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

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>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.</jats:p>

Research priorities for idiopathic epilepsy in dogs: Viewpoints of owners, general practice veterinarians, and neurology specialists

“…48 In a recent qualitative study of owners experiences managing a dog with IE, some interviewees expressed feelings of stress and uncertainty regarding their dog's disease process, which sometimes led them to use the internet to perform self-directed research on their dog's condition. 21 perform self-directed research. 49 Although in the Dutch study, vets felt confident in communicating with owners in terms of offering comfort, explaining epilepsy as a diagnosis and its prognosis to owners, 48 the results presented here, where owners considered veterinary education a high priority, combined with recent findings regarding distress and uncertainty in this ownership group, 49 might indicate disparities in the perceived effectiveness of veterinary communication between vets and owners.…”

“…In addition, only moderate levels of confidence were reported for knowing when to adjust ASD treatment 48 . In a recent qualitative study of owners experiences managing a dog with IE, some interviewees expressed feelings of stress and uncertainty regarding their dog's disease process, which sometimes led them to use the internet to perform self‐directed research on their dog's condition 21 . This supports previous research indicating that companion animal owners who were uncertain regarding recommendations from their veterinary surgeon were more likely to perform self‐directed research 49 .…”

“…10,11 Furthermore, there are cognitive impairments in dogs with IE, particularly related to learning and memory. [12][13][14][15] Combined, these effects reduce both quality of life (QoL) in affected dogs [16][17][18][19] and their caregivers, 20,21 and lead to a shortened life expectancy in affected dogs. 22,23 Given these potentially severe impacts, a large proportion of recent research efforts regarding IE in dogs have focused on developing therapies to reduce seizure frequency and severity, 24 with an aim of dogs reaching remission (seizure freedom), or an ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency.…”

“…Furthermore, there are cognitive impairments in dogs with IE, particularly related to learning and memory 12‐15 . Combined, these effects reduce both quality of life (QoL) in affected dogs 16‐19 and their caregivers, 20,21 and lead to a shortened life expectancy in affected dogs 22,23 …”

Understanding the impacts of feline epilepsy on cats and their owners

“…Owners in the study also reported making significant lifestyle changes due to their dog's epilepsy, including restricting how often they left the house and, in some cases, changing or ceasing their employment. 24 Seizures may also be accompanied by symptoms such as inappropriate urination or aggression. 3 If these symptoms are not controlled, they may cause stress for the owner who has to regularly clean up after their cat or separate themselves, family members or other animals from the cat to avoid injury.…”