title: Seizure Disorders in Goats and Sheep.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Goats and sheep are more likely to be presented for examination for seizures than are cattle, possibly as a consequence of their relatively smaller body size. Currently, no reports describing seizure disorders in goats and sheep are available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe clinical features and treatment outcomes of sheep and goats presented for seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 59 goats and 21 sheep presented for seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study. Medical records from 1994 to 2014 at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis, were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. Logistic regression was performed to determine whether variables were associated with mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of seizures in goats and sheep had structural or metabolic causes. Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) secondary to ruminal lactic acidosis or PEM of undetermined cause was the most frequently diagnosed cause of seizures in goats and sheep. The proportions of mortality in goats and sheep were 49.2 and 42.9%, respectively. Age increased the odds mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07, 2.14) in goats. Goats with structural or metabolic causes of seizures had higher odds for mortality (OR, 37.48; 95% CI, 1.12, 99.10) than those with unknown causes. Age and etiological diagnosis were not significant (P > .05) predictors of mortality in affected sheep.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seizure disorders in goats and sheep are associated with high mortality, despite treatment. Current treatment in goats and sheep with seizures warrants further investigation to determine whether treatments are beneficial or detrimental to survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA. mchigerwe@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chigerwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aleman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006041:Goats; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Caprine; Forebrain; Neuron; Ovine