Canine idiopathic epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological condition in dogs, affecting approximately 0.6% of the population. Long-term welfare management requires seizure control, monitoring and quality of life assessment.
Epilepsy welfare management requires looking beyond seizure frequency to the dog's full quality of life. A dog with rare seizures but significant drug side effects (sedation, ataxia, personality change) may have lower quality of life than a dog with more frequent but well-tolerated seizures on lower medication doses. Owner-reported quality of life scales, incorporating energy level, playfulness, social engagement and appetite, complement seizure frequency data. End-of-life decisions for severely refractory epileptic dogs are among the most distressing for owners - structured quality of life assessment tools support these conversations.