Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Zonisamide alone for epilepsy in dogs - how well it works
By Thungrat, Kamoltip et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2026·Department of Anatomy, United States·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Efficacy of monotherapy with zonisamide and proposed reference interval in dogs with epilepsy: a cohort of 207 dogs (2011-2021).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 207 dogs with epilepsy were treated with a medication called zonisamide to see how well it worked. About 59% of the dogs showed improvement, with 29% becoming seizure-free and 30% having fewer seizures. The study also established a reference range for the medication levels in the blood, suggesting that levels between 10-55 micrograms per milliliter are effective for dogs. This means that zonisamide can be a good option for managing epilepsy in dogs, helping many of them live more comfortably.
People also search for: dog epilepsy treatment · zonisamide for dogs · dog seizure medication levels
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Zonisamide (ZNS) has become a popular antiseizure medication (ASM) to treat epilepsy in dogs. Dose adjustments based on plasma ZNS concentrations facilitate management, but efficacy evidence is limited. No reference interval (RI) is established in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To assess ZNS efficacy and establish an RI for dogs with epilepsy. ANIMALS: Two hundred seven dogs with non-structural epilepsy received ZNS monotherapy, with samples submitted for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, ZNS information was collected from the TDM data record library between November 2011 and May 2021. Exclusion criteria were structural epilepsy, receiving other ASMs, dogs' age >6 years, or a duration of ZNS <3 months. Zonisamide response was assessed as described in the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force (IVETF) consensus. Plasma ZNS concentrations from responders (categories 1 [seizure freedom] and 2 [partial response]) were evaluated at the established RI. RESULTS: Two hundred seven dogs could be assigned to IVETF response categories 1-3. The proportion of responders (59%, n = 123), including categories 1 (29%) and 2 (30%), was higher than non-responders (category 3, 41%, n = 84; P < .01). Based on the responders, an RI of 10-55 μg/mL is proposed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This study demonstrated that ZNS monotherapy is effective for treatment of non-structural epilepsy. The proposed RI, 10-55 μg/mL, is a broader range than that in human medicine, 10-40 μg/mL.
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/41742507/