Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How dog owners manage anxiety between seizures in epilepsy
By Hobbs, Sarah Louise et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2022·Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Owner reported management of interictal anxiety behaviours in canine epilepsy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of dog owners found that over 83% of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (a common condition causing seizures) also showed signs of anxiety between seizures. Most owners used behavioral training techniques to help manage their dog's anxiety, but many felt they weren't getting enough support from their veterinarians. Only about 28% of owners felt fully supported by their vet in managing their dog's anxiety. This highlights the need for better veterinary guidance for pet owners dealing with anxiety in dogs with epilepsy.
People also search for: dog epilepsy anxiety management · how to help my dog with anxiety · veterinary support for dog seizures
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the most common chronic neurological condition in dogs, and can be associated with interictal (between seizure) anxiety (IIA). It is unclear how owners manage their pet's IIA, including how much veterinary support they receive for it. METHODS: An international online questionnaire collected data on IIA prevalence, management of IIA and perceived levels of veterinary support for IIA from owners of dogs diagnosed with IE. RESULTS: Valid responses were available from n = 220 owners. IIA was reported by 83.6% of owners. Common management strategies were behavioural or training techniques, reported by 90.4% of owners, whilst 34.4% reported use of behavioural products. Only 28.5% of owners felt fully supported by their vet in managing IIA. Owners who felt unsupported were less likely to have received advice on behavioural management or training from their vet (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Access to veterinary support for the management of IIA is needed for owners of dogs with IE.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35064975/