Interictal electroencephalographic findings in a family of golden retrievers with idiopathic epilepsy

This study investigated how far electro-encephalographic (EEG) testing may help in the confirmation of idiopathic epilepsy (IE) in dogs. We found significantly constant (P < 0.05) and similar values of amplitude and frequency under medetomidine/propofol anaesthesia. The baseline pattern of healthy and the background activity of the epileptic dogs were characterised by an homogeneous high voltage slow activity and low voltage fast activity pattern with no significantly different values between tracings. However, we frequently found spindles in all recordings of the epileptic dogs. They impressed by asymmetries as well as significant variation in amplitude and duration. We concluded from these observations that, despite deep anaesthesia, the EEG abnormalities were consistent and extremely important for the confirmation of IE in the dog. In addition, 10 per cent of the offspring in our golden retriever family were positive for spindles, if the EEG was taken at the age of maximal expression. We concluded that this does not mean that this factor is genetically dependent, but that its interaction may increase the liability to contract seizures in the golden retriever. We believe that EEG combined with pedigree analysis may be very helpful in risk assessment of IE in the dog.