Effect of an intervention of exercise on sleep and seizure frequency in idiopathic epileptic dogs

Abstract

Objective The goal of this study was to compare sleep and seizure frequency between epileptic dogs prescribed a 20% activity increase and epileptic dogs not prescribed an activity increase. Methods Sixty‐nine dogs receiving anti‐epileptic drug therapy were enrolled in a 6‐month prospective, randomised, placebo‐controlled clinical trial with an intention‐to‐treat analysis. A canine activity monitoring device was used to measure activity levels and sleep scores. Results Using an intention‐to‐treat analysis, the treatment group had an average of 0.381 more seizures per month (95% CI: 0.09 to 0.68) compared with the control group, although the difference in seizure days per month was not statistically significant. In a subgroup analysis of dogs whose activity increased by at least 10%, partial compliers had 0.719 more seizures per month (95% CI: 0.22 to 1.22) and 0.581 seizure days per month (95% CI: 0.001 to 1.16) compared with the control group. Sleep scores increased by 1.2% in the treatment compared with the control group (95% CI: 0.2 to 2.3%). Conclusions Seizure frequency and sleep score increased slightly, but significantly, in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy prescribed an increase in activity, compared with a control group.

Mild to moderate increases in activity are associated with increased seizure incidence in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy receiving anti‐epileptic drugs

“…These findings are consistent with our recent interventional study on the effect of assigned exercise as adjunct therapy in dogs with epilepsy that were refractory to AED treatments. In that study, we found a significant increase in the number of seizures and seizure-days per month in dogs that were assigned and completed at least a 10% increase in activity (Grady et al 2023).…”

“…In that study, we found a significant increase in the number of seizures and seizure‐days per month in dogs that were assigned and completed at least a 10% increase in activity (Grady et al . 2023).…”

“…A recent interventional study found pet dogs diagnosed with IE that were prescribed an increase in activity had slightly increased seizure frequency compared to control dogs when studied over a 3-month period (Grady et al 2023). While in people with epilepsy, exercise-associated seizures typically occur during or immediately after physical activity (Ablah et al 2009), the timing of seizures and increased activity in dogs is unknown.…”

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“…In canine patients, epilepsy was found to be the most prevalent chronic neurological disorder ( 3 , 4 ). Although the exact point prevalence is not known, this was estimated to be between 0.6 and 0.75% in the general dog population ( 1 ).…”

“…Idiopathic epilepsy (IE), which can be further subclassified into genetic epilepsy, suspected genetic epilepsy or IE of unknown cause, is the most common cause responsible for seizures in dogs ( 1 , 4 ). Seizures can also be a consequence of intracranial disease (structural epilepsy), metabolic disorders or intoxication (reactive seizures) ( 6 ).…”