title: A longitudinal study of survival in Belgian Shepherds with genetic epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Belgian Shepherds have focal genetic epilepsy. The prevalence of epilepsy has been estimated as 9.5% in the breed and as 33% in the family investigated. Dogs with epilepsy might have an increased risk of premature death.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate survival and selected risk factors for premature death in a Belgian Shepherd family with genetic epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ninety-nine related Belgian Shepherds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal observational study, 2009-2011. Follow-up telephone interviews were all conducted using a structured questionnaire addressing epilepsy, including seizure history and phenomenology, possible remission, possible death, and cause of death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The life span of epileptic dogs was not significantly shortened by the presence of epilepsy (P = .87). Epilepsy was the predominant cause of death in the population (19/75 = 25%) and epilepsy-related deaths accounted for 70% (19/27) of all deaths in the group of dogs with epilepsy. Two probable sudden unexpected deaths related to epilepsy occurred in dogs with generalized seizures. Cluster seizures occurred in 33% (17/51) but did not significantly influence the life span of epileptic dogs. Dogs with epilepsy had an epilepsy remission proportion of 13.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Belgian Shepherds investigated in the present study display a focal genetic epilepsy with an overall benign course. The life span was not significantly affected by the presence of epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. chhg@life.ku.dk
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Gulløv
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toft
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berendt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D004285:Dogs; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires