Why some dogs do not respond to epilepsy treatments
Past research has shown around a third of dogs do not respond to anti-epilepsy drugs.
New research has shed light on why around a third of dogs do not respond to epilepsy treatments.
Sex, breed and frequency of seizures all affect the likelihood of achieving remission, according to specialists from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
Epilepsy affects around 50,000 dogs and 600,000 people in the UK, making it the most common chronic neurological condition found in both dogs and humans. Research has shown anti-epilepsy drugs (AEDs) fail to reduce seizures by 50 per cent in a third of cases.
RVC researchers sought to find out why, using patient data from six years of medical history, taken from the college's small animal referral hospital.
Just 14 per cent of the dogs studied were in seizure-free remission at the point of follow up.
The findings, which will be published in the academic journal PLOS ONE, show that male dogs were less likely than female dogs to become seizure-free while receiving AED treatment.
Border collies and German shepherds were also found to be significantly less likely to respond to treatment. Past studies have looked at the impact of AEDs on different dog types, but the RVC was able to explore how this affects a wider variety of breeds.
Researchers say they also discovered that the likelihood of achieving remission is not affected by the number of seizures experienced before treatment begins. Traditionally in human medicine, treatment is given immediately after the onset of epilepsy.
Rowena Packer, co-author of the study and clinical investigations research assistant at the RVC, said managing owners' expectations of drug treatments for epilepsy is important.
"In its worst form canine epilepsy can be life threatening to dogs, but it is a dog's long-term quality of life that is most affected. It can also take a toll on the owners who have to manage this unpredictable, uncontrollable condition."
Lead author Professor Holger Volk, specialist in neurology and neurosurgery and clinical director of the RVC's small animal referral clinic, added: "Drug treatments can be successful in reducing seizures, but it is important to note that consistent remission is difficult to attain."
Researchers say further study of AED treatment in dogs could even improve understanding of epilepsy in humans.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
