Canine Epilepsy

Episode 4 · October 7th, 2019 · 38 mins 12 secs

About this Episode

In this episode, I chat about canine epilepsy with Dr. Karen Munana, professor of neurology at North Caroline State University Veterinary Medicine. We discuss all the basics of epilepsy. I also want to bring your attention to the research she's involved in right now in case you can participate:

NCSU is doing right now on epilepsy and the gut microbiome.

The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research program at NC State University College of Veterinary
Medicine is recruiting for a new clinical trial to determine whether dogs with idiopathic epilepsy
have alterations in their gut microbial population. Our study team is looking for households
with an epileptic dog and an unaffected dog to compare the bacterial populations within their
gastrointestinal tract. Feces will be collected from both dogs to compare their gut microbiome.

PARTICIPATION-
• Owners must be willing to collect a one-time fecal sample from both dogs and send
samples to NCSU CVM (pre-paid shipping). Owners will also be required to complete a
brief online questionnaire at the time of sample collection.

STUDY BENEFITS (FREE OF CHARGE TO PARTICIPANTS)
• Free fecal floatation to examine for parasites
• All study materials, including shipping, will be covered by the study
• Participation will provide additional information about epilepsy that may help your dog
or other animals in the future

INCLUSION CRITERIA -
• Households must have one dog with epilepsy and one unaffected dog
• Epileptic dog must have presumptive diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy based on seizure
onset between 6 months and 6 years of age, and not be on seizure medication or be on
phenobarbital alone
• Both dogs must not be on any other medications aside from monthly preventatives
• Dogs must be fed the same diet

For more information or to enroll your dogs,
contact Julie Nettifee, RVT, BS, VTS (Neurology):
janettif@ncsu.edu
go.ncsu.edu/epilepsyresearch

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