Prone to Seizures?

automatica · 12-09-2007, 01:26 PM

Hi there,
After plenty of research, I've decided it was time to finally get a dog. I narrowed my choices down and decided I am going to get an Italian Greyhound. After some investigation though, i've read that these dogs are prone to having epilepsy. Can anyone verify if this is true?? The sources in which I got this information didn't really provide facts to back up their statement, so im wondering is maybe the chances of epilepsy in these dog's are no greater than epilepsy in any other breed.

Your input is greatly appreciated

KumoES · 12-09-2007, 02:14 PM

Some breeds are more prone to epilepsy and other health problems than other breeds. Ask a few vets and even people with epileptic dogs.

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/epilepsy.html

http://www.petdoc.ws/BreedPre.htm#top

automatica · 12-09-2007, 02:24 PM

Thank you. I plan on getting all the information I can before hand, which is what brought me to this site in the first place. I dont want to let this steer me away from getting an italian greyhound however, because I absolutely love the dog. I had just narrowed my choiced down to either a Min Pin, or IG, and I know the Min Pin is a fairly healthy breed so if the health problems of the greyhound were absolutely staggering, then I would have leaned toward the Min Pin.

KumoES · 12-09-2007, 03:13 PM

It's really up in the air. Try and find a line that doesn't have many cases, and be prepared for 'just in case'. My mum's dog had epilepsy. She was a mix... but part of that mix was border collie, which predisposed her. The reason she developed it most likely was because she got *really* sick as a young pup and had a high fever for several days. So, sometimes breeds with predispositions towards certain illnesses need a trigger for it to happen.

animalcraker · 12-09-2007, 03:28 PM

This is from the IGCA (Italian greyhound club of america) about helath concerns in the breed.

"Idiopathic epilepsy is another condition which affects IG's. Otherwise healthy dogs begin having seizures at 2-5 years, and no cause for the seizures can be identified. In many cases, the seizures are mild and infrequent, and no treatment is necessary. If the seizures become violent, more frequent, or occur in "clusters" the veterinarian will recommend the dog be placed on anticonvulsants. Phenobarbital is currently considered the drug of choice, and is widely used in IG's. Phenobarb (as it is known) is a member of the barbiturate class of drugs, but given orally is as safe in IG's as in any other breed.

In every breed in which research has been undertaken, idiopathic epilepsy has been determined to be an inherited disease. It is not recommended to breed an animal that has seizures."

It doesn't give you numbers as to the occurance of this problem in the breed unfortunately. You may want to message some of the breeders in the club and see what their opinion is on how prevalent it is.

automatica · 12-09-2007, 04:48 PM

Thank you very much. I have actually contacted the breeder and asked several questions regarding this very subject. There is no history of epilepsy in this line as far as they are aware. I've decided to go ahead and pick one up. Thanks again guys, I really appreciate it.