Speak to any human about their dog who suffered from epilepsy, and you’ll know how heart-breaking it is. So, today we bring you welcome news as canine epilepsy research gets a boost this November, the Epilepsy Awareness Month.
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) has awarded over $375,000 in grants towards canine epilepsy research. AKC CHF is a non-profit organisation committed to advancing the health of all dogs and their owners.
How epilepsy impacts dogs
Epilepsy is the most common medical neurologic disease in dogs. Despite appropriate treatment, it is estimated that 30% of affected dogs continue to have seizures. While many experience adverse effects from anti-seizure medications.
“Epilepsy has a profound impact on the lives of affected dogs and their owners,” said Mary O. Smith, BVM&S, PhD, DACVIM (Neurology), CHF Board Vice Chairman and board-certified veterinary neurologist. “Promising new treatments are being studied with CHF funding. Genetic studies also are underway to identify dogs at risk of developing epilepsy, to inform breeding decisions and to identify new treatment targets. CHF and its donors are committed to supporting this innovative research.”
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More about the grants
To improve quality of life for affected dogs and their owners, CHF and its donors have invested more than $2.8 million since 1995 to study canine epilepsy. As canine epilepsy research gets a boost, here’s more on the newly awarded grants:
Grant 02940
Investigating neuronal network connectivity in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy using functional magnetic resonance imaging. A study to evaluate blood flow and brain activity in functionally connected regions of the brain in epileptic dogs. The principal investigator is Karen R. Muñana, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology) from North Carolina State University, US.
Grant 02936
Validating genetic variants underlying canine idiopathic epilepsy and exploring their functional roles in the Belgian Sheepdog and Tervuren. Research into the genetic variations associated with idiopathic epilepsy and the functional changes associated with them. The principal investigator is Anita M. Oberbauer, PhD from University of California, Davis, US.
Grant 02931
Assessment of frequency of seizures and antiseizure drug (ASD) efficacy by electroencephalography (EEG) for dogs with epilepsy. A study to evaluate the number and type of seizures and the effects of anti-seizure drugs in epileptic dogs using electroencephalography (EEG). The principal investigator is Fiona James, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), University of Guelph, Canada.
Grant 02930
A dose finding study of cannabidiol in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. A clinical trial to determine the dose, safety and tolerability of CBD for seizure reduction in dogs with refractory epilepsy. The principal investigator is Stephanie McGrath, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), Colorado State University, US.
This article has been taken from a press release issued by AKC CHF.
