Development of a Novel Epilepsy and Dyskinesia Survey for Large‐Scale Characterization of Seizure Semiology in Dogs

ABSTRACT Background Diagnosing epilepsy and dyskinesia in dogs relies on seizure semiology, laboratory workup, brain imaging, and electroencephalography. Variability in existing epilepsy surveys complicates comparison and impedes epidemiologic and genetic research. Objective To characterize the semi...

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Main Authors: Madlen S. Matz, Tiina Harmas, Franziska Wielaender, Emma Hakanen, Jasmin N. Nessler, Holger A. Volk, Andrea Tipold, Paul J. J. Mandigers, Tarja S. Jokinen, Luisa De Risio, Sally L. Ricketts, Marjo K. Hytönen, Thomas Parmentier, Fiona James, Sofie F. M. Bhatti, Gerhard Kluger, Hannes Lohi, Andrea Fischer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70077
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author Madlen S. Matz
Tiina Harmas
Franziska Wielaender
Emma Hakanen
Jasmin N. Nessler
Holger A. Volk
Andrea Tipold
Paul J. J. Mandigers
Tarja S. Jokinen
Luisa De Risio
Sally L. Ricketts
Marjo K. Hytönen
Thomas Parmentier
Fiona James
Sofie F. M. Bhatti
Gerhard Kluger
Hannes Lohi
Andrea Fischer
author_facet Madlen S. Matz
Tiina Harmas
Franziska Wielaender
Emma Hakanen
Jasmin N. Nessler
Holger A. Volk
Andrea Tipold
Paul J. J. Mandigers
Tarja S. Jokinen
Luisa De Risio
Sally L. Ricketts
Marjo K. Hytönen
Thomas Parmentier
Fiona James
Sofie F. M. Bhatti
Gerhard Kluger
Hannes Lohi
Andrea Fischer
author_sort Madlen S. Matz
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Diagnosing epilepsy and dyskinesia in dogs relies on seizure semiology, laboratory workup, brain imaging, and electroencephalography. Variability in existing epilepsy surveys complicates comparison and impedes epidemiologic and genetic research. Objective To characterize the semiology of epileptic seizures and dyskinesia episodes using a novel, owner‐completed, multi‐language online questionnaire. Animals A cohort of 606 dogs from 96 breeds with paroxysmal events, perceived by their owners as epilepsy or dyskinesia. Materials and Methods A comprehensive epilepsy and dyskinesia questionnaire featuring pragmatic seizure categories and video upload was developed in German, Finnish, and English. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed, and the study cohort analyzed. Results The questionnaire demonstrated strong internal consistency and interrater agreement. Owners correctly classified paroxysmal events in 90.1% of cases (95% CI 88.18–92.11). Video footage was submitted from 23.8% (143/606) and supported the seizure type in the questionnaire in 96.5%. The age of onset ranged from 6 months to 6 years in 80.2% (median 2 years; IQR 1–5 years). Generalized (epileptic) convulsive seizures occurred in 58.6% of dogs, non‐generalized paroxysmal motor events without convulsions in 58.1%, sudden falls without movement in 6.1%, episodes of impaired awareness in 15.8%, and other unclassified events in 7.1%. Multiple seizure types were reported in 25.2% of the dogs. Labrador Retrievers exhibited a higher prevalence of non‐generalized motor events compared to Border Collies, Siberian Huskies, and other breeds (p < 0.001). Conclusions The questionnaire reliably characterizes epileptic seizures and dyskinesia episodes in dogs, making it a valuable tool for large‐scale epidemiological and genetic studies.
