Epidemiology of recurrent seizure disorders and epilepsy in cats under primary veterinary care in the United Kingdom

O'Neill, D; Phillipps, S; Egan, J; Brodbelt, D; Church, D; Volk, H

Abstract

Background

Little epidemiological evaluation of recurrent seizure disorders in cats currently exists in veterinary literature.

Objectives

To report the prevalence and risk factors for recurrent seizure disorders (RSD) and epilepsy in cats presented to primary care veterinary practices in the United Kingdom (UK).

Animals

A total of 285 547 cats under veterinary care during 2013 presenting to 282 primary care clinics in the UK.

Methods

Cohort study using multivariable logistic regression modeling for risk factor analysis.

Results

There were 458 confirmed RSD cases, giving a 1‐year period prevalence of 0.16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15‐0.18). A subset of 114 (24.89%) cases was recorded as having epilepsy, giving a 1‐year period prevalence of 0.04% (95% CI, 0.03‐0.5). Increasing age was significantly associated with increasing odds of RSD. Breed, sex, neuter status, and body weight were not associated with RSD. Epilepsy was most frequently diagnosed in adult to middle‐aged cats. Cats aged 3.0 to

Citation

O'Neill, D., Phillipps, S., Egan, J., Brodbelt, D., Church, D., & Volk, H. (2020). Epidemiology of recurrent seizure disorders and epilepsy in cats under primary veterinary care in the United Kingdom. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15881

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 12, 2020
• Publication Date: Sep 25, 2020
• Deposit Date: Oct 1, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 1, 2020
• Journal: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
• Print ISSN: 0891-6640
• Electronic ISSN: 1939-1676
• Publisher: Wiley Open Access
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15881
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1375556
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15881