ABSTRACT OF THE WEEK

Journal of veterinary internal medicine/ American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Volume 35 | Issue 4 (Jul-Aug 2021)

Daytime and nocturnal activity in treated dogs with idiopathic epilepsy compared to matched unaffected controls.

J Vet Intern Med. Jul-Aug 2021;35(4):1826-1833.

Megan Barry¹, Starr Cameron², Sean Kent³, Heidi Barnes Heller⁴, Kylie Grady⁵

¹ Department of Medical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.; ² Department of Medical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.; ³ Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.; ⁴ Barnes Veterinary Specialty Service, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.; ⁵ Department of Medical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:In dogs, antiepileptic drugs (AED) cause lethargy but quantitative data regarding the effects of AED on activity levels are not available, and little is known about how AEDs affect sleep quality.

OBJECTIVE:To quantitatively compare activity levels and nocturnal activity in dogs previously diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) receiving AEDs compared to age- and breed-matched control dogs.

ANIMALS:Sixty-two dogs with IE and 310 control dogs.

METHODS:This is a 3-month prospective parallel observational study. An activity monitoring device for dogs was used to measure daily activity levels and sleep scores in all dogs.

RESULTS:Dogs with IE treated with AEDs had an 18% average lower baseline activity level compared to control dogs (P = .005; point estimate = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-0.90). The combination of phenobarbital and potassium bromide (KBr) was associated with an average 28% decrease in activity in dogs with IE compared to control dogs (P = .03; point estimate = 0.72; CI, 0.62-0.82). Mean sleep scores were not significantly different in dogs with IE receiving AEDs compared to control dogs (P = .43). However, higher dosages of KBr were associated with lower sleep scores (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS:Dogs with IE receiving AEDs have lower activity levels, but no difference in sleep scores, compared to controls. The combination of phenobarbital and KBr had the largest decrease in activity between groups. Higher doses of KBr may affect nocturnal activity in epileptic dogs.

Keywords

antiepileptic drugs; canine activity monitoring device;

Article Tools:

Medline

Email to me

Grants:

233 AAG5571 872100 4 University of Wisconsin - Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Fund

Archives Highlights:

Association between highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks and weather conditions in Japan.
We found that higher average air temperatures two to three weeks prior, lower average wind speeds four weeks prior, and longer sunlight hours two and four weeks prior to outbreaks were significantly associated with increased risk of HPAI outbreaks in Japan. These results suggest that weather may influence environmental survival and transmission of the virus, as well as patterns of wild bird movement that could seed new outbreaks.

Development of a dog owner caregiving style scale (Lincoln Owner Caregiving Questionnaire, LOCQ) and its relationship with behaviour problems in dogs
Compared to owners of dogs without behaviour problems, owners with high scores for the Disorganised caregiving style predicted dogs with separation related problems or with more than one behaviour problem, owners with high Avoidant caregiving style scores predicted dogs with Fear, and owners with high scores for both Disorganised and Avoidant caregiving styles predicted dogs with Aggressivity problems.

Investigation of maternal mortality and stillbirth in feline dystocia after emergency obstetric care interventions: a retrospective analysis.
Medical treatment was successful in 17% of patients, and 83% underwent surgical treatment for dystocia. Ovariohysterectomy (59%) was the most common surgical method, followed by conservative caesarean section (35%).

Effective treatment with afoxolaner (NexGard) of Trixacarus caviae in a pet guinea pig.
The animal was treated with a single oral dose of 2.50 mg/kg afoxolaner, and the lesions, presence/absence of mites, and intensity of pruritus were evaluated periodically until 2 months post-treatment. A week after the medication, the lesions were milder, but pruritus was still present and was attributed to the healing process. Further examinations showed significant improvement with the complete remission of clinical signs and no mites at the microscopic examination after 4 weeks.

The 4 prokinetic drugs metoclopramide, cisapride, pyridostigmine, and capromorelin do not increase fecal output or food intake in healthy New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
Every day, rabbits produced a median of 75 g (range, 9 to 145 g) of feces, 226 fecal pellets (range, 12 to 412 pellets), and 151 mL (range, 5 to 420 mL) of urine. Metoclopramide, cisapride, pyridostigmine, and capromorelin had no effect on fecal production (both weight and number of pellets), food intake, urine production, or water intake compared to placebo at 24, 48, or 72 hours after administration.