TY - JOUR
T1 - A longitudinal study of survival in belgian shepherds with genetic epilepsy
AU - Gulløv, Christina Hedal
AU - Toft, Nils
AU - Berendt, Mette
N1 - Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Background: Belgian Shepherds have focal genetic epilepsy. The prevalence of epilepsy has been estimated as 9.5% in the breed and as 33% in the family investigated. Dogs with epilepsy might have an increased risk of premature death. Objective/Hypothesis: To investigate survival and selected risk factors for premature death in a Belgian Shepherd family with genetic epilepsy. Animals: One hundred ninety-nine related Belgian Shepherds. Methods: Longitudinal observational study, 2009-2011. Follow-up telephone interviews were all conducted using a structured questionnaire addressing epilepsy, including seizure history and phenomenology, possible remission, possible death, and cause of death. Results: The life span of epileptic dogs was not significantly shortened by the presence of epilepsy (P = .87). Epilepsy was the predominant cause of death in the population (19/75 = 25%) and epilepsy-related deaths accounted for 70% (19/27) of all deaths in the group of dogs with epilepsy. Two probable sudden unexpected deaths related to epilepsy occurred in dogs with generalized seizures. Cluster seizures occurred in 33% (17/51) but did not significantly influence the life span of epileptic dogs. Dogs with epilepsy had an epilepsy remission proportion of 13.7%. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: The Belgian Shepherds investigated in the present study display a focal genetic epilepsy with an overall benign course. The life span was not significantly affected by the presence of epilepsy.
AB - Background: Belgian Shepherds have focal genetic epilepsy. The prevalence of epilepsy has been estimated as 9.5% in the breed and as 33% in the family investigated. Dogs with epilepsy might have an increased risk of premature death. Objective/Hypothesis: To investigate survival and selected risk factors for premature death in a Belgian Shepherd family with genetic epilepsy. Animals: One hundred ninety-nine related Belgian Shepherds. Methods: Longitudinal observational study, 2009-2011. Follow-up telephone interviews were all conducted using a structured questionnaire addressing epilepsy, including seizure history and phenomenology, possible remission, possible death, and cause of death. Results: The life span of epileptic dogs was not significantly shortened by the presence of epilepsy (P = .87). Epilepsy was the predominant cause of death in the population (19/75 = 25%) and epilepsy-related deaths accounted for 70% (19/27) of all deaths in the group of dogs with epilepsy. Two probable sudden unexpected deaths related to epilepsy occurred in dogs with generalized seizures. Cluster seizures occurred in 33% (17/51) but did not significantly influence the life span of epileptic dogs. Dogs with epilepsy had an epilepsy remission proportion of 13.7%. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: The Belgian Shepherds investigated in the present study display a focal genetic epilepsy with an overall benign course. The life span was not significantly affected by the presence of epilepsy.
U2 - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00977.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00977.x
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 22882455
SN - 0891-6640
VL - 26
SP - 1115
EP - 1120
JO - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
JF - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
IS - 5
ER -