Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How well do seizure medicines work for dogs with structural epilepsy
By Norona, Frances Eleanor & Volk, Holger Andreas·Published in The Veterinary record·2020·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Investigating the efficacy of medical management for canine structural epilepsy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 71 dogs diagnosed with structural epilepsy (a type of epilepsy caused by brain abnormalities) was treated with a combination of antiseizure medications. The study found that dogs who had experienced status epilepticus (a prolonged seizure) before diagnosis had worse outcomes, including shorter survival times and less effective seizure control. Interestingly, the specific medications used did not significantly affect the treatment results, except for dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown cause, who tended to live longer. Overall, dogs without a history of severe seizures before treatment had the best chances for improvement.
People also search for: dog seizures treatment · structural epilepsy in dogs · antiseizure medications for dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Structural epilepsy in dogs is often treated medically with a combination of antiseizure drugs (ASDs) and other concurrent therapies for the primary condition. Unlike idiopathic epilepsy, there have been few studies on the efficacy of medical management in structural epilepsy. This study investigated factors affecting treatment outcomes in dogs medically managed for structural epilepsy. METHODS: Cases of 71 dogs diagnosed with structural epilepsy were identified from a referral hospital database and data were analysed retrospectively. Efficacy of treatment was assessed by survival time, seizure-free period after diagnosis and overall seizure control. RESULTS: Results showed that the most significant prognostic indicator was the occurrence of status epilepticus (SE) before diagnosis, with these dogs having reduced survival times, shorter seizure-free periods after diagnosis and overall worse seizure control. Cluster seizure history showed similar, although not statistically significant, trends in treatment efficacy. Treatment outcomes were not significantly impacted by ASD therapy used or by specific diagnosis, with the exception of meningoencephalitis of unknown aetiology cases surviving longer. CONCLUSION: Overall, medical management of canine structural epilepsy achieves the best treatment outcomes when the patient has no history of SE. This study may provide a basis for future investigations into the treatment of canine structural epilepsies.
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/32586969/