Page 9 - ACT Paws and Hooves - Autumn 2023

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Page 9 - ACT Paws and Hooves - Autumn 2023
P. 9

RESEARCH











       Epilepsy

       The RVC is a Centre for Excellence for canine epilepsy
       and the RVC Animal Care Trust continues to support this
       lifesaving work. Most recently we’ve funded an update to
       the RVC Epilepsy Tracker app and funded a PhD student,
       who is researching behavioural therapies.
       The RVC Epilepsy Tracker App is revolutionising the
       management of this worrying condition. Using the app,
       owners can record their pet’s medications and seizures.
       This information can be sent to the pet’s vet, helping to
       inform decisions about their care. Available worldwide,
       the app has been translated into different languages.
       With the owner’s consent, the data can also be used by
       researchers and is a highly valued data source.

       Sarah Hobbs, supported by Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer
       in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science, is
       investigating how canine epilepsy can be managed with
       behavioural interventions. Her PhD aims to improve
       the emotional state of epileptic dogs to determine if this
       reduces their seizures. Kodi, Bella and Dylan (pictured)
       are just some of the epileptic patients helping Sarah with
       this research. Some epileptic canine patients are drug
       resistant and anti-seizure medications can have adverse
       side effects. Therefore evidence-based behavioural
       therