Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Phenotypic characterization and quality of life of Labradoodles with idiopathic epilepsy and epilepsy of unknown cause.
- Journal:
- Frontiers in veterinary science
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Mandigers, Paul J J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · Netherlands
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at Labradoodles, a mix of Labrador Retrievers and Standard Poodles, to understand their experiences with idiopathic epilepsy (a type of epilepsy with no known cause). Researchers surveyed 40 Labradoodle owners and found that most dogs started having seizures around 2 to 3 years old, with an average of about 5 seizures a year. Stress was identified as a common trigger for seizures in these dogs. Interestingly, many Labradoodles either did not need treatment or responded well to just one medication, and both the dogs and their owners reported good quality of life. Overall, the epilepsy in Labradoodles appears to have a better outcome compared to some other breeds.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is a common chronic neurological disorder in dogs. Breed specific knowledge on semiology, age of onset (AoO), seizure frequency, response to treatment, and Quality of Life (QoL) scores for both dog and owner are important. The Labradoodle is originally a cross between the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle. The aim of this study was to describe in detail the epilepsy, that is recognized in this designer breed. METHOD: An online survey was distributed through several platforms to owners of Labradoodles. Only Labradoodles, either registered as such or bred as a Labradoodle were included. To classify the Labradoodles in a TIER level of confidence the criteria of the International Veterinary Task Force were used. RESULTS: Forty labradoodles were included. Thirty-three Labradoodles were classified as IE or suspected IE cases and appeared to have an AoO of 2.3 ± 1.3 years, and a seizure frequency of 5.4 ± 6.5 seizures/year (range 0-25). Seven dogs were classified as EUC, two dogs started before 6 months of age, and five dogs had their first seizures at 8.4 ± 1.2 years of age. The seizure frequency for all EUC dogs was 5.0 ± 3.0 seizures/year (range 0-11). Stress, for both the (suspected) IE and EUC cases, was the most frequently reported seizure precipitating factor (95% of the dogs). AoO and seizure frequency did not seem to be influenced by type of housing, type of owner, or the dog's character as interpreted by the owner. Cluster seizures (CS) were seen in 33% and status epilepticus (SE) in 10% of the included Labradoodles. Many dogs did not need treatment (38%) or only one anti-seizure medication (43%), in which case they tended to respond favorably to treatment. QoL scores were high for both dog (8.3 ± 1.8) and owner (7.3 ± 2.2). DISCUSSION: Compared to the progenitor breeds, epilepsy of Labradoodles is phenotypically like that of the Standard Poodle, except for the existence CS and SE in the Labradoodle. The epilepsy seen in this designer breed has a favorable outcome compared to several other breeds.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39479204/