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1. The problem of seizures in the Irish Wolfhound has become noticable primarily during the last fifteen years. The first reported "producer" was born in 1962 and the first reported Irish Wolfhound affected with seizures was whelped in 1968. The majority of animals affected with seizures have been born since 1986, so far peaking in the years 1989 through 1997 (Graphs 1a, 1b, 1c) 2. Longevity after onset of seizures is almost equal in males ( 27.14 months) and females ( 27.96 months), with an average period of survival after onset of 26.74 months, regardless of treatment protocol. The average age at death is 56.4 months ( 4.7 years), almost 2 years earlier than the average age of death within the general population (6.47 years as reported in Longevity and Morbidity in the Irish Wolfhound in the United States - 1966 to 1986 by Gretchen Bernardi). Of the animals that have died, 60.32% of the deaths were seizure-related. Longevity after onset for seizure related deaths are 1) 18.18 months for uncontrolled seizures 2) 21.25 months where there is confirmed damage from phenobarbital and 3) 22.0 months for those who died during a seizure 4) 16.4 months for aspiration pneumonia 5) 30.67 months where brain damage has occurred as a result of seizure activity and 6) one dog died of injuries inflicted by other dogs while he was having a seizure. Cancer and heart disease followed as the most frequent causes of death. Most of the animals ( 102 of 126) were euthanized. (Graph 2) 3. Thirty-seven (37) are entered as having seizures of explained causes. Some of these causes included liver shunt, encephalitis, hyperthermia, metasticesed cancers, drug reactions and reactions to pesticides. (Graph 3) Eight (8) neonates, two from one litter and six from a second litter directly unrelated to the first litter, were reported to have had seizures due to hypomyelinogenis and liver dysfunction respectively. 4. Food or housing as a cause of seizures - The foods consumed by the dogs entered in the study were as varied as the ownership of the animals. There were no reports of seizures due to reactions to food ingredients. Housing as a cause of seizures - Most were house dogs. Some were strictly kennel animals 5. Heartworm as a cause of seizures - Most were on heartworm medication. The types of heartworm preventives were varied. No tests connected with this study were done on any of the entrants to determine toxicity levels. In the article by Dr. Thomas reprinted in the Maintenance section, he mentions that Ivermectin can "increase seizure activity" in an animal already afflicted with a seizure condition. 6. None of the Irish Wolfhounds entered in the study had seizures caused by thyroid dysfunction. Several, however, tested as mildly hypothyroid. This in itself is not unusual for the breed. According to the clinical experience of Dr. Dayrell-Hart during her tenure as a practicing neurologist at the University of Pennsylvania, blood work on animals with seizures allegedly caused by severe hypothyroidism show very high levels of cholesterol. Phenobarbital can lower the T4 readings and may not reflect the actual T4 levels in the blood. Therefore, further testing should be done to determine the true T4 levels before adjusting thyroid medication. This information was confirmed to me by Dr Alevley, veterinary neurologist, and Dr Feldman, veterinary endocronologist from the University of California Davis during a telephone conversation. 7. Although the hormone surges associated with estrus are known to have the potential to trigger seizures, only 5 of the 56 female entries had onset of seizures near their first estrus. Two additional entries reported one seizure of sevearal during their lifetimes close to their 4th and 5th seasons respectively. 8. There are no reports or direct evidence of malignant hyperthermia as a cause for seizures for the entries in this study. |
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