Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in dogs, and long-term welfare requires careful medication management, monitoring, and owner education.
Epilepsy causes acute welfare compromise during seizures and a chronic welfare burden between them. Post-ictal periods of confusion, fear, and sometimes aggression can last hours and are distressing for both dogs and owners. Poorly controlled epilepsy with frequent seizures significantly degrades quality of life. Effective management requires individualised drug protocols, regular monitoring of drug levels and liver function, and owner education on emergency responses to cluster seizures. Quality of life assessment tools specifically validated for dogs with epilepsy help guide treatment decisions.