What is epilepsy?
The term epilepsy comes from the Greek and means "to seize". It reflects how suddenly seizures can occur. The seizure is always transient, lasting only a few minutes, which often seems like hours. The dog may lose consciousness, be confused, have a fixed gaze, make repetitive movements, etc. Epilepsy often affects the dog while he is still young, but it can also occur for the first time when he is older. A sudden and momentary electrical disturbance in the brain will trigger a seizure, which may be more or less long lasting. This electrical activity, which is too high, will then disperse to several neighboring neurons, with 2 possible consequences:
- Partial epilepsy, if this discharge remains localized. Only certain parts of the animal's body will be affected.
- A generalized epilepsy, if the nerve impulse has spread throughout the nervous system. All parts of the dog's body are then affected.
What causes epilepsy?
Dogs can be affected by several types of epilepsy, with different causes.
- Idiopathic epilepsy, which is due to abnormal brain function. It can be hereditary or genetic, some breeds are more affected than others.
- Structural epilepsy, which can occur at any age, and can be linked to a pre-existing pathology.
- Reactive epilepsy, which is caused by a metabolic disorder such as hypoglycaemia, or by poisoning.
Diagnosis
Since the attacks occur spontaneously, it is difficult to have the veterinarian with you when the dog is affected. It is therefore important to note your pet's reactions, so that you can communicate them during the office visit. The veterinarian will perform a complete clinical examination and may request blood tests and a medical imaging exam.
Epilepsy and CBD in dogs
CBD (cannabidiol), belongs to the cannabinoid family, and is derived from hemp (Cannabis Sativa). In recent years, the number of studies on cannabidiol and its effects on health has increased steadily. Unlike THC, it is not psychoactive. CBD does not have the high or euphoric effects of THC. In humans, a cannabidiol-based medicine is authorised on prescription for certain rare epilepsies; in dogs, research is still limited and no CBD product sold to the public is a veterinary medicine. Here is what some studies, mostly on rodents, have explored.
- Studies published in 2011 and 2012 on rodent models reported anticonvulsant effects of CBD (Jones et al. 2011, Jones et al. 2012).
- A 2014 study reported an effect on the intensity of seizures; such limited data does not allow any conclusion for dogs.
A dog with epileptic seizures must be followed by a veterinarian. Never stop or change its antiepileptic treatment, and never give it a CBD product without veterinary advice: cannabidiol can interact with some medicines.
