Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Do dog and cat seizures relate to the moon phases?
By Browand-Stainback, Laura et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2011·Veterinary Neurological Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine and feline epileptic seizures and the lunar cycle: 2,507 seizures (2000-2008).
Plain-English summary
Researchers looked at 2,507 seizures in 211 dogs and cats with idiopathic epilepsy, which means their seizures didn't have a known cause, to see if there was any connection to the phases of the moon. They compared seizure occurrences during different lunar phases and found no significant link between the moon's cycle and when seizures happened. This means that pet owners don't need to change how they manage their pets' epilepsy based on the lunar cycle. Overall, the study concluded that the moon's phases do not affect the frequency of seizures in these pets.
Abstract
Epileptic seizures in 211 canine and feline patients diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy were evaluated for temporal significance in relation to the lunar cycle. Seizure counts were compared among each of the eight individual lunar phases, among each of eight exact lunar phase dates, and by percent of lunar illumination using generalized estimating equations. No statistical significance was found in any of these comparisons excluding a relationship between the onset of epileptic seizures and the phases of the moon. Alteration in anticonvulsant treatment or monitoring of canine and feline patients with idiopathic epilepsy at large was not warranted based on the lunar cycle.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21852516/