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spelling doaj-art-b8e6ffaaa9db4b5ba939e2cbeaffe3292025-08-20T01:53:49ZengWileyJournal of Veterinary Internal Medicine0891-66401939-16762025-05-01393n/an/a10.1111/jvim.70077Development of a Novel Epilepsy and Dyskinesia Survey for Large‐Scale Characterization of Seizure Semiology in DogsMadlen S. Matz0Tiina Harmas1Franziska Wielaender2Emma Hakanen3Jasmin N. Nessler4Holger A. Volk5Andrea Tipold6Paul J. J. Mandigers7Tarja S. Jokinen8Luisa De Risio9Sally L. Ricketts10Marjo K. Hytönen11Thomas Parmentier12Fiona James13Sofie F. M. Bhatti14Gerhard Kluger15Hannes Lohi16Andrea Fischer17Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich Munich GermanyDepartment of Clinical and Medical Genetics University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandSmall Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich Munich GermanyDepartment of Clinical and Medical Genetics University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandDepartment Small Animal Medicine and Surgery University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Hanover GermanyDepartment Small Animal Medicine and Surgery University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Hanover GermanyDepartment Small Animal Medicine and Surgery University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Hanover GermanyDepartment of Clinical Sciences Utrecht University Utrecht the NetherlandsDepartment of Equine and Small Animal Medicine University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandLinnaeus Veterinary Limited, Shirley West Midlands UKCanine Genetics Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine University of Cambridge Cambridge UKDepartment of Clinical and Medical Genetics University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandFaculte de Medicine Veterinaire, Universite de Montreal Montreal CanadaDepartment of Clinical Studies University of Guelph Guelph CanadaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Merelbeke BelgiumResearch Institute “Rehabilitation, Transition, Palliation” Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg Salzburg AustriaDepartment of Clinical and Medical Genetics University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandSmall Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich Munich GermanyABSTRACT Background Diagnosing epilepsy and dyskinesia in dogs relies on seizure semiology, laboratory workup, brain imaging, and electroencephalography. Variability in existing epilepsy surveys complicates comparison and impedes epidemiologic and genetic research. Objective To characterize the semiology of epileptic seizures and dyskinesia episodes using a novel, owner‐completed, multi‐language online questionnaire. Animals A cohort of 606 dogs from 96 breeds with paroxysmal events, perceived by their owners as epilepsy or dyskinesia. Materials and Methods A comprehensive epilepsy and dyskinesia questionnaire featuring pragmatic seizure categories and video upload was developed in German, Finnish, and English. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed, and the study cohort analyzed. Results The questionnaire demonstrated strong internal consistency and interrater agreement. Owners correctly classified paroxysmal events in 90.1% of cases (95% CI 88.18–92.11). Video footage was submitted from 23.8% (143/606) and supported the seizure type in the questionnaire in 96.5%. The age of onset ranged from 6 months to 6 years in 80.2% (median 2 years; IQR 1–5 years). Generalized (epileptic) convulsive seizures occurred in 58.6% of dogs, non‐generalized paroxysmal motor events without convulsions in 58.1%, sudden falls without movement in 6.1%, episodes of impaired awareness in 15.8%, and other unclassified events in 7.1%. Multiple seizure types were reported in 25.2% of the dogs. Labrador Retrievers exhibited a higher prevalence of non‐generalized motor events compared to Border Collies, Siberian Huskies, and other breeds (p < 0.001). Conclusions The questionnaire reliably characterizes epileptic seizures and dyskinesia episodes in dogs, making it a valuable tool for large‐scale epidemiological and genetic studies.https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70077epidemiologymovement disorderparoxysmal eventphenotypeseizure classificationveterinary neurology
spellingShingle Madlen S. Matz
Tiina Harmas
Franziska Wielaender
Emma Hakanen
Jasmin N. Nessler
Holger A. Volk
Andrea Tipold
Paul J. J. Mandigers
Tarja S. Jokinen
Luisa De Risio
Sally L. Ricketts
Marjo K. Hytönen
Thomas Parmentier
Fiona James
Sofie F. M. Bhatti
Gerhard Kluger
Hannes Lohi
Andrea Fischer
Development of a Novel Epilepsy and Dyskinesia Survey for Large‐Scale Characterization of Seizure Semiology in Dogs
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
epidemiology
movement disorder
paroxysmal event
phenotype
seizure classification
veterinary neurology
title Development of a Novel Epilepsy and Dyskinesia Survey for Large‐Scale Characterization of Seizure Semiology in Dogs
title_full Development of a Novel Epilepsy and Dyskinesia Survey for Large‐Scale Characterization of Seizure Semiology in Dogs
title_fullStr Development of a Novel Epilepsy and Dyskinesia Survey for Large‐Scale Characterization of Seizure Semiology in Dogs
title_full_unstemmed Development of a Novel Epilepsy and Dyskinesia Survey for Large‐Scale Characterization of Seizure Semiology in Dogs
title_short Development of a Novel Epilepsy and Dyskinesia Survey for Large‐Scale Characterization of Seizure Semiology in Dogs
title_sort development of a novel epilepsy and dyskinesia survey for large scale characterization of seizure semiology in dogs
topic epidemiology
movement disorder
paroxysmal event
phenotype
seizure classification
veterinary neurology
url https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70077
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