Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for hard-to-treat dog seizures
By Robinson, Kelsey et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2020·Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feasibility of Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation (gammaCore VET™) for the Treatment of Refractory Seizure Activity in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 14 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy that didn't respond well to standard medications were treated with a non-invasive device called gammaCore VET, which stimulates the vagus nerve. Owners reported on their dogs' seizure types and frequency during the treatment, which lasted between 8 to 16 weeks. While nine dogs showed some reduction in seizures, only four had a significant decrease of 50% or more. Some dogs experienced mild side effects like a hoarse bark, trembling, and increased seizures, but overall, the treatment was safe and easy to use. This method could be a helpful option for dogs with difficult-to-manage seizures.
People also search for: dog seizure treatment options · non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for dogs · idiopathic epilepsy in dogs · epilepsy medication side effects in dogs
Abstract
Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common chronic neurologic condition in dogs. Approximately 20-30% of those dogs are refractory to standard medical therapy and commonly experience side effects from antiepileptic drugs. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) has been frequently used in human medicine as an adjunct seizure therapy with low incidence of adverse events. Canine studies are limited to invasive surgical implants with no non-invasive evaluations currently published. We investigated the feasibility and efficacy of nVNS (gammaCore VET) as an adjunct treatment for refractory epilepsy in dogs. In total, 14 client-owned dogs completed the trial of either 8- or 16-week treatment periods during which they received 90-120 s stimulation three times per day in the region of the left cervical vagus nerve. Owners recorded seizure type (focal or generalized) and frequency as well as any adverse effects. Out of 14 dogs, nine achieved a reduction in seizure frequency and four were considered responders with a 50% or greater reduction in seizures from baseline to the final treatment period. However, there was no statistically significant difference in overall seizure frequency (= 0.53) or percent change in seizure frequency between groups (= 0.75). Adverse effects occurred in 25% of dogs originally enrolled, with reports of a hoarse bark and limb trembling, lethargy, behavioral changes, and an increase in seizure frequency. Non-invasive VNS was found to be safe and easy to administer with mild adverse events. It is considered a feasible treatment option as an adjunct therapy in refractory seizures and should be further investigated.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33195555/