Non-Invasive EEG Measurements in Epileptic Dogs (Canis familiaris)

In addition to the characteristic and easily identifiable behavioural signs – namely, epileptic seizures – electroencephalography (EEG) has long been a standard component of epilepsy diagnosis protocols. In veterinary practice, EEG is typically performed in a semi-invasive manner, using subcutaneous electrodes and sedation. Here, we propose that the non-invasive polysomnography protocol, originally developed for basic research, can serve as a more welfare-compatible yet informative alternative for assessing epileptic brain activity in dogs. In this study, N=11 family dogs diagnosed with epilepsy underwent a single non-invasive polysomnography session. EEG-based evidence for epileptic activity was detected in 2 cases. Polysomnography data from these 11 epileptic dogs were further analysed to extract sleep macrostructure parameters. Compared to a matched control group of N=11 clinically healthy dogs, the epileptic group exhibited reduced sleep efficiency, increased sleep latency, more wakings after sleep onset, and less time spent in drowsiness and non-REM sleep. These findings support the potential utility of non-invasive brain monitoring techniques, such as polysomnography, in the diagnosis and management of epilepsy in veterinary medicine.