Epilepsy affects approximately 1-5% of dogs, with modern anticonvulsant therapy allowing most epileptic dogs to live good quality lives with appropriate management.
Seizures cause significant distress. Dogs in the post-ictal period show confusion, anxiety, and sometimes temporary blindness indicating a significant welfare impact. Poorly controlled epilepsy with frequent seizures chronically compromises quality of life. Well-controlled epilepsy with low seizure frequency allows dogs to live normal lives. Medication adherence, trigger identification, and emergency preparedness are the foundations of epileptic dog welfare management.