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 might be very overwhelming. Earlier than contemplating therapy, you will need to 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 reminiscent of tumors or beginning defects. When no trigger might be discovered, that is known as ‘idiopathic epilepsy.’ Nonetheless, this could solely be determined in spite of everything attainable causes have been dominated out.

When to think about weight loss program

For canines with seizures, any weight loss program change ought 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 adjustments to think about however let’s have a look at the proof and execs and cons behind some totally different methods you could hear about.

Ketogenic Diets

Ketogenic diets are sometimes described as excessive fats, low to reasonable 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’ relating 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. Any such weight loss program is supposed to create ‘ketosis’ within the physique, which occurs when the physique doesn’t have sufficient carbohydrates to burn for vitality so it burns fats and makes issues known as ketones to make use of for gasoline. There have been just a few research taking a look at ketogenic diets in kids with epilepsy which have proven some enchancment in seizure management. This doesn’t essentially translate to canines, nevertheless, as a result of canines deal with ketones in another way. In people, there are additionally potential uncomfortable side effects of ketogenic diets to think about that may embody nutrient deficiencies, digestive points, nausea, headache, and fatigue. A few of these uncomfortable side effects will also be seen in canines. Issues I see most frequently stem from an intolerance to larger fats diets, which might result in vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, and weight achieve if additionally larger calorie. With out proof of profit, and attainable destructive uncomfortable side effects, I don’t advocate ketogenic diets for canines with idiopathic epilepsy as a primary line of protection.

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT)

Whereas it’s troublesome to attain true ketosis in canines attributable to their metabolism, vitamins reminiscent of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) within the weight loss program might profit the mind by offering an vitality supply that the mind can preferentially make the most of as a substitute of different fat. Research have began taking a look at potential advantages of pet meals enriched in MCTs, with some canines having lowered seizure frequency and different canines having no change. Simply having ‘MCT oil’ or ‘coconut oil’ on the label will 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 might 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 might be a consideration to debate together with your veterinarian to see if they’re proper in your canine.

Cautious weight loss program transition

Of particular be aware, in case your canine receives the seizure remedy potassium bromide, it is rather necessary to not make fast adjustments to your canine’s weight loss program or treats as adjustments within the chloride ranges of various meals can change how the remedy works within the physique. For wholesome canines, we advocate a minimum of per week to transition to any new food. For canines on potassium bromide, the period of time wanted for transition will rely on the severity and frequency of their seizure situation and the way important of a change in chloride content material there might be between the brand new and previous weight loss program. All the time speak to your veterinarian earlier than any weight loss program change.

In abstract, for canines with idiopathic epilepsy, I typically don’t advocate ketogenic diets attributable to lack of proof for profit and potential uncomfortable side effects, however contemplate good high quality diets enriched in MCTs a attainable adjunct remedy along with medical administration for some canines. As at all times, please ensure you focus on weight loss program together with your veterinarian earlier than making any adjustments!

References:

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

Nakatsuka Ok, Zanghi B, Hasegawa D. Efficacy analysis of a commercially out there MCT enriched therapeutic weight loss program on canines 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 information from human, canine, and rodent research. Epilepsia. 2021 Aug;62(8):1790-1806.

Deborah E. Linder, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Nutrition)

Dr. Deborah Linder, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, is the top of the Tufts Weight problems Clinic for Animals and has had articles seem in Consuming Nicely, the Boston Globe, AARP, SHAPE, and XM Sirius Radio Physician Channel. She has spoken at nationwide and worldwide conferences and a Capitol Hill briefing, and is an skilled in pet weight problems, diet communication, and within the human-animal bond.