best dog food for epileptic dogs

Nutrition breakthrough to help manage dogs with epilepsy

Published: 17 Feb 2017 | Last Updated: 10 Aug 2023 11:22:43

Research from the RVC canine epilepsy clinic leads to the development of the first and only diet to help nutritionally manage dogs with idiopathic epilepsy as an adjunct to veterinary therapy. The diet, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NC NeuroCare, will be available to those with a veterinary prescription in the USA starting in March.

Research¹from RVC canine epilepsy clinic, in partnership with Nestl Purina, provided the basis for the development of the first and only diet to help nutritionally manage dogs with idiopathic epilepsy as an adjunct to veterinary therapy.

The diet Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NC NeuroCare will be presented to veterinarians at The North American Veterinary Community annual conference in Orlando, Florida.

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological condition diagnosed in dogs and humans². The most common treatment for canine epilepsy is anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Past studies have also found that in approximately a third of dogs, current drug treatments failed to reduce, by at least 50%, the number of seizures they experience ^3-5. The RVC epilepsy clinic is continuously working on new management options to improve seizure control further, quality of life of dogs with epilepsy and to give back control to owners.

Professor Holger Volk, Head of the Department of Clinical Science and Services of the RVC and specialist in Neurology and Neurosurgery, said: Canine epilepsy is a complex condition and can be very distressing for the dog and their owner, which I know from personal experience having had a dog with fits. Drug treatments can be successful in reducing seizures, but it is important to note that consistent remission can be difficult to attain and we need to find new strategies to broaden our management toolkit".

One of the most exciting new areas of research in canine epilepsy is on the effects of diet. Holger added: Breeders and dog owners have often told me that they feel that the food that they give to their dogs does influence the control of their seizures.

These anecdotal observations kindled the idea of looking closer at the effect of diet on dogs with epilepsy. Holger emphasised the importance of giving a consistent diet, which can be extremely difficult in a real world situation, because one of the effects of epilepsy drugs is to stimulate appetite and so these dogs will always be looking for food. Giving leftovers from human meals can further add to the challenge of looking after a pet with epilepsy because ingredients, such as high salt levels in many human foods, can interfere with how dogs process some of the AEDs. It is not just the amount of food that matters, the individual nutrients are also important.

The team at the RVC demonstrated this in a study that showed a diet rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) can help control seizures¹. The study was a six-month randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded crossover study conducted in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy that were also being administered AEDs. It demonstrated for the first time that a test diet with MCT oil can have positive effects on reduction of seizure frequency when fed as an adjunct to veterinary therapy (71% of dogs showed a reduction in seizure frequency, 48% of dogs showed a 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency and 14% of dogs achieved complete seizure freedom).

Our new formula was inspired by this study conducted in dogs with epilepsy at the Royal Veterinary College, and in partnership with Purina. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NC NeuroCare is the first and only diet to help nutritionally manage dogs with epilepsy as an adjunct to veterinary therapy, says Jason Gagn, DVM, Dipl. ACVN and Director, Veterinary Technical Marketing at Purina, NeuroCare is enhanced with MCT oil, plus a unique blend of nutrients, including arginine, EPA + DHA, antioxidants and B vitamins to help support a dogs cognitive health. Holger added, We hope this new diet makes a difference and brings new hope to owners of dogs with epilepsy. It will not be the magic wand for all patients with epilepsy. It will need to be given under the guidance of a veterinarian and should be given as an adjunct to veterinary therapy.

1Law TH, Davies ES, Pan Y, et al. A randomised trial of a medium-chain TAG diet as treatment for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Br J Nutr. 2015;114:1438-47. 2Chandler K. Canine epilepsy: What can we learn from human seizure disorders? Vet J. 2006;172:207217.3Podell M, Fenner W. Bromide Therapy in Refractory Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy. J Vet Intern Med. 1993;7:318-327.4Trepanier L, Schwark W, Van Schoick A, et al. Therapeutic Serum Drug Concentrations in Epileptic Dogs Treated with Potassium Bromide Alone or in Combination with Other Anticonvulsants: 122 cases (1992-1996). J Am Vet Med Assoc.1998;213:1449-1453.5Schwartz-Porsche D, Loscher W, Frey H. Therapeutic Efficacy of Phenobarbital and Primidone in Canine Epilepsy: A Comparison. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 1985;8:113-119.

