Assessment of Frequency of Seizures and Antiseizure Drug (ASD) Efficacy by Electroencephalography (EEG) for Dogs with Epilepsy

Epilepsy is the most common brain disease encountered in dogs. Epilepsy can be caused by several underlying problems responsible for the recurrent seizures seen in the disease. Accurate seizure control has an impact on the quality of life and survival time in epileptic dogs as well as on their caretaker’s quality of life. There is evidence that diagnosis and monitoring of dogs with epilepsy may be affected by a seizure underreporting phenomenon with implications for overestimation of the efficacy of ASDs. This prospective study aims to understand these phenomena in a large cohort of dogs with epilepsy, using the only test that can confirm seizure occurrence - electroencephalography (EEG).

Participation Requirements:

All dogs undergoing awake video EEG where the recording shows more than one seizure, regardless of their ASD therapy regimen, with recording duration 1-4 hours, with repeat EEG recording after reaching ASD pharmacologic steady state if a new ASD is added.

Must present to the Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. No residential restriction. EEGs accepted from other clinics, but no funding transfers.

Owner's Responsibilities:

Note seizure frequency in the period prior to the EEG (e.g., monthly, weekly, daily, hourly), remove access to food for 8 hours prior in case of need for sedation (treats and meal can be provided once recording equipment has been placed).