Treatment and monitoring of epilepsy in dogs

Kate Chandler

In Practice 
2011;33:98-104 
doi:10.1136

Epilepsy is a brain disorder and is defined as the propensity to have recurrent seizures. It is the most common chronic neurological disorder seen in dogs. Most dogs that present with recurrent seizures have idiopathic epilepsy, which is thought to have a genetic basis and has no identifiable underlying cause when a full diagnostic work-up is undertaken. Symptomatic epilepsies, which arise secondary to brain diseases such as intracranial neoplastic lesions or central nervous system inflammatory disorders, are less common. By addressing some of the most frequently asked questions relating to the treatment of seizures, this article suggests some practical and effective strategies for managing and monitoring dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.