Is Your Patient’s Epilepsy Hiding a Bigger Problem? The MRI Findings That Could Change Everything!"
Dog owners dealing with epilepsy often breathe a sigh of relief when their pup seems perfectly normal between seizures. But a new study using high-powered MRI technology is revealing an unsettling truth—some of these dogs may have hidden structural brain abnormalities.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool examined over 400 epileptic dogs with normal neurological exams between seizures. While most had no obvious structural issues, 3.9% were found to have serious underlying conditions, including brain tumors, congenital anomalies, and inflammatory diseases. The risk increased dramatically with age—older dogs and those with a history of prolonged seizures were far more likely to have an underlying structural cause.
The findings challenge the long-standing belief that a clean bill of health between seizures rules out deeper problems. Could high-field MRI become a game-changer in diagnosing and treating canine epilepsy? For some dogs, it might mean catching a dangerous condition before it’s too late.
If a dog has epilepsy, this research raises an important question—should you dig deeper with advanced imaging? The answer could mean the difference between managing symptoms and uncovering a hidden threat.
Read more here: High-field MRI findings in epileptic dogs with a normal inter-ictal neurological examination
