Exploring the Link Between Epilepsy and Sleep Disturbances in Dogs: What Every Veterinarian Should Know
The relationship between epilepsy and sleep has been widely studied in humans, but what about our canine companions? A groundbreaking study by Alejandra Mondino, Julie Nettifee, and Karen R. Muñana delves into the sleep patterns of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) and compares them to healthy, non-epileptic dogs. Their findings highlight significant sleep disturbances in dogs with epilepsy, underscoring the importance of managing both seizure activity and sleep quality in veterinary care.
Is Your Patient’s Epilepsy Hiding a Bigger Problem? The MRI Findings That Could Change Everything!"
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.
Could Your Patient's Gut Be Causing Seizures? The Shocking Link Between Microbiota and Canine Epilepsy
For years, canine epilepsy has remained one of the most perplexing neurological disorders affecting our beloved pets. But what if the answer to managing your dog's seizures wasn’t just in their brain—but in their gut?
Non-Invasive Canine Electroencephalography (EEG): A Systematic Review
A recent systematic review explores the emerging field of canine cognitive neuroscience, with a focus on the non-invasive use of electroencephalography (EEG) as a tool to map cognitive processes in dogs. Over the past decade, EEG has proven to be an accessible and portable neuroimaging method that provides real-time insights into canine brain activity. This review examines 22 studies using non-invasive EEG to understand cognitive processes in dogs, analyzing their technical setups, methodologies, and findings, while also identifying key trends in the field.
Revolutionary Machine Learning Tool Can Predict Epilepsy in Dogs with Stunning Accuracy!
Clinical reasoning in veterinary medicine is often based on clinicians' personal experience in combination with information derived from publications describing cohorts of patients. Studies on the use of scientific methods for patient individual decision making are largely lacking. This applies to the prediction of the individual underlying pathology in seizuring dogs as well. The aim of this study was to apply machine learning to the prediction of the risk of structural epilepsy in dogs with seizures.
New Research Reveals Key Genetic Factors Behind Epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds!
Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) affects Belgian shepherd dogs more than other breeds, but scientists haven't been able to pinpoint the exact genetic causes—until now. This new study looked at gene activity in dogs with IE to find possible genetic factors linked to the condition.