Idiopathic epilepsy has strong genetic components in many dog breeds, and responsible breeding practices using genetic testing and health screening can reduce the frequency of this welfare-impacting condition in future generations.
Canine epilepsy welfare operates at two levels: the management of welfare for individual affected dogs, and the prevention of welfare problems in future generations through responsible breeding. For breeds with identified genetic mutations associated with epilepsy, DNA testing of breeding stock provides a tool for reducing the frequency of the condition in offspring. Breed clubs that maintain health registries and require health testing before granting breeding endorsements create structural incentives for responsible breeding decisions. The challenge with polygenic epilepsy in some breeds is that no single genetic test captures the full risk, requiring broader health screening approaches. Breeders who transparently record and report health outcomes in their lines, including epilepsy, contribute to the population-level data needed to guide breeding decisions.