Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in dogs, affecting up to 5.7% of the population. Effective management greatly reduces seizure frequency and protects quality of life.
Epilepsy in dogs creates welfare challenges across the entire seizure cycle. The ictal phase involves convulsions, loss of consciousness, and involuntary urination/defecation — distressing to witness and presumably aversive to experience. The post-ictal phase can involve confusion, blindness, aggression, and extreme anxiety lasting minutes to hours. Dogs with frequent or severe seizures experience repeated acute welfare insults. Between seizures, well-controlled epileptic dogs often have normal behaviour and good quality of life. Owner stress and anxiety about their dog's condition also indirectly affects dog welfare through disrupted household routines and anxiety transmission. Regular monitoring, consistent medication administration, and seizure diaries are essential tools for optimising management and quality of life.