LONG post. Feeling overwhelmed with my Samoyed's seizures & behaviour

Hi guys. Hoping I could get some advice & perspectives from others regarding my dog's wellbeing and our ongoing management plan. We have a great vet, who I think is really trying her best. I just want to know if there are other options I should consider.

Basic info:

• Location is Australia

• He is a 7 year old neutered Samoyed

• Up to date on all recommended vaccinations.

• Previously diagnosed with mild hip dysplasia and luxating patellas, but the vets have said it doesn't seem to be affecting him at this stage. He has no problems with mobility.

• Has been well socialised and trained from puppy hood. Is crate trained.

• Lives with myself, husband and our other 5 year old Samoyed.

Timeline:

2022: (approx 5 years old) I sought help about his behaviour. He has always been a highly strung and reactive dog despite extensive training and attempts to help him be neutral around other dogs. It got to a point where the constant barking, over excitement and reactivity was becoming impossible for me to manage and I was no longer taking him on walks/out much because of it. He was put on 30mg of Fluoxetine daily and ACP 25mg for situational stress (grooming/vet trips etc), and this seemed to help initially.

2024: He began to have more trouble with behavioural issues in the home. Getting stuck in loops of barking non-stop. Highly reactive to any sounds/people nearby. Exhibiting almost "sundowning" behaviour at the end of the day where he would start fights with our other dog and need to be separated. We had moved by then so sought help from a different vet who commenced him on Clonidine 300 mg BD as well. She tweaked his PRNs to Trazodone & Gabapentin . The combo of medicines also seemed to work well for a short period.

2025: Fast forward to 2025 and the behaviours seemed to continue to escalate. Now we were dealing with multiple growly/barking episodes a day at my other dog, occasionally proper fights. I can't really leave the house with them (or my other dog because he can't be left alone) and generally life is just really hard. We can't go on holidays as no kennels or sitters will take him with his needs.

We sought the advice of a new vet (moved again) and I gave a full history plus she diagnosed him with focal seizures which in hindsight he had been having for many years. I feel terrible that I missed them but initially it was just a weird humping episode but in time progressed to humping and back leg stiffness etc.

His medications currently are Clonidine 200mg BD (due to the shortage here), Fluoxetine 40mg Daily, Pexion 100mg BD and Zonisamide 150mg BD.

We still do not have control of the seizures, and he has them 3 or 4x per week.

I am really worried about his quality of life, and also how this is affecting us all. We plan every aspect of our days around him, and I am exhausted. Each day we have to carefully manage his behaviour and ensure fights are not happening (thankfully my other dog is very tolerant). The barking has me constantly on edge. He is also occasionally incontinent since starting the Pexion, so there is extra washing of our bedding and couches.

My dogs are my world, and I love him so much. I am just really not enjoying living together now (which makes me feel so guilty even saying). We can't go for walks or get him enough exercise because the whole thing just turns into 30 mins of fights, barking & hurting me.

Is there hope for getting this under control and enjoying our lives together? It is not the main consideration but his medicines also cost us in excess of $200 a month. I truly just feel awful about the whole thing.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading.

Please be kind.