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Notes to Editors

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a constituent College of the University of London. The RVC offers undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences, being ranked in the top 10 universities nationally for biosciences degrees. It is currently the only veterinary school in the world to hold full accreditation from AVMA, EAEVE, RCVS and AVBC.

A research-led institution, in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) the RVC maintained its position as the top HEFCE funded veterinary focused research institution.

The RVCalso provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals; the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital in central London, the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (Europe's largest small animal referral centre), the Equine Referral Hospital, and the Farm Animal Clinical Centre located at the Hertfordshire campus.

RVC Press Release 17February 2017

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Whats the Right Canine Epilepsy Diet?

Whats the Right Canine Epilepsy Diet?

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder that has no known underlying cause. Epilepsy can be treated with various seizure medications with the goal is to decrease the frequency of the seizures, the severity of the seizures, and how long it takes your pet to recover from a seizure. Seizure medications are used to control seizures but generally do not totally eliminate seizures. Clients commonly ask their veterinarian if there is a canine epilepsy diet that can help control this disease. Below we will review what are seizures and epilepsy, treatment options, and discuss the potential benefits of a canine epilepsy diet.

What are Seizures?

Seizures, also known as convulsions or fits, are classified as a symptom and are not a disease. What this means is that seizures can be caused many different underlying problems such as trauma to the head such as that occurs when hit by a car or hit with a ball bat, ingestion of various toxins, brain tumors, infections, organ failure and many more possible causes. Learn more about Causes of Seizures. Epilepsy is a seizure disorder when no underlying cause has been identified.

A seizure occurs when excessive electrical activity occurs in the brain that results in a series of involuntary contractions of the muscles, abnormal sensations or behaviors, or some combination of these events. Most often seizures occur at night or early in the morning while a dog is at rest.

Many believe there may be a genetic basis for epilepsy but the cause of epilepsy is largely unknown. It is believed that the incidence rate of epilepsy in dogs is 0.5% to over 2% of all dogs. Epilepsy generally begins in dogs that are fairly young ranging from 6 months to 5 years. Epilepsy can occur in females and males equally.

Tests for Epilepsy in Dogs

• Diagnostic tests are recommended to look for an underlying cause for the seizures. Testing recommendations may depend on your dogs symptoms and may include:
• Bloodwork that includes a complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry profile to evaluate for signs of infection, anemia, kidney or liver abnormalities
• Urinalysis to evaluate kidney function
• Bile acid blood test to evaluate for liver disease
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for structures changes in the brain or tumors
• Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) tap to look for signs of inflammation or infection
• Fecal examination to check for parasites

These tests can help determine if there is an underlying cause for the seizures. If there is not an underlying cause found, epilepsy is often diagnosed.

Treatment for Canine Epilepsy

Treatment of epilepsy will depend on the frequency of the seizures. If the seizures occur more than once every 4 to 6 weeks or a dog has more than one seizure in any 24 hour period, the medical therapy is often recommended.

Treatment generally includes medications designed to manage the seizures by decreasing the frequency and severity of the seizures. Common medications used for canine epilepsy are Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide, Diazepam (Valium), Zonisamide, Levetiracetam, Felbamate, Gabapentin, or Clorazepate.

It is important to carefully follow your veterinary instructions regarding these medications. These drugs should not be started, stopped, increased or decreased without the approval of your veterinarian. Some drugs, such as phenobarbital, require regular blood testing to determine if the amount of the drug in the blood is therapeutic.

What You Should Feed Your Dog if He Has Epilepsy

Nutrition is important for overall health of all dogs. Specific diet recommendations for dogs with epilepsy include:

• There appears to be benefits in feeding dogs with epilepsy a medium chain triglyceride (MCT)-based diet. Diets that were developed for the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction were was studied to determine if there were any benefits in dogs with epilepsy. The results suggested that the frequency of seizures were lower in dogs fed this diet compared to a placebo food. You can supplement MCTs in your dog diet by offering your dog natural coconut oil with his food. Coconut oil is a very good source of all four MCTs. The coconut oil dose most commonly used is of a teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight twice daily. For example, a 40-pound dog would require 1 teaspoon every 12 hours. A MCT-based dog food is Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind formula.
• There have been studies to evaluate high-fat and low carbohydrate diets and their impact on epilepsy. These studies have shown no improvement in seizure control in dogs with epilepsy.
• If your dog is overweight, a diet plan for a weight-reducing plan is recommended to optimize your dog health. Many dogs on seizure medications can gain weight while on therapy.
• Dogs receiving potassium bromide medications require study levels of dietary salt. Too much salt can increase the excretion of bromide which decreases the bromide blood level. Too little salt can lead to increased bromide levels.

Can You Feed Dogs with Epilepsy Human Food?

You can feed your dog some human foods but he doesnt actually need human foods. What he needs is a good quality balanced dog food. It is important to know that some human foods can be dangerous and even toxic. Read more about Dangerous Foods Learn What is harmful to Your Dog.

If you feed some table food as treats, avoid foods with excessive sodium such as processed meats and cheeses if your dog is taking bromide medication.

Can You Feed Dogs with Epilepsy Raw Meat Diets?

Raw meat diets are controversial. There are no known scientifically studied and documented benefits of feeding a raw meat diet to dogs with epilepsy.

In general, there are pros and cons of feeding a raw meat diet to dogs. Some pet owners and veterinarians are proponents of a raw meat diet and others are passionate about the claims. Read more The Raw Meat Diet Debate. This raw meat debate has nothing to do with canine epilepsy but on the controversy over feeding raw meats. There are no known specific benefits of feeding dogs with epilepsy a raw meat diet.

The Best Food to Feed Dogs with Epilepsy

Food recommendations for dogs with epilepsy include:

• Quality food. The best food to feed dogs with epilepsy is a good quality food that conforms to AAFCO* standards. This indicates the manufacturer is following the national consensus recommendations for dog foods. Check the label (see footnote below).
• Add MCT. Add a medium chain triglyceride (MCT) in the form of coconut oil at a dose of a teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight.
• Canned or Dry. You can feed your epileptic dog either canned or dry food. The choice of canned, semi-moist or dry food is an individual one, but if your dog is more than 30 pounds, dry food is preferred as the base diet for its greater caloric density (more calories per volume of food). There are a number of excellent dog food manufacturers.
• Avoid obesity. It is important to feed to maintain your dog at an ideal weight and avoid obesity.
• Avoid excessive salt. This is especially true if your dog is taking bromide medication.
• Provide plenty of fresh clean water at all times.

For more information about the best recommendations for feeding your dog go to Nutrition in Dogs.

* The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is an organization that publishes regulations for nutritional adequacy of complete and balanced dog and cat foods. Your pets food should conform to minimal AAFCO standards. Diets that fulfill the AAFCO regulations will state on the label: formulated to meet the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for(a given life stage).

Additional Articles of Interest:

References:

• Patterson E, Munana K, Kirk C, et al. Results of ketogenic food trial for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. J Vet Int Med 2005;19.
• Podell M. Antiepileptic drug therapy and monitoring. Top Companion Anim Med 2013;28:5966.
• Danial NN, Hartman AL, Stafstrom CE, et al. How does the ketogenic diet work? Four potential mechanisms J Child Neurol 2013;28:10271033.
• Kelley SA, Hartman AL. Metabolic treatments for intractable epilepsy. Semin Pediatr Neurol 2011;18:179185.
• Pan Y, Larson B, Araujo JC, et al. Dietary supplementation with median chain TAG has long-lasting cognition-enhancing effects in aged dogs. Br J Nutr 2010;103:17461754.