EPILEPSY
Epilepsy is one of the most common diseases of the nervous system in dogs.
It is characterized by seizures (convulsions or fits) which are ongoing and recur
periodically. The effects of the recurrent seizures can be devastating physically for the
affected dogs and emotionally for their owners.
Not all seizure activity is epilepsy. There are acquired seizures, which
may be due to a brain tumor, metabolic imbalance, poisoning, distemper, encephalitis
or head trauma. Any seizure should be reported to your veterinarian immediately.
Recurrent seizures, with no known cause, are referred to as idiopathic
epilepsy. It is thought to be a rare, inherited disorder in Welsh Terriers and generally
appears between one and three years of age. Although there is no known cure for epilepsy,
most dogs are managed on daily, anticonvulsant medications under veterinary supervision.
Gary Johnson, DVM of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary
Medicine is the primary investigator of an all-breed study of epilepsy. This is the same
study, originally sponsored by the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America, that Becky
Eterno referred to on the front page of the November, 1999 WAG. There was such an
overwhelming response from owners of other breeds, Dr. Johnson and his staff applied for
funding of the study as an all-breed project. Dr. Johnson and his research team plan to
produce DNA marker tests to identify epilepsy carriers in as many breeds as possible.
Affected Welsh and their non-affected, relatives could be included. This study is fully
funded and there are no participation fees. However, owners will have to have blood drawn
from their animal(s) and ship the sample(s) via overnight carrier. Click below for more
information and submission forms for the study.
According to Liz Hansen, University of Missouri Coordinator of Veterinary
Information and breeder, "To be part of DNA research in dogs at a point where things
are just beginning to really take off is very exciting. I think the coming years will
provide breeders an unprecedented opportunity to produce wonderful dogs, free of genetic
defects. This will only happen with cooperation from those who own the dogs needed for
research though, so I urge owners to participate whenever possible in research underway
– here at the University of Missouri or elsewhere."
Click here for related sites:
University of Missouri All Breed
Epilepsy Study – Canine Epilepsy Network (CEN) (There are articles of
interest in the "RESEARCH" section and directions for sample submission in the
"SAMPLE SUBMISSION" section.)
"A Welsh Example We Should Follow" ,
Reprinted from The Welsh Wag
AKC CHF White Paper: "Symposium on
Canine Epilepsy" (Reprinted with the permission of the AKC Canine Health
Foundation)
"Epilepsy Treatment, Inheritance and
Research", Anita Oberbauer, Ph.D. (reprinted with permission of AKC/CHF)
"Seizures and Cramps", by Marg
Plough. (Reprinted with permission of the author.)
Rage
If you have comments or suggestions, email me kogrady1@ec.rr.com