Canine epilepsy affects around 0.75% of dogs, causing frightening seizure events that can be significantly managed with appropriate medication and owner support.
Canine epilepsy welfare requires distinguishing between the welfare impact of individual seizures and the welfare of the inter-ictal period - the time between seizures. A well-controlled epileptic dog that has one brief seizure monthly but is otherwise comfortable, playful, and engaged has genuinely good welfare. The welfare assessment should include medication side effects (sedation from phenobarbitone is common), owner anxiety, and the dog's overall quality of life. Owner education about seizure first aid, emergency medication thresholds, and the importance of medication compliance significantly improves welfare outcomes for epileptic dogs.