Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab Publishes Results of Study on Idiopathic Epilepsy & Sleep in Dogs


Big News! Remember the call-out for the need of a male Siberian Husky for a sleep study for dogs with epilepsy I shared last July? Well, the results are in! 

"An Exploratory Study on the Relationship between Idiopathic Epilepsy and Sleep in Dogs" led by Dr. Alejandro Mondino, Dr. Karen Muñana, and Julie Nettifee, RVT, MS, VTS from The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at North Carolina State University-College of Veterinary Medicine has now been published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. The study consisted of 64 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (Epi-dogs) and 64 non-epis.  

This study was NOT just for Siberian Huskies. It included a wide range of dogs as epilepsy can happen to many breeds and mixed breeds across the globe.

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According to the Study, "The breed distribution for both groups included 17 mixed breed dogs, 15 herding dogs, 11 working dogs, 10 sporting dogs, 4 toy dogs, 3 hound dogs, 2 non-sporting dogs, and 2 terrier dogs. In the epileptic group, the most common breeds were Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, and Saint Bernard. Additionally, there were two dogs each of the following breeds: American Pitbull Terrier, Boxer, Chihuahua, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, French Bulldog, German Shorthaired Pointer, Great Dane, and Shetland Sheepdog. Breeds represented once included Clumber Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Irish Setter, Italian Greyhound, Labrador Retriever, Lagotto Romagnolo, Portuguese Water Dog, Perro de Presa Canario, Rottweiler, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon."

So, as you can see, there was a wide variety of breeds whose caregivers responded to the Research Lab's call-out and whose dogs were involved in the study. 

"Fifty-nine percent of dog owners noticed changes in sleep patterns after a seizure, most often increased sleep duration." ~Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab

Results from the Study state, "Significant differences in sleep scores were identified between epileptic dogs and controls...driven by poorer sleep quality in the epileptic group. No significant associations were found between sleep scores and seizure frequency, clusters, or ASM (anti-seizure medications) use. Fifty-nine percent of dog owners noticed changes in sleep patterns after a seizure, most often increased sleep duration."

The full Study, including observations, methods, dogs, results,  conclusions, and clinical importance, which has now been published, is available to read (and I highly recommend doing so as there is much information in the report).

There are two ways you can obtain a copy of the Study—free—to read, both through Wiley Online Library: 

 


 1. Read the Study online by clicking HERE. Or, 

2. Download a PDF file of the Study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine HERE. 

On behalf of The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab, Julie Nettifee, RVT, MS, VTS (Neurology) and the 2020 American Humane Hero Veterinary Nurse Award recipient, sent out a heartfelt message to all participants and fellow advocates for Canine Epilepsy education and awareness.  "Thank you to all for helping us by joining in the study, and promoting it. We greatly appreciate your support!"

As a caregiver and lover of "Gibson," a dog who lived his life with epilepsy, in return I'd like to respond with a giant, heartfelt Thank You to Drs. Mondino and Muñana, and neurology vet nurse Julie, and all the amazing neurology veterinarian experts at The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab for their care, concern, and continuous work with conducting research, clinical trials, and studies into Canine Epilepsy.

These types of studies and research are so vital to the future of dogs with epilepsy, and the work they are doing is so wonderfully helpful moving forward so we can better care, treat, and manage seizures in our dogs while gaining a deeper understanding about the myriad of triggers and reasons why a dog has seizures. 
 
The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab experts are truly paving the way for us to give the best care to these amazing dogs...and hopefully...one day...maybe a cure for epilepsy will be discovered for animals and humans alike.

 Note: After you've read the published Study results, if you have any questions about the study, please feel free to Email:  cvmepilepsy@ncsu.edu

For more information on Canine Epilepsy, visit The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at go.ncsu.edu/epilepsyresearch.




 

I am dedicating this post to our beloved fellow Epi-dog furpal, and one of our featured Epi-Stars, "Elsa", of Tails Around the Ranch.

In Memory of Elsa

Beautiful Elsa has been a longtime Epi-dog (dog with epilepsy) and an amazing fellow ambassadog for Epi-dogs. Her hu-mom, Monika, have shared their story and much information on living with Canine Epilepsy in their blog Tails Around the Ranch.  If you'd like to read more about her, and leave a heartfelt message for Monika, please visit their blog. 
 
Elsa, a true Epi-warrior, never let having epilepsy keep her from enjoying life.
 
Elsa was also featured as one of my Epi-Stars, where we shared her story of living life with Canine Epilepsy. You can read it HERE. 
 
Monika, sending you big, teary understanding hugs. 

Elsa, you will always be remembered.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 Be sure to check out our info on our upcoming 10th Annual #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong Purple Day® for Epilepsy Blog Hop & Social Media Share! Join us in "Going Purple" on March 26th for 24 hours! Read all about how HERE!
 

 
 

 
 

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Comments

  1. Brian's Home BlogMarch 20, 2025 at 7:05 PM

    Sounds like some wonderful research going on, bravo! We were very sad to hear about sweet Elsa too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. messymimiMarch 20, 2025 at 10:23 PM

    Now the chicken and egg question. Does poor sleep increase the likelihoos of epilepsy, or is it one of the side effects of epilepsy (ie, epilepsy causes you to sleep more).

    ReplyDelete

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