Dogs with epilepsy require welfare assessment that goes beyond seizure frequency to encompass medication side effects, postictal welfare, and owner-dog relationship impacts.
Epilepsy management in dogs requires attention to welfare dimensions beyond seizure count reduction. Medication side effects - polyphagia causing weight gain and behavioral changes, sedation reducing activity and engagement - can significantly impair daily quality of life even when seizure frequency is controlled. Post-ictal disorientation and anxiety cause episodic distress beyond the seizure itself. Owner anxiety and relationship changes in response to their dog's epilepsy also affect the dog's welfare environment. Comprehensive welfare assessment - using validated quality of life tools - provides a more complete picture than seizure logs alone.