Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Epilepsy seizure control and treatment in Australian Shepherd dogs
By Weissl, J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2012·Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Disease progression and treatment response of idiopathic epilepsy in Australian Shepherd dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Australian Shepherds with idiopathic epilepsy (a type of epilepsy with no known cause) was studied to understand their condition better. Many of these dogs experienced severe seizures, including clusters and prolonged episodes, which made controlling their symptoms difficult. The research found that dogs with more frequent seizures in the first six months had shorter lifespans, and this poor control was not linked to a specific genetic mutation known as ABCB1. The findings suggest that there may be a genetic factor contributing to the severity of epilepsy in this breed, highlighting the need for further research to improve treatment options.
People also search for: Australian Shepherd epilepsy treatment · why is my dog having seizures · idiopathic epilepsy in dogs · seizure control in Australian Shepherds
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) in Australian Shepherds (ASs) occurs worldwide but there is a lack of description of the epilepsy syndrome in this breed. The ABCB1-1Δ mutation is more prevalent in ASs than in many other dog breeds. HYPOTHESIS: Australian Shepherds suffer from a poorly controlled IE syndrome with prevailing severe courses. Seizure control and ABCB1-1Δ mutation might be related in this breed. ANIMALS: Fifty ASs diagnosed with IE and 50 unaffected ASs. METHODS: Predominant study design is a longitudinal cohort study. Pedigrees, medical records, seizure, and treatment data of ASs with IE were analyzed descriptively. Sex, color, and the ABCB1-1Δ genotype were compared between case and control groups and ASs with poorly or well-controlled seizures. Differences in survival times were assessed by logrank tests and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Idiopathic epilepsy in ASs is dominated by moderate and severe clinical courses with the occurrence of cluster seizures and status epilepticus and a high seizure frequency. Poor seizure control and a high initial seizure frequency (≥10 seizure days/first 6 months) are associated with shorter survival times (P < .05). Poor seizure control, unrelated to the ABCB1(MDR1) genotype, is evident in 56% of epileptic ASs. Pedigree analysis suggests a genetic basis. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Frequent severe clinical courses, poor seizure control unrelated to the ABCB1(MDR1) genotype, and a young age at death compromise animal welfare and warrant further genetic studies to unravel the underlaying molecular mechanisms of IE and seizure control in the breed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22182230/