Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Benign juvenile epilepsy causing seizures in Lagotto Romagnolo puppies
By Jokinen, T S et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2007·Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Benign familial juvenile epilepsy in Lagotto Romagnolo dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Lagotto Romagnolo puppies, aged 5 to 9 weeks, were brought in for seizures that usually resolved on their own by 8 to 13 weeks. Some puppies showed additional signs like unsteady movements and difficulty coordinating their limbs. Tests including blood work and brain scans didn’t show any major issues, but many puppies had abnormal brain activity during electroencephalograms (EEGs). This condition appears to be a genetic epilepsy that is generally benign, meaning it often resolves without treatment. Most affected puppies improved as they grew older, and the condition is thought to be inherited.
People also search for: Lagotto Romagnolo puppy seizures · dog epilepsy treatment · why is my puppy having seizures
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Idiopathic childhood epilepsies with benign outcomes are well recognized in human medicine, but are not reported in veterinary literature. We recognized such a neurologic syndrome in Lagotto Romagnolo dogs. ANIMALS: Twenty-five Lagotto Romagnolo puppies from 9 different litters examined because of simple or complex focal seizures and 3 adult Lagotto Romagnolo dogs exhibiting similar clinical signs were used. METHODS: Clinical and diagnostic evaluations of affected dogs were conducted, including electromyography, electroencephalography, and other testing. RESULTS: Seizures in puppies began at 5 to 9 weeks of age and usually resolved spontaneously by 8 to 13 weeks. Those with the most severe seizures also had signs of neurologic disease between these seizures, including generalized ataxia and hypermetria. There were no abnormalities in routine laboratory screenings of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. Electromyography, brainstem auditory-evoked potentials, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed no specific and consistent abnormalities. Fourteen of 16 (87.5%) affected puppies and 2 of 3 (67%) adult dogs revealed epileptiform activity in the electroencephalogram. Histopathologic examination in 1 puppy and 1 adult dog revealed lesions of Purkinje cell inclusions and vacuolation of their axons restricted to the cerebellum. Pedigree analysis suggests an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This disorder, with simple or complex focal seizures and cerebellar lesions, represents a newly recognized epileptic syndrome in dogs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17552452/