Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ketogenic diet reduces ADHD-like behavior in dogs with epilepsy
By Packer, Rowena M A et al.·Published in Epilepsy & behavior : E&B·2016·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effects of a ketogenic diet on ADHD-like behavior in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) were observed for behaviors similar to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while on a regular diet. The study included 21 dogs that had at least three seizures in the past three months. They were switched between a ketogenic medium chain triglyceride diet and a placebo diet for six months. Owners reported improvements in behaviors like chasing and a decrease in fear of strangers when the dogs were on the ketogenic diet. This suggests that a special diet may help manage some behavioral issues in dogs with epilepsy.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Epilepsy in humans and rodent models of epilepsy can be associated with behavioral comorbidities including an increased prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and seizure frequency have been successfully reduced in humans and rodents using a ketogenic diet (KD). The aims of this study were (i) to describe the behavioral profile of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) while on a standardized nonketogenic placebo diet, to determine whether ADHD-like behaviors are present, and (ii) to examine the effect of a ketogenic medium chain triglyceride diet (MCTD) on the behavioral profile of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) compared with the standardized placebo control diet, including ADHD-like behaviors. METHODS: A 6-month prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover dietary trial comparing the effects of the MCTD with a standardized placebo diet on canine behavior was carried out. Dogs diagnosed with IE, with a seizure frequency of at least 3 seizures in the past 3months (n=21), were fed the MCTD or placebo diet for 3months and were then switched to the alternative diet for 3months. Owners completed a validated behavioral questionnaire to measure 11 defined behavioral factors at the end of each diet period to report their dogs' behavior, with three specific behaviors hypothesized to be related to ADHD: excitability, chasing, and trainability. RESULTS: The highest scoring behavioral factors in the placebo and MCTD periods were excitability (mean±SE: 1.910±0.127) and chasing (mean±SE: 1.824±0.210). A markedly lower trainability score (mean±SE: 0.437±0.125) than that of previously studied canine populations was observed. The MCTD resulted in a significant improvement in the ADHD-related behavioral factor chasing and a reduction in stranger-directed fear (p<0.05) compared with the placebo diet. The latter effect may be attributed to previously described anxiolytic effects of a KD. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the supposition that dogs with IE may exhibit behaviors that resemble ADHD symptoms seen in humans and rodent models of epilepsy and that a MCTD may be able to improve some of these behaviors, along with potentially anxiolytic effects.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26773515/