Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Prevalence of idiopathic epilepsy and structural epilepsy in 74 Boxer dogs in a referral hospital.
- Journal:
- Frontiers in veterinary science
- Year:
- 2022
- Authors:
- Loncarica, Tina et al.
- Affiliation:
- Anicura Portoni Rossi Veterinary Hospital · Italy
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In a study of 74 Boxer dogs at a referral hospital, researchers looked into the causes of epilepsy in this breed. They found that 5 dogs (about 7%) had idiopathic epilepsy, which means the cause was unknown, while the majority, 69 dogs (about 93%), had structural epilepsy, often linked to brain tumors. Most of the dogs with structural epilepsy were older, and many showed signs of brain tumors even if their neurological exams seemed normal. The study suggests that because idiopathic epilepsy is rare in Boxers, dogs with certain signs of epilepsy should have an MRI to check for brain issues. Overall, the findings indicate that most epilepsy cases in Boxers are likely due to suspected brain tumors rather than unknown causes.
Abstract
The prevalence of idiopathic epilepsy and structural epilepsy in Boxer dogs is unknown. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of structural and idiopathic epilepsy in the Boxer population. A total of 74 Boxer dogs were included in the study from the database of one referral hospital and the following were recorded: signalment, history, clinical findings and results of advanced diagnostic imaging. Five dogs (6.8%) were diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy, of which one was in the <6 months age group, three were in the 6-72 months age group and one was in the >72 months age group. Sixty-nine dogs (93.2%) were diagnosed with structural epilepsy. Sixty-six had a suspected intracranial neoplasia: Eight were in the 6-72 months age group and represent 66.7% of the dogs in that age group. The other fifty-eight were in the >72 months age group and represent 96.7% of the dogs in that age group. In our Boxer population, 81.8% of the patients had a suspected intra-axial tumor and 22.7% of dogs with an intracranial pathology nevertheless had a normal neurological examination. In conclusion, in the majority of boxer patients the cause of epilepsy is a suspected intracranial neoplasia regardless of the age at presentation. Considering the finding in this study of a low prevalence of presumed idiopathic epilepsy in the Boxer breed, it is recommended that patients who satisfy Tier I confidence level of the "International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force" (IVETF) also undergo an MRI study of the brain.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36061109/