Final answer:
Long-acting barbiturates are used as anticonvulsants in dogs and cats to manage seizures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Long-acting barbiturates, when administered to dogs and cats, are used as anticonvulsants. Barbiturates like phenobarbital effectively reduce the frequency and severity of seizures and are particularly used in veterinary medicine for this purpose. They act as central nervous system (CNS) depressants and have a sedative effect, which can help in managing epilepsy in animals. However, barbiturates have been largely replaced by other medications such as benzodiazepines in humans due to their high potential for addiction and the risk of overdose.