Electroencephalographic and therapeutic evaluation of epilepsy in dogs

Abstract

The study entitled Electroencephalographic and Therapeutic Evaluation of Epilepsy in Dogs was carried out to document clinical, cerebrospinal fluid and electroencephalographic changes in dogs with epilepsy, to assess utility of diagnostic modalities in epileptic dogs and to formulate suitable treatment protocol for the management of epilepsy in dogs. Apparently healthy dogs constituted control Group I (n = 10). The parameters under study were history, complete clinical and neurophysical examination, haematology, serum biochemistry, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, diagnostic imaging, electroencephalography and polymerase chain reaction in selected cases. newlineThe 120 dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy were randomly subjected to treatment trial with phenobarbital, levetiracetam and zonisamide. All the three drugs were found to be effective in reducing the frequency and duration of the seizure episodes in epileptic dogs. Constant monitoring of phenobarbital treated dogs is essential to manage the side effect of hepatic injury on long term use in newline newline newlinedogs. For those dogs refractory to phenobarbital add on therapy with levetiracetam and zonisamide is suggested. newlineKEYWORDS: Canine idiopathic epilepsy, Electroencephalography, Inter ictal period, ADAM23, seizure. newline newline