Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Assessment of the prevalence and clinical features of cryptogenic epilepsy in dogs: 45 cases (2003-2011).
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Schwartz, Malte et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at dogs that started having seizures when they were at least 7 years old to see how common cryptogenic epilepsy (a type of epilepsy with no known cause) is and what it looks like. Out of 214 dogs, 45 were diagnosed with cryptogenic epilepsy, while the rest had symptomatic epilepsy (where the cause of seizures is known). Most of the dogs with cryptogenic epilepsy were treated with at least one medication to help control their seizures, and many had fewer than one seizure a month after starting treatment. The average time these dogs lived after their seizures began was about 4 years and 4 months, and while their quality of life was rated very high before treatment, it dropped slightly afterward. Overall, the treatment seemed to work well for most dogs with cryptogenic epilepsy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and clinical features of cryptogenic epilepsy among dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 214 client-owned dogs with onset of epileptic seizures at ≥ 7 years of age. PROCEDURES: A diagnostic imaging database was searched for dogs with symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsy. Signalment, seizure history, and diagnostic information were recorded. Information regarding seizure frequency, administration of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), owners' perceptions regarding quality of life, survival times, and causes of death for dogs with cryptogenic epilepsy was obtained via questionnaire. Variables were compared among dogs grouped according to diagnosis and age. RESULTS: 45 (21%) dogs had a diagnosis of cryptogenic epilepsy, and 169 (79%) had symptomatic epilepsy. In dogs 7 to 9 years and ≥ 10 years of age at the time of seizure onset, 31 of 106 (29%) and 14 of 108 (13%), respectively, had a diagnosis of cryptogenic epilepsy. At last follow-up, most (40 [89%]) dogs with cryptogenic epilepsy were receiving ≥ 1 AED. Thirty-one of 37 (84%) dogs typically had ≤ 1 seizure/mo following hospital discharge. Death was confirmed in 20 (44%) dogs with cryptogenic epilepsy and was related to seizures or AEDs in 7 Median survival time from onset of seizures was 52 months for all dogs with cryptogenic epilepsy. Median quality-of-life score (scale, 1 [poor] to 10 [excellent]) indicated by 34 owners of dogs with cryptogenic epilepsy was 10 before diagnosis and initiation of AED treatment and 8 afterward. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cryptogenic epilepsy was diagnosed in a substantial proportion of dogs with an onset of epileptic seizures at ≥ 7 years of age. Seizure control was considered acceptable in most dogs.
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: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23402412/