Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in dogs, affecting approximately 0.6% of the dog population. With appropriate anticonvulsant treatment, most epileptic dogs can achieve good seizure control and quality of life.
Dogs experiencing seizures suffer acute distress during the ictal phase and prolonged confusion during post-ictal recovery. Owners may misinterpret post-ictal behaviour as aggression or deterioration. Poorly controlled epilepsy with frequent seizures significantly impairs daily welfare and increases the risk of status epilepticus. With appropriate treatment and regular monitoring, the majority of epileptic dogs achieve good seizure control and maintain normal quality of life between episodes.