Description
This webinar is free to access thanks to the generous sponsorship of Nestlé Purina
Epilepsy is a brain disease which any first opinion practitioner has experience with. Around 1 in 111 dogs will be affected by idiopathic epilepsy, diagnosed by excluding metabolic conditions and structural brain diseases. Recent research has shown that idiopathic epilepsy is more than a simple seizure disorder. Epilepsy is a brain disease with seizures being the main and most prominent clinical sign. Dogs, however, can also suffer from comorbidities such as neurobehavioural changes and cognitive dysfunction. In people, comorbidities can have a far greater influence on quality of life than the seizures themselves. We are just starting to recognise comorbidities in dogs with epilepsy, but have already shown that their impact is significant. The impact of the seizures (esp. seizure frequency and intensity) and comorbidities (such as reduced trainability, spatial memory impairment, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety) might not only affect the dog but also the owner. Apart from the disease, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) can also have an impact on the quality of life. AED treatment is targeted to reduce seizure frequency and severity, but does not treat the underlying disease. The AEDs currently used in veterinary medicine will reduce brain excitability by “depressing” CNS function and so it is not surprising that side effects such as ataxia and sedation occur. Ataxia and sedation have been reported by owners as the main side effects affecting quality of life. AEDs will always be the mainstay for seizure control, but have their limitations due to the side effects experienced, being more pronounced if given in high quantity and when combining multiple AEDs. Recent research has indicated that we might need to look at epilepsy management more holistically. Diet has been shown in various species to have a positive impact on seizure control and comorbidities such as anxiety and cognition. New evidence is emerging that diets rich in medium chain triglycerides can improve in some dogs idiopathic epilepsy seizure control, cognition and be anxiolytic. We will discuss in this talk the ins and outs of the different epilepsy management options and how to better combine them.
