title: Behavioral changes in dogs associated with the development of idiopathic epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to demonstrate behavioral changes with the development of epilepsy in dogs, a species proposed as a naturally occurring animal model for human epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Owners of dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy (n=80) completed a modified, previously-validated behavioral and seizure questionnaire. Principal axis factor analysis identified behavioral factors, the scores for which were compared before and after the development of epilepsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Drug-naïve dogs showed an increase in the behavior factors Fear/Anxiety, Defensive Aggression, and Abnormal Perception. In dogs receiving antiepileptic medication, there were still increases in Fear/Anxiety and Abnormal Perception, but no longer in Defensive Aggression. Additional increases were observed in Abnormal Reactivity, Attachment Disorder, Demented Behavior, and Apathetic Behavior. Pharmacoresistant dogs had larger increases in Controlling Aggression, Abnormal Perception, and Demented Behavior than drug responders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that dogs, like humans and rodents, exhibit neurobehavioral comorbidities with the development of epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK. nshihab@rvc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shihab
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Holger A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Volk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants