Having two dogs with idiopathic epilepsy hasn’t made me an expert, but it has made me a diligent researcher. For my own benefit, and to hopefully help someone else down the road, I’m going to use this page to compile the links and data I’ve gathered over the years. This will be a living document and will be updated anytime I find something new.
General info:
The North Carolina State University Vet School Neurology Department is great. Both of my seizure pups have been treated there and have participated in epilepsy studies.
Facebook group Dogs with Epilepsy Worldwide. It’s a closed group, but worth joining. They have a lot of good information in their files, and the members are generally very supportive.
These websites have a ton of great information about canine epilepsy. Access to support groups, information about medications, what to do during a seizure, discussions about genetics, diet, vaccinations, care, etc.
Canine Epilepsy Resource Center and Home of the EPIL-K9 List
Diet:
Some people claim that feeding a dog kibble makes seizures worse. I’m here to tell you that it might or it might not. It depends on what triggers the seizures for the individual dog.
I’ve heard people say that feeding a raw diet reduces or eliminates seizures. That’s a load of hooey. I love raw feeding. I think it’s wonderful for dogs and cats if done correctly. I wish I could continue to afford feeding my animals raw. But there’s nothing wrong with feeding a decent kibble. And as relates to seizures, well, here’s my experience.
Duncan was eating kibble when he had his first seizures. I switched the dogs to raw for other reasons. Duncan’s seizures got worse and ultimately killed him, all while he was eating a raw diet.
Kodiak was on a raw diet from a young age. He was eating a raw diet when his seizures started. He’s currently eating kibble and still having seizures at the same frequency.
While I fully support a raw diet, do not let anyone convince you that raw will save your dog or that kibble will kill your dog. Or vice versa, for that matter.
Purina has recently developed their NeuroCare line of kibble. It contains higher amounts of MCT oil than would typically be found in kibble.
I have a former coworker who feeds it to her dog and she seems happy with it. Her dog is a small breed, not on medication, and doesn’t have a lot of seizures, if I recall correctly.
I tried it with Kodiak. He ate it for a couple of weeks and then refused it. The recommended feeding amount is, as with every kibble I’ve ever seen, more than my dogs should eat. Especially Kodiak, who is already a little heavy due to all the issues with the medications. I contacted Purina’s customer support and was told that they would not say that dogs eating less than the recommended amount might still receive the benefits of the MCT in the kibble. Their studies were done on the recommended amounts only. I stopped feeding it, as I didn’t see the point in forcing Kodiak to eat something he clearly didn’t want when I had no confidence that he was getting enough to possibly help. I find it easier to just add MCT oil to whatever he will eat. But, as in all things, do what works for you and your dog.
I had already been researching MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil as a possible addition to Kodiak’s diet. During his most recent annual exam, Kodiak’s neurologist recommended that I add it. Since the neuro’s opinion lined up with what I’d been reading, I figured I’d give it a try. I haven’t seen any improvement, but things aren’t getting worse, either. Considering previous trends, I’m quite happy with not-worse.
Here are some links discussing NeuroCare:
Nutrition breakthrough to help manage dogs with epilepsy
Other articles discussing MCT Oil and/or benefits of diet on epilepsy in dogs:
Canine Epilepsy: Current Management and Nutritional Advances
A randomised trial of a medium-chain TAG diet as treatment for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy
Music:
There have been some studies that indicate Mozart’s composition K.448 might be of some help in reducing the frequency and severity of seizures. It’s a lovely piece of music and worth listening to whether or not seizures are involved.
The NC State Vet School is currently running a clinical trial on music therapy in epileptic dogs.
Mozart’s music in children with epilepsy
CBD Oil:
I’ve looked into CBD oil. Getting it through a holistic vet is brutally expensive and there is no guarantee of relief or that other meds could be tapered back. What I’ve found indicates that the oil from hemp doesn’t truly help, and there really has to be a small amount of THC in the oil to have the desired effect. Getting actual CBD oil isn’t easy in most states, there’s no standardization of dosage, and treats aren’t going to have enough to be useful. I’ve seen more reports of people who’ve given it to their dogs with little to no success than I’ve seen of people who say it’s helped. I just don’t know if it’s worth the stress. I’m always willing to reconsider though, and I’ll keep checking for new information and research.
Other interesting articles:
Antiepileptic Drug Withdrawal in Dogs with Epilepsy
Current studies at NC State Vet School:
Music as an add-on therapy for refractory canine epilepsy: A Pilot Study
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of music as an add-on therapy for dogs with medically-refractory epilepsy in canine patients. An increasing number of studies have reported the significant beneficial effects of music therapy in human patients with neurological disease and epilepsy. This pilot study is exploring the use of specific musical scores for the use in dogs with epilepsy.
Use of Accelerometry to Detect Seizure Activity in Dogs with Idiopathic Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common problem in dogs that typically requires lifelong medical attention. However, the majority of dogs do not become seizure free with treatment, and a consistent source of worry for caregivers is the risk of seizures occurring while a dog is left unattended. This study will evaluate the use of a commercially available, collar mounted accelerometer (Whistle Activity Monitor) to reliably detect seizure activity in epileptic dogs. The availability of an easily worn, inexpensive device to detect seizures will provide valuable data to help veterinarians make informed treatment decisions, and reduce the risk of injury or death from unobserved seizures for their canine patients.
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