Page 9 - ACT Paws and Hooves - Autumn 2023

RESEARCH

Epilepsy

The RVC is a Centre for Excellence for canine epilepsy
and the RVC Animal Care Trust continues to support this
lifesaving work. Most recently we’ve funded an update to
the RVC Epilepsy Tracker app and funded a PhD student,
who is researching behavioural therapies.
The RVC Epilepsy Tracker App is revolutionising the
management of this worrying condition. Using the app,
owners can record their pet’s medications and seizures.
This information can be sent to the pet’s vet, helping to
inform decisions about their care. Available worldwide,
the app has been translated into different languages.
With the owner’s consent, the data can also be used by
researchers and is a highly valued data source.

Sarah Hobbs, supported by Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer
in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science, is
investigating how canine epilepsy can be managed with
behavioural interventions. Her PhD aims to improve
the emotional state of epileptic dogs to determine if this
reduces their seizures. Kodi, Bella and Dylan (pictured)
are just some of the epileptic patients helping Sarah with
this research. Some epileptic canine patients are drug
resistant and anti-seizure medications can have adverse
side effects. Therefore evidence-based behavioural
therapies, to work alongside medications, are urgently
needed. If successful, behavioural therapy would be
an affordable intervention, improving the quality of life
of epilepsy patients like Kodi, Bella and Dylan and their
owners, internationally.

Kodi

Dr Rowena Packer,
co-designer of the RVC
Epilepsy Tracker App

Bella Dylan

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