The Dalmatian Club of America
Seizure Survey
Update 1997
Anita Tate DMD, Marion
Mitchell, Jennifer Johnson Glaser
Dalmatian Club of
America Study Group on Seizure Disorders
This is a report from the Survey on Seizure
Disorders conducted by the DCA Study Group on Seizures.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT READERS
OF THIS ARTICLE AND ITS EARLY RESULTS REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:
-
They are reports from only a limited
number of Dalmatian owners and breeders responding to the Survey questionnaire;
-
As such, they may, or may not, be directly
related to, seizure disorders or epilepsy;
-
Please remember the percentages were
computed from only the responses to the Survey. The statistics most definitely
SHOULD
NOT be projected to that of the general Dalmatian population. This
article is NOT intended nor should be regarded as a generalized
percentage report of seizure disorders in the breed.
Thanks to the Spotter editorial
staff, the Survey questionnaire was published in two issues: Winter/Spring
1994-95 and Fall 1995. As of May 1996, a total of 108 surveys had been
returned. As of December 1997 and the writing of this article a total of
49 new surveys have been returned for a total of 157.
GENDER OF DOG WITH
EPILEPSY OR SEIZURE DISORDERS
Chart
No. 1 Results of Seizure Survey:
Gender of Dogs with
Epilepsy or Seizure Disorder
AGE RANGE OF DOG
WITH EPILEPSY OR SEIZURE DISORDERS
Ages range from 2 months to 14 years.
The mean average age range was 2-3 years. A life span of 8-14 years was
frequently reported.
BREED OF DOG WITH
EPILEPSY OR SEIZURE DISORDERS
Information requested exclusively
of purebred Dalmatians. 1997 Survey included pet owners and non-DCA members.
1996 Survey included DCA and Regional Dalmatian Specialty Club Members.
SEVERITY OF SEIZURES
"How severe
are your dogs seizures"
Chart No. 2 Results
of Seizure Survey:
Intensity of Seizures
Reported
FREQUENCY OF SEIZURES
- UNTREATED
This refers to the number of times
a dog has a seizure in a given period without medication given
A number of respondents failed to
answer this question. Of those who did the reported frequencies were as
follows (in dogs untreated with medications).
-
Multiple -2 - 12 seizures daily
-
1 daily
-
2 daily
-
4 daily
-
1 weekly
-
2 weekly
-
3 weekly
-
1 monthly
-
2 monthly
-
1 every two months
-
1 every three months
-
1 per year
-
2 per year.
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Chart No.
3 Results of Seizure Survey:
Alternative Medicine
Alternative Medicine
is gaining favor in the treatment of canine epilepsy. Some of the methods
used are acupuncture, gold wire implants in the ears and gold bead implants
in the head and body, Chinese herbs, various Homeopathic Remedies and Flower
Essences.
5 surveys reported
the utilization of Alternative Medicine such as acupuncture and
Chinese herbs.
FREQUENCY OF SEIZURES
TREATED
This refers to the number of times
a dog has a seizure in a given period with medicationgiven
Chart No.
4 Results of Seizure Survey:
Frequency of Seizures
Treated with Medication:
Of those dogs reported responsive
to anti - seizure medications the extent of their responses ranged as follows
Multiple seizures, daily Improved to no
seizure activity
Multiple seizures, daily Improved to 2
seizures, monthly
Multiple seizures, daily Improved to 2
seizures yearly
Two seizures, daily
Improved to 2 monthly
One seizure daily
Improved to 1 seizure per six months
One seizure, per six months Improved to no seizure activity
Remainder
No improvement with medications
Overall, the survey concludes an
improvement or less seizure activity with medications.
MEDICATIONS REPORTED
AS HELPFUL
* Please Note
An emphasis must be placed on individual
drug titration per dog. (The dose must be adjusted properly for your dog)
-
Diazepam (Valium)
-
Dilantin
-
Phenobarbital
-
Phenobarbital+Potassium Bromide
-
Primadone (Mysoline)
DOSAGES OF MEDICATIONS
Diazepam (Valium)
Dosages not reported. Usually given to break status epilepticus or
cluster seizures .
