Owner reported management of interictal anxiety behaviours in canine epilepsy

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the most common chronic neurological condition in dogs, and can be associated with interictal (between seizure) anxiety (IIA). It is unclear how owners manage their pet's IIA, including how much veterinary support they receive for it. Methods: An international online questionnaire collected data on IIA prevalence, management of IIA and perceived levels of veterinary support for IIA from owners of dogs diagnosed with IE. Results: Valid responses were available from n = 220 owners. IIA was reported by 83.6% of owners. Common management strategies were behavioural or training techniques, reported by 90.4% of owners, whilst 34.4% reported use of behavioural products. Only 28.5% of owners felt fully supported by their vet in managing IIA. Owners who felt unsupported were less likely to have received advice on behavioural management or training from their vet (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Access to veterinary support for the management of IIA is needed for owners of dogs with IE.