01896-A: A Pilot Study: Establishing the Role of Melatonin in the Occurrence of Seizures in Dogs
Grant Status: Closed
Abstract
Epilepsy or recurrent seizures is reported to be the most common neurologic condition in dogs. Of dogs affected with seizures, 20-30% are considered to be resistant to the commonly used canine anticonvulsant drugs. Alternative canine epilepsy treatments are desperately needed. Recent advances in animal models suggest the hormone melatonin may have significant anti-seizure effects. Human case reports indicate that melatonin levels increase during and immediately following seizure activity but are significantly lower than normal between seizures. The central hypothesis of Dr. Thomovsky's study is that serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of melatonin will be lower in dogs with seizures than in normal dogs. If data are in the affirmative these investigator will design future studies that examine the use of melatonin supplementation as a means of abrogating seizures in dogs.
Publication(s)
Thomovsky, S. A., Chen, A. V., Deavila, D. M., & Kiszonas, A. M. (2019). Serum Melatonin Values in Normal Dogs and Dogs with Seizures. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. https://doi.org/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6669
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