Dilantin
100mg. twice daily *Since other drug options are available Dilantin
(1997) is currently not recommended for use.
Phenobarbital
Available in tablets of 1/4 grain to 15mg.
Total daily dosage ranged from 30mg. to 240mg, as follows
15 mg. (1/4 grain) twice daily (total = 30mg.)
30 mg. (1/2 grain) twice daily (total = 60mg.)
30 mg. (1/2 grain) three times daily (total = 90 mg.)
60 mg. (1 grain) twice daily (total = 120 mg.)
60 mg. (1 grain) three times daily (total = 180mg.)
60mg. (1 grain) four times daily (total = 240mg.)
Phenobarbital + Potassium Bromide ( Kbr)
(Kbr is available in capsule and liquid form)
Four respondents reported medication had to be increased because the
dog had developed a tolerance to the drug.
60mg. (1 grain) + 600mg.KBr once daily
120mg. (2 grains) + 600mg. Kbr twice daily
Primadone
Available in tablets of 250mg. or 500mg.
Total daily dosage ranged from 250mg. to 1,500mg., as follows:
250 mg. once daily
250 mg. three times daily
500mg. three times daily
Comments from 1997 Survey
-
1997 Survey reports Primadone and Phenobarbital as the most frequent medication
utilized in seizure control
-
1997 Survey reported that most dogs can be controlled using Phenobarbital
and /or Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide.
-
1997 3 surveys reported Bromide toxicity (excessive Bromide build-up in
the blood stream creating an overdose effect.
AGE OF ONSET OF
SEIZURE ACTIVITY
This refers to the age the dog started
having seizures
Chart No.
5 Results of Seizure Survey:
Age at Onset of
Seizures:
1997 Most frequent age of onset was
2.5 to 3 years
STATUS OF REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS
Chart No.
6 Results of Seizure Survey:
Status of Reproductive
Organs
DOGS LOST TO SEIZURE
DISORDER
"Have you
ever lost a dog due to a seizure disorder?"
Chart No. 7 Results
of Seizure Survey:
This question DID NOT consider
euthanasia as a seizure control choice.
SEIZURE ACTIVITY
IN LITTERMATES
"Have you ever seen
or heard about seizure activity in littermates?"
Chart No.
8 Results of Seizure Survey:
In the 1997 Survey, 31(63%) reported
they were lacking knowledge regarding seizure activity in littermates due
to the following reasons.
-
The purchase of an older dog and no
contact with littermates.
-
A rescued dog
-
Little or no contact with the breeder.
MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS
AND INFORMATION
Numbers cited with the respondents’
comments are the number of questionnaires returned. Please remember the
quoted statements are from individual Dalmatian fanciers and may or may
not be pertinent to seizure disorders in general!
"The sire had a seizure disorder".
(reported by 17 respondents; noted
among different litters and different pedigrees)
(An increased incidence of seizure
activity in female progeny was reported from a sire having a history of
seizure activity).
"The dam had a seizure".
(reported by 8 respondents)
"Seizure activity in a bitch directly
related to her being in season."
(reported by 12 different respondents)
"Onset occurred following whelping
puppies and continued thereafter for the life of the dam."
(Hormonal influence? Hypoglycemia?
Electrolyte deficiency?)
"Old Age."
It was noted that seizure activity
increases with age.
"Hypoglycemia." (low blood
sugar)
"Renal Failure" (kidney failure)
"Water deprivation in young puppies
creating a seizure disorder"
(This has similarly been reported
in pig populations)
"Seizure activity following the
use of Heartguard (heart worm preventative)
THE SEIZURE
SURVEY IS ONGOING.
All survey information
is confidential.
If you have not completed a survey
and wish to provide information on seizure disorders, please
fill out the questionnaire which
can be found on the Dalmatian Club of America Web-Site at:
http://www.thedca.org/seizure_survey.html
or request a paper questionnaire
from:
Marion
Mitchell
DCA Study Group on Seizure Disorder
185 Rim Road
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Home phone# 505-662-3323
email dalcrazy@rt66.com
Many thanks to the time volunteered
by Marion Mitchell to design the graphs that accompany this report.
It is hoped that their visual impact
will help you understand the statistics gathered.
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