Epilepsy
What is Epilepsy and what causes it?
While epilepsy refers to any seizure disorder, there are actually two kinds of epilepsy.Symptomatic epilepsy, which is also called "secondary" epilepsy, is the diagnosis for seizures that are a symptom of another identifiable health problem, like a brain tumor or a stroke. Then there is idiopathic epilepsy, which is also called "primary" epilepsy and describes seizures with no known cause (the definition of idiopathic). Idiopathic epilepsy, the type we are truly concerned about here, has been called a disease without a diagnosis. Brain tumors may cause seizures. A poisoned dog may have seizures. But if a dog is having seizures, and the vet can find no reason for those seizures, that dog will be diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. A dog may have five seizures per year, five per month or five per week -- if there is no identifiable cause for those seizures, then we should consider that dog to have idiopathic epilepsy.
Is Idiopathic Epilepsy inherited?
Hereditary idiopathic epilepsy has already been proven in some breeds of dogs, but it is suspected that ideopathic epilepsy is hereditary in most breeds. Much research is ongoing at The Canine Epilepsy Project, with the hope of identifying the genes that carry epilepsy, and that some day a test will be developed to identify those dogs predisposed to epilepsy and those carrying the genes. It is very frustrating to know that this is a hereditary disease and yet not understand how it is inherited.
Until such time that we have identified the genetic mutations that cause this disease and are able to utilize a DNA test to screen dogs, it is up to the breeder community to be as cautious as possible. What does that mean? It means not repeating breedings that have produced epilepsy, not breeding dogs who are affected with epilepsy, or the offspring of any affected dogs. Information about our dogs and what they have produced should be openly shared so that other breeders may make smarter, more informed decisions.
When does Idiopathic Epilepsy strike?
While the average age for the onset of epilepsy is between one and four years, a dog can begin having seizures before its first birthday. I personally know of one who started when she was seven or eight months old. It can happen when a dog is 5, 6 or even 8 years of age. If the dog is otherwise healthy and no causes can be identified, that is idiopathic epilepsy. I recently learned that the father of one of my own dogs had his first seizure at nearly six years of age. Needless to say, my dog will NOT be bred.
Whether a dog starts having seizures at 8 months or 8 years of age, if no cause can be diagnosed other than Idiopathic Epilepsy, then those two dogs should be viewed the same way. A dog with late onset epilepsy is not safe to breed just because it didn't start seizing until it's life was 2/3 over. It may be that the older dog was not exposed to the right triggers and that in another household or environment, those seizures may have started much younger. The same applies to the younger dog - questioning a vaccine as the cause of seizure. With the younger dog, we have the early knowledge of the disorder and the responsibility to make sure that dog is never bred. In the case of the older-onset dog, whose breeding days may be over by the time it has a seizure, for the sake of damage control we must give the same consideration to the offspring produced by that affected dog. Best rule of thumb: No dog affected by seizures should be bred, and neither should their offspring.
Can Epilepsy be treated?
There is no cure for idiopathic epilepsy, but seizure activity can often be controlled through drug therapy. Epilepsy may be managed through the use of anti-epileptic drugs, such as phenobarbitol, potassium bromide, and diazepam. It can be very tricky to find the right drug, or the right combination of drugs, as every dog/case is different. And even once that perfect balance is achieved, it may change over time as the disease progresses. Some dogs may just not respond well to drug therapy. But patience is a must. And for those who do, the high degree of toxicity and the side effects that come with these drugs present yet other challenges to the Swissy and owner managing this disease. These are decisions that a pet owner with an epileptic pet must make with their veterinarian, as they weigh the frequency and severity of the seizures against possible side effects of the drugs. The age of the dog must also enter the equation as once a dog is reliant on anti-seizure medications, it is difficult to wean them off. Dogs being treated for epilepsy should be visit their veterinarian on a very regular basis to determine what toll, if any, drug therapy is taking on their bodies.
Please click onto this link to read more about epilepsy on a first-hand personal level from good friend and breeder, Kristin Krumpe of Aegis GSMD.
