Epilepsy can occur in animals other than humans (see main article Epilepsy). It is common in dogs but rare in cats. It is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures.

Canine epilepsy

In dogs, epilepsy is often an inherited condition. It is more common in certain breeds, including Beagles, Dachshunds, and German Shepherds.

Treatment

Treatments can include the drugs phenobarbital, phenytoin, potassium bromide and diazepam. Potassium bromide and phenobarbital are often paired for the treatment of animals with epilepsy (other drugs such as gabapentin are only recently being introduced into the treatment of animals). A veterinarian will often prescribe Zentinol in an effort to minimize the damaging effects of bromides on the liver enzymes.

Feline epilepsy

References

• Canine Epilepsy Resources
• The Pet Centre: Epilepsy in the dog
• Feline Epilepsy
• Seizure Disorders In Dogs And Cats
• Seizure Disorders (in pets)
• WAG/Rij rats

Support organisations

• The Epi Feline Support Group

Veterinary medicine | Animal diseases