Canine idiopathic epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in dogs, causing recurrent seizures that require lifelong management and significantly affect welfare.
Epilepsy in dogs causes welfare harm from the seizures themselves — which involve loss of consciousness, muscle convulsions, and post-ictal confusion — and from the anxiety associated with unpredictable seizure occurrence. Dogs may be anxious in the post-ictal period, temporarily disoriented and sometimes aggressive. Owners experience significant anxiety and distress witnessing seizures. Effective antiepileptic medication reduces seizure frequency and severity in most dogs, improving welfare for both dog and owner. Status epilepticus is a welfare emergency requiring immediate diazepam or rectal midazolam administration, and owners of epileptic dogs should have emergency rescue medication prescribed and be trained in its use.