Can Diet Help With My Dog’s Seizures? – Clinical Nutrition Service at Cummings School

Understanding your canine’s seizures

Having a canine with a seizure dysfunction could be very overwhelming. Earlier than contemplating remedy, it is very important work together with your veterinarian to uncover any underlying cause for the seizures in your canine.  Seizures inform us that there’s a downside within the mind, however not the trigger. Widespread causes are metabolic (for instance, low blood sugar, liver illness, or toxicity) or main mind problems comparable to tumors or delivery defects. When no trigger could be discovered, that is referred to as ‘idiopathic epilepsy.’ Nonetheless, this may solely be determined in any case attainable causes have been dominated out.

When to think about eating regimen

For canine with seizures, any eating regimen change needs to be rigorously thought-about and can probably be totally different for every canine primarily based on their underlying circumstances. In case your canine has idiopathic epilepsy, there could also be some dietary modifications to think about however let’s take a look at the proof and execs and cons behind some totally different methods chances are you’ll hear about.

Ketogenic Diets

Ketogenic diets are usually described as excessive fats, low to average protein, and low to no carbohydrates. This may be difficult to outline, although, as a result of there isn’t a official definition of ‘excessive’ or ‘low’ with regards to the quantity of fats, protein, and carbohydrates past the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines for minimal ranges of fats and protein required in cat and canine diets. One of these eating regimen is supposed to create ‘ketosis’ within the physique, which occurs when the physique doesn’t have sufficient carbohydrates to burn for power so it burns fats and makes issues referred to as ketones to make use of for gasoline. There have been a couple of research ketogenic diets in youngsters with epilepsy which have proven some enchancment in seizure management. This doesn’t essentially translate to canine, nonetheless, as a result of canine deal with ketones in a different way. In people, there are additionally potential negative effects of ketogenic diets to think about that may embody nutrient deficiencies, digestive points, nausea, headache, and fatigue. A few of these negative effects will also be seen in canine. Issues I see most frequently stem from an intolerance to larger fats diets, which might result in vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, and weight acquire if additionally larger calorie. With out proof of profit, and attainable damaging negative effects, I don’t advocate ketogenic diets for canine with idiopathic epilepsy as a primary line of protection.

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT)

Whereas it’s troublesome to attain true ketosis in canine on account of their metabolism, vitamins comparable to medium chain triglycerides (MCT) within the eating regimen might profit the mind by offering an power supply that the mind can preferentially make the most of as an alternative of different fat. Research have began potential advantages of pet meals enriched in MCTs, with some canine having diminished seizure frequency and different canine having no change. Simply having ‘MCT oil’ or ‘coconut oil’ on the label might not be sufficient, although, because the diets studied had a excessive quantity of energy come from MCTs and we don’t know if lower than that may nonetheless present a profit. Extra analysis is required to raised perceive if and when MCTs can be utilized to assist with seizure administration, however diets with MCTs could possibly be a consideration to debate together with your veterinarian to see if they’re proper to your canine.

Cautious eating regimen transition

Of particular observe, in case your canine receives the seizure remedy potassium bromide, it is vitally vital to not make fast modifications to your canine’s eating regimen or treats as modifications within the chloride ranges of various meals can change how the remedy works within the physique. For wholesome canine, we advocate at the least every week to transition to any new food. For canine on potassium bromide, the period of time wanted for transition will rely upon the severity and frequency of their seizure situation and the way vital of a change in chloride content material there shall be between the brand new and outdated eating regimen. At all times discuss to your veterinarian earlier than any eating regimen change.

 

In abstract, for canine with idiopathic epilepsy, I typically don’t advocate ketogenic diets on account of lack of proof for profit and potential negative effects, however take into account good high quality diets enriched in MCTs a attainable adjunct remedy along with medical administration for some canine. As all the time, please be sure you focus on eating regimen together with your veterinarian earlier than making any modifications!

 

References:

Vendramini THA, Amaral AR, Rentas MF, Nogueira JPDS, Pedrinelli V, de Oliveira VV, Zafalon RVA, Brunetto MA. Ketogenic diets: A scientific overview of present scientific proof and attainable applicability in canine and cats. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2023 Dec 13.

Nakatsuka Ok, Zanghi B, Hasegawa D. Efficacy analysis of a commercially obtainable MCT enriched therapeutic eating regimen on canine with idiopathic epilepsy handled with zonisamide: a potential, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover dietary preliminary research. BMC Vet Res. 2023 Sep 6;19(1):145.

Schmidt T, Meller S, Meyerhoff N, Twele F, Zanghi B, Volk HA. A six-month potential, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover, dietary trial design to research the potential of psychobiotics on seizure semiology and comorbidities in canine epilepsy: research protocol. BMC Vet Res. 2023 Mar 3;19(1):57.

Han FY, Conboy-Schmidt L, Rybachuk G, Volk HA, Zanghi B, Pan Y, Borges Ok. Dietary medium chain triglycerides for administration of epilepsy: New knowledge from human, canine, and rodent research. Epilepsia. 2021 Aug;62(8):1790-1806.