Risk Factors for Survival in a University Hospital Population of Dogs with Epilepsy

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

N. Fredsø¹  B.C. Koch¹  N. Toft² 

[1] Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark;Section for Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

关键词: Canine;    Life span;    Mortality;    Seizure;   

DOI  :  10.1111/jvim.12443

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Background

Although a common neurological disorder in dogs, long-term outcome of epilepsy is sparsely documented.

Objectives

To investigate risk factors for survival and duration of survival in a population of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy or epilepsy associated with a known intracranial cause.

Animals

One hundred and two client owned dogs; 78 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and 24 dogs with epilepsy associated with a known intracranial cause.

Methods

A retrospective hospital based study with follow-up. Dogs diagnosed with epilepsy between 2002 and 2008 were enrolled in the study. Owners were interviewed by telephone using a structured questionnaire addressing epilepsy status, treatment, death/alive, and cause of death.

Results

Median life span was 7.6 years, 9.2 years, and 5.8 years for all dogs, and dogs with idiopathic epilepsy or dogs with epilepsy associated with a known intracranial cause (P < .001), respectively. Survival time for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy was significantly (P = .0030) decreased for dogs euthanized because of epilepsy (median: 35 months) compared to dogs euthanized for other reasons (median: 67.5 months). Neutered male dogs with idiopathic epilepsy had a significant (P = .031) shorter survival (median: 38.5 months) after index seizure compared to intact male dogs (median: 71 months). Treatment with two antiepileptic drugs (AED′s) did not negatively influence survival (P = .056).

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy can in many cases expect a life span close to what is reported for dogs in general. In dogs where mono-therapy is not sufficient, the need for treatment with two AED′s is not linked to a poor prognosis.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2014 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine