Vets needed to help with research into idiopathic epilepsy in border collies

A specialist hospital in Bristol is asking the profession for help with its research into idiopathic epilepsy in border collies.

Led by Hélène Vandenberghe (neurology), Emma Roberts (internal medicine) and Nicolas Granger (neurology), a team at Bristol Veterinary Specialists (BVS) has launched the research to understand more about the complicated disease.

Border collies are frequently affected by idiopathic epilepsy and despite the use of anti-epileptic medication, affected dogs can continue to have poor seizure control.

Research grant

Researchers hope that the study, which is being funded by CVS as part of its clinical research grants scheme, will give them a better understanding of the cause(s) of seizures in the breed.

In humans, there are confirmed links between vitamin B₁₂ deficiency and seizures and additionally that the use of anti-epileptic medication can reduce vitamin B₁₂ levels, leading to exacerbation of epilepsy.

Border collies can suffer from a genetic condition called Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome, which reduces the blood and cellular levels of vitamin B₁₂. Due to these findings, the team will specifically be looking at the role of vitamin B₁₂ in epilepsy in border collies.

Collies needed

The BVS team is putting out a call to the profession to ask if owners may like to put their dogs forward, and to ask vets seeing these pets in primary care practices to get involved.

They are looking for border collies who are either:

• Diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy (the study population), have not yet been started on treatment, have no history of recent vitamin B₁₂ supplementation, and who require a blood sample to be taken as part of their work up.
• Are two years of age or older, are presented to their vet for reasons unrelated to seizures (the control population), have no history of seizures or recent vitamin B₁₂ supplementation, and require a blood sample to be taken as part of their investigations.

Further information

Dogs with known renal (kidney) disease, hypothyroidism, chronic or protein losing enteropathy, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and hypothyroidism cannot be included as control dogs.

Participating dogs do not need to be referred to BVS to take part in this study and can be seen by their own vet. All tests included in the study are covered by the grant and so there are no additional costs for the owner.

For further information, to become involved, or to refer a case, contact [email protected]