“We have a ticking time bomb”: a qualitative exploration of the impact of canine epilepsy on dog owners living in England

Abstract

Background Idiopathic epilepsy is a common neurological condition in dogs. Previous research has focused on clinical aspects of seizure management in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy with little attention given to the emotional and logistical challenges for their owners. The current study aimed to explore the impacts of owning a dog with idiopathic epilepsy on owner quality of life and lifestyle, using qualitative methods. Methods Owners of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy living in England were recruited via social media and word of mouth, and then selected using purposive sampling to participate in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Epilepsy management was explored through in-depth accounts of owner experiences and influencing factors. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to construct key themes. Results Twenty-one interviews were completed. Almost all owners had made lifestyle changes in order to care for their dog, including substantial modifications to routines and, in some cases, employment. Many owners discussed a very emotionally close dog-owner bond, and described experiencing frequent feelings of fear, stress and uncertainty regarding their dog’s health. Friends, family and colleagues did not always understand the magnitude of commitment required to care for a dog with idiopathic epilepsy. This, combined with a fear of leaving their dog unsupervised, had social implications in some instances and lead to increased use of the Internet and online groups for peer support. Conclusions The commitment required to care for a dog with idiopathic epilepsy, and the lifestyle changes made by their owners, may be far greater than previously estimated. Further consideration of these factors by veterinary professionals and the friends and families of owners of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy could improve owner quality of life, and facilitate the provision of additional support.

Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes for early postoperative seizures in dogs with rostrotentorial brain tumors after intracranial surgery

“…Dogs that develop seizures have a worse perceived quality of life, and there also are negative effects on caregiver quality of life. 13 , 20 , 31 , 32 This situation may result in earlier euthanasia in the postsurgical period.…”

Theoretical Foundations to the Impact of Dog-Related Activities on Human Hedonic Well-Being, Life Satisfaction and Eudaimonic Well-Being

“…By contrast, dog health problems (e.g., disease, injury) and behavioural problems, particularly dog aggression, were reported to worsen owners’ hedonic well-being and life satisfaction. Caring for sick animals is a burden and source of stress for pet owners [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]; likewise, pet behaviour problems undermine owner well-being [ 48 , 57 , 58 ] and increase dissatisfaction with their animal [ 42 ]. Thus, interventional strategies that minimise detrimental activities and augment positive ones will likely improve owners’ hedonic well-being and life satisfaction.…”

“…Interestingly, while positive activities were universally beneficial, negative events (e.g., health problems, dog aggression) had little to no impact on personal growth, purpose in life and self-acceptance; the significant detrimental effects were mostly related to autonomy, environmental mastery and positive relations with others. The latter negative results might therefore be linked largely to the stress and burden of these activities in the lives of pet owners in terms of owners being unable to make independent choices (autonomy), manage everyday affairs (environmental mastery), and due to interpersonal conflicts (relation with others), e.g., frequent disputes with other people because of dog showing aggression [ 48 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ].…”

How Owners of Epileptic Dogs Living in Italy Evaluate Their Quality of Life and That of Their Pet: A Survey Study

“…Few studies have investigated the QoL in epileptic dogs and their carers, and all of them have been performed in the United Kingdom and the United States [ 3 , 6 , 9 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. The aim of this study was to evaluate how Italian owners of epileptic dogs under long-term treatment perceived their own and their pet’s QoL through the use of a questionnaire.…”