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I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
– Jimmy Dean
Idiopathic epilepsy is a condition in which dogs regularly have seizures. We call the epilepsy idiopathic if no underlying cause is found. To rule out an underlying cause, a good general and neurological examination, a comprehensive blood test and a scan of the brain (MRI) are needed.
Medication is often used for idiopathic epilepsy to reduce the number of seizures and/or reduce the severity of the seizures. In some cases, this has insufficient effect. In addition, the medication has side effects.
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is present in fish oil, among other things. DHA is known to have a beneficial effect on the brain. In people with epilepsy, studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can help to reduce the amount of seizures.
A recent study (Yonezawa et al) looked at the effect of high-dose DHA supplementation on the frequency of seizures in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. This supplement was given in addition to medication.
Dogs allowed to participate in the study were 1-10 years old, had been diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy according to guidelines, were on the same dose of medication for at least two months and had at least 2 seizures per month.
Six dogs started the study. During the study, a DHA supplement was given at a dose of 50-100 mg/kg twice daily for six months. The dogs came for a check-up every month.
Two dogs unfortunately fell out during the study. One dog because of problems with administering the supplement and the other dog because the dosage of the medication had to be changed.
Of the four dogs that were able to complete the study, all dogs had an improvement in the amount and severity of seizures. The frequency of seizures decreased by 50% or more 2-3 months after starting the supplement.
In this study, no side effects were seen from the DHA supplementation at this dosage. Side effects of high doses of omega-3 fatty acids that have been reported in previous studies include diarrhea, liver problems, coat changes and affecting blood clotting. It is therefore not advisable to give high doses without the guidance of a veterinarian.
Of course, this is a very small number of participating dogs and we are not yet allowed to draw any real conclusions based on this research. Nevertheless, this study is interesting and it would be very nice if the study could be repeated with a larger number of dogs.
In addition to omega-3 fatty acids, there are other ways in which we can influence epilepsy with food. In a previous blog I wrote about this:
In addition to nutrition, acupuncture can also help with epilepsy. So does your dog or cat have epilepsy and do you want to try to improve the symptoms with food and / or acupuncture? Feel free to contact me. I’m happy to help!
Reference
Yonezawa, T. et al (2023) Effects of high-dose docosahexaenoic acid supplementation as an add-on therapy for canine idiopathic epilepsy: a pilot study. Open veterinary Journal 13(7), 942-947
