Clinical findings, treatment, and outcome of dogs with status epilepticus or cluster seizures: 156 cases (1990-1995)
Bateman, S.W.; Parent, J.M.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 215(10): 1463-1468
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 10579043 Document Number: 508633
Medical records of 194 dogs with seizures were reviewed retrospectively. Of these, 128 dogs (66%), 2 (1%), 32 (16.5%), 2 (1%), and 30 dogs (15.5%) had a history of clusters of generalized seizures, clusters of partial complex seizures, convulsive status epilepticus, partial status epilepticus and >1 type of seizure, respectively. Underlying causes of seizures were primary epilepsy (26.8%; 52/194), secondary epilepsy (35.1%; 68), reactive epileptic seizures (6.7%; 13), primary or secondary epilepsy with low serum anti-epileptic drug concentrations (5.7%; 11) and undetermined (25.8%; 50). 186 hospital visits resulted in admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Treatments with continuous i.v. infusions of diazepam or phenobarbital were initiated during 66.8% (124 of 186) and 18.7% (35) of ICU hospital stays for 22.3+or-16.1 h and 21.9+or-15.4 h, respectively. Of 194 admissions, 74.7% (145) resulted in discharge from the hospital, 2.1% (4) in death, and 23.2% (45) in euthanasia. A poor outcome (death or euthanasia) was significantly associated with granulomatous meningoencephalitis, loss of seizure control after 6 h of hospitalization, and the development of partial status epilepticus. Granulomatous meningoencephalitis, loss of seizure control after 6 hours of hospitalization, or the development of partial status epilepticus may indicate a poor prognosis for dogs with seizures.