Turning the Tide on Canine Epilepsy Through Research
When a Seizure Changes Everything Natalie remembers the moment it first happened with painful clarity. She was standing at the sink washing vegetables while her three-year-old black Standard Poodle, Max, wandered casually around. A sudden thud shattered the ordinary evening. She turned to see him lying on the floor, his body stiff and then suddenly […]
03535: Crossbreed Genetics and Neuron Modeling to Explain Seizures and Temperament in Dogs
Epilepsy is the most common long-term brain disorder in dogs, affecting about one in 130 pets. Nearly one-third of dogs do not respond to medication, leaving them at risk of repeated seizures, emergencies, and early death. Our research suggests epilepsy risk may be a trade-off from domestication: as dogs became more social and bold, changes […]
Why Some Dogs Are More Likely to Develop to Epilepsy
Research in Standard Schnauzers is Helping Uncover the Genetic Link of a Challenging Neurologic Disorder Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in dogs, but many questions remain about why it occurs and why some dogs have more severe symptoms than others. Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common type of epilepsy in dogs, and the […]
03439-MOU: Molecular Genetic Basis of Epilepsy in Standard Schnauzers
A recent Standard Schnauzer health survey estimated that the prevalence of epilepsy in the Standard Schnauzer population is about 1.3%. Our goal is to identify the molecular genetic basis of the disorder. Based on the cases we have evaluated, it appears that the disease is inherited as a recessive X-chromosome linked trait. If we can […]
Putting Evidence Behind Emergency Epilepsy Treatment
Dr. Karen Muñana leads a groundbreaking study on at-home care for cluster seizures. When a dog with idiopathic epilepsy begins to seize – especially in frightening, fast-paced succession known as cluster seizures – most dog owners head to emergency clinics for relief. Once there, they may be sent home with medications like clorazepate or levetiracetam, […]
A New MRI Technique Brings Hope for Exploring the Hidden Layers of Canine Epilepsy
If your dog has ever experienced seizures, you may have heard the term idiopathic epilepsy. While the name might sound complex, it simply means your dog is having repeated seizures without an identifiable cause or visible brain abnormality. It’s the diagnosis in nearly half of all canine epilepsy cases—the other half typically results from structural […]
03401-MOU: Clinical characteristics and heritability of idiopathic epilepsy in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs. Over half of affected dogs are diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy, a clinical syndrome characterized by repeated seizures for which there is no underlying cause other than a presumed genetic predisposition. An inherited basis for epilepsy has been established in over 25 dog breeds, including the […]
02533-E: 2018 Summer Veterinary Student Educational Grant- CSU
The AKC Canine Health Foundation will be pleased to support a summer veterinary student educational grant for Katie Redd, working with Dr. Stephanie McGrath on her AKC CHF-funded research grant ID 02323. We are able to provide a total of $6,000 for salary and travel to the summer scholars conference.
00840-A: Levels of cPLI, a Serum Marker for Pancreatitis, In Dogs treated with Potassium Bromide or Phenobarbital for Seizures
Seizures are a common neurological problem in both dogs and cats. When no underlying cause of the seizures can be identified, the seizures are classified as idiopathic epilepsy. In the treatment of epilepsy in dogs, there are few effective medications. The medications that are used most frequently in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy are phenobarbital and […]
Epilepsy Research
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) funds research to better understand and develop more effective treatments for canine epilepsy.