While epilepsy refers to any seizure disorder, there are actually two kinds of epilepsy.Symptomatic epilepsy, which is also called "secondary" epilepsy, is the diagnosis for seizures that are a symptom of another identifiable health problem, like a brain tumor or a stroke. Then there is idiopathic epilepsy, which is also called "primary" epilepsy and describes seizures with no known cause (the definition of idiopathic). Idiopathic epilepsy, the type we are truly concerned about here, has been called a disease without a diagnosis. Brain tumors may cause seizures. A poisoned dog may have seizures. But if a dog is having seizures, and the vet can find no reason for those seizures, that dog will be diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. A dog may have five seizures per year, five per month or five per week -- if there is no identifiable cause for those seizures, then we should consider that dog to have idiopathic epilepsy.
Is Idiopathic Epilepsy inherited?
Hereditary idiopathic epilepsy has already been proven in some breeds of dogs, but it is suspected that ideopathic epilepsy is hereditary in most breeds. Much research is ongoing at The Canine Epilepsy Project, with the hope of identifying the genes that carry epilepsy, and that some day a test will be developed to identify those dogs predisposed to epilepsy and those carrying the genes. It is very frustrating to know that this is a hereditary disease and yet not understand how it is inherited.
Until such time that we have identified the genetic mutations that cause this disease and are able to utilize a DNA test to screen dogs, it is up to the breeder community to be as cautious as possible. What does that mean? It means not repeating breedings that have produced epilepsy, not breeding dogs who are affected with epilepsy, or the offspring of any affected dogs. Information about our dogs and what they have produced should be openly shared so that other breeders may make smarter, more informed decisions.
When does Idiopathic Epilepsy strike?
While the average age for the onset of epilepsy is between one and four years, a dog can begin having seizures before its first birthday. I personally know of one who started when she was seven or eight months old. It can happen when a dog is 5, 6 or even 8 years of age. If the dog is otherwise healthy and no causes can be identified, that is idiopathic epilepsy. I recently learned that the father of one of my own dogs had his first seizure at nearly six years of age. Needless to say, my dog will NOT be bred.
Whether a dog starts having seizures at 8 months or 8 years of age, if no cause can be diagnosed other than Idiopathic Epilepsy, then those two dogs should be viewed the same way. A dog with late onset epilepsy is not safe to breed just because it didn't start seizing until it's life was 2/3 over. It may be that the older dog was not exposed to the right triggers and that in another household or environment, those seizures may have started much younger. The same applies to the younger dog - questioning a vaccine as the cause of seizure. With the younger dog, we have the early knowledge of the disorder and the responsibility to make sure that dog is never bred. In the case of the older-onset dog, whose breeding days may be over by the time it has a seizure, for the sake of damage control we must give the same consideration to the offspring produced by that affected dog. Best rule of thumb: No dog affected by seizures should be bred, and neither should their offspring.
Can Epilepsy be treated?
There is no cure for idiopathic epilepsy, but seizure activity can often be controlled through drug therapy. Epilepsy may be managed through the use of anti-epileptic drugs, such as phenobarbitol, potassium bromide, and diazepam. It can be very tricky to find the right drug, or the right combination of drugs, as every dog/case is different. And even once that perfect balance is achieved, it may change over time as the disease progresses. Some dogs may just not respond well to drug therapy. But patience is a must. And for those who do, the high degree of toxicity and the side effects that come with these drugs present yet other challenges to the Swissy and owner managing this disease. These are decisions that a pet owner with an epileptic pet must make with their veterinarian, as they weigh the frequency and severity of the seizures against possible side effects of the drugs. The age of the dog must also enter the equation as once a dog is reliant on anti-seizure medications, it is difficult to wean them off. Dogs being treated for epilepsy should be visit their veterinarian on a very regular basis to determine what toll, if any, drug therapy is taking on their bodies.
Please click onto this link to read more about epilepsy on a first-hand personal level from good friend and breeder, Kristin Krumpe of Aegis GSMD.
