02792-A: Do Dogs Get Temporal Lobe Epilepsy? Clinical Signs, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Pathological Findings in Epileptic Dogs

One Health: Yes

Abstract

Thirty percent of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy have poor seizure control and are considered by their caregivers to have a poor quality of life despite appropriate medical therapy. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of epilepsy in humans, and has been well described in other species, including cats. Many epileptic dogs have a seizure presentation that is very similar to that described in humans with TLE including: excessive salivation, staring off, dilated pupils and facial twitching. Even with these similarities present, the actual anatomical changes within the brain have not been confirmed in dogs. Approximately forty percent of humans with TLE have poor seizure control, and additional treatment options, including surgery and laser ablation, result in the majority of patients becoming seizure-free long-term. The goal of this study is to further evaluate dogs for TLE, with the overall objective of better understanding the causes of canine epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and detailed anatomical changes from epileptic dogs with a history of TLE-like seizures will be studied. The hippocampus, which is the part of the brain implicated in TLE, will be extensively evaluated based on criteria established for TLE in humans and multiple other species. This project has the potential to further our understanding of epilepsy in dogs, broadening treatment options and ultimately leading to improved seizure control. Additionally, the results from this study will provide the foundation to explore other treatment options routinely recommended in humans with TLE for dogs with drug resistant seizures.

Publication(s)

None at this time.