Page 7 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2021

Fellow, reflects on the contributions of RVC research to the care of pets with epilepsy, including several
RVC’s epilepsy research has a tradition of acknowledging the importance of the owner (or ‘caregiver’) in the long-term management of epilepsy patients, both
in terms of the success of treatment
(for example, studying owner factors associated with owner compliance to treatment) but also their own wellbeing. RVC research has taken a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the effect
of epilepsy on human caregivers: from measuring their stress response to their dog having a seizure, to more recently undertaking in-depth owner interviews to qualitatively explore how their own lives have been impacted by their dog’s epilepsy. These findings will inform future efforts to more effectively support canine caregivers.
As well as offering medical expertise
in epilepsy management at RVC Small Animal Referrals and the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital, the RVC is now using the latest technologies to advance healthcare in pets. RVC epilepsy research involves collaborations with researchers
nationally and internationally, including developing seizure detection and prediction technology with Newcastle University, using electroencephalographic (EEG) technology to better characterise epilepsy with Ontario Veterinary College, and collaborating
with the human charity Epilepsy Society
to produce smartphone technologies to help owners and vets better record and manage epilepsy. We anticipate that this exciting work, including the development of “wearable tech”, will lead to transformations in the care of epilepsy patients in the future.
What does the future hold for epilepsy research?
RVC researchers recently conducted an international study of general practice vets, specialist veterinary neurologists and caregivers of dogs with epilepsy (accepted for publication in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine) which identified
the areas of epilepsy research these stakeholders prioritised for future epilepsy research.
The research areas ranked as the highest priorities were the development of new antiepileptic medication, identifying the genetic causes of idiopathic epilepsy, and non-drug management of epilepsy. Within non-drug therapies, those therapies rated to have the highest potential to positively impact epilepsy management included behavioural management and dietary supplementation, including MCT oil and cannabidiol oil (CBD) supplementation.
With RVC world-leaders in research
on the dietary management of epilepsy, and the research team’s newest clinical trial focusing on behavioural therapies for epilepsy management, it is likely that RVC epilepsy research will continue to be world- leading for years to come.
For small animal referrals, please call: 01707 666399
Email: qmhreception@rvc.ac.uk
2016
The RVC publishes findings indicating that dogs with epilepsy may also experience ADHD-like behaviour (as seen in people with epilepsy and rodent models), which may be improved with a medium-chain triglyceride enriched diet
2020
RVC publishes evidence from a clinical trial demonstrating that medium- chain triglyceride supplementation (in addition to a variable base diet) reduces seizure frequency and improves cognitive abilities in dogs with epilepsy
2021
The first ever clinical trial is launched
to investigate the impact of behavioural interventions on seizure frequency and quality of life in dogs with epilepsy, funded by RVCs charity the Animal Care Trust
2017
The Big Brainy Border Collie study is launched, exploring the interplay between brain health and behaviour in this popular breed, including analysis of behavioural, cognitive, EEG and MRI data
2018
Publication of the first findings to indicate the potential mechanisms of MCT enriched diets in dogs with epilepsy, describing changes in their metabolic profiles
2019
RVC publishes first clinical trial study protocol in BMC Veterinary Research, a practice commonplace in human medicine but previously absent from veterinary medicine
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
2016
Systematic review on the adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs published by RVC and collaborators
2018
Three landmark papers published by RVC researchers describing cognitive impairments in dogs with epilepsy for the first time – an effect long described in human medicine but never before explored in veterinary medicine
2018
First systematic review published on antiepileptic drugs safety and effectiveness in feline epilepsy patients by RVC and collaborators
2020
RVC uses VetCompass ‘Big Data’ to characterise the epidemiology of seizures in both dogs and cats in primary veterinary care
2020
RVC publishes the first-ever qualitative exploration of the impact of epilepsy on the lives of owners, describing the wide- ranging and often severe impacts of being a caregiver for a dog with epilepsy
2021
Research is ongoing with a wide range of academic and industrial collaborators across a variety of canine epilepsy topics, including behaviour, cognition, quality of life, caregiver impacts, seizure detection technology, nutrition, metabolomics and microbiomics
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