Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Seizures linked to heat cycle in female dogs with epilepsy
By Van Meervenne, S A E et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2015·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association between estrus and onset of seizures in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 45 intact female dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (a type of epilepsy with no known cause) was studied to see if their seizures were linked to their heat cycles. It was found that 38% of these dogs had their first seizure while in heat, and 20% experienced seizures that seemed to happen in relation to their heat cycles. This suggests that hormonal changes during the estrous cycle may influence seizure activity. If your dog has seizures and is intact, discussing her heat cycle with your vet could be important for managing her condition.
People also search for: dog seizures during heat · female dog epilepsy treatment · why does my dog have seizures in heat
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Catamenial epilepsy in humans is defined as changes in seizure frequency over the course of the menstrual cycle. Three hormonally based patterns of seizure exacerbation have been determined. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is an association between onset of seizures and the estrous cycle in intact bitches with presumptive idiopathic epilepsy and whether a pattern to the onset of seizures could be recognized. ANIMALS: Forty-five intact female dogs from a hospital population with a presumptive diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy. METHODS: In a retrospective study, the database of a small animal hospital in Sweden was searched for medical records of intact female dogs diagnosed with epilepsy or seizures. The stage of the estrous cycle as reported either by the owner or the veterinarian at the time of the first seizure was noted. RESULTS: Of the 45 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, 17 (38%) had their first seizure when in heat and six dogs (13%) had their first seizure 1-3 months after heat. Nine dogs (20%) had seizures reoccurring in relation to their estrous cycle. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These findings suggest an association between estrus and onset of seizures in intact bitches with presumptive idiopathic epilepsy. Two hormonally based patterns could be recognized: one during heat and one during a specific time point at the end of diestrus. This could be explained by the proconvulsive effects of estrogen or loss of protective effect against seizures of progesterone, respectively.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25408276/