Canine epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in dogs, affecting an estimated 0.5-1% of the pet dog population. Long-term management requires balancing seizure control against medication side effects, with significant welfare implications.
Epilepsy impacts dog welfare on multiple levels. The seizures themselves are profoundly distressing: dogs lose consciousness, experience involuntary muscle contractions, and often void bladder and bowel. Post-seizure (ictal) periods can last hours, involving confusion, blindness, and aggression. Chronic medication causes persistent side effects that affect daily quality of life. Dogs on phenobarbital experience constant hunger and thirst, weight gain, and potential liver damage. Despite medication, many dogs continue to have breakthrough seizures. The cumulative welfare burden of chronic epilepsy - on both the dog and the bond with their owner - is substantial. Owner distress, including hypervigilance and burnout, also affects dog welfare through the human-animal bond.