and times into ChatGPT and ask it to look for patterns. You can also include other details like when medications were started, doses changed, or stressors occurred. The more data you include, the more helpful the insights will be.
Be Prepared, Stay Consistent
Shifts in medication timing may seem small to us, but they can have big impacts on seizure control. Whether you shift all at once or make gradual changes, the key is planning ahead to keep your dog’s schedule (and brain chemistry!) as stable as possible.
How About You?
How do you handle the time change with your dog? Do you stay with the new time to keep your epi pup on track or do you make adjustments to stay with your specific time? I’d love to hear what works best for you — share your thoughts in the comments below.
A Little Reminder
I’m not a veterinarian. I’m a devoted dog mom sharing what I’ve learned through my journey with Forrest and guidance from his veterinary team. Always consult your vet or neurologist before making changes to your dog’s medication schedule.
If you found this post helpful, please share it on your social media to help spread awareness about canine epilepsy and support other pet parents caring for dogs with seizures. The more this blog grows, the more we can help other epi dogs and the humans that love them.
Follow Forrest on Facebook for daily life updates — not everything is about seizures, but I share our experiences to help others and show that dogs with epilepsy can still live full, joyful lives. Caring for a special needs dog is a privilege, and while I wish I could take his seizures away, I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world. 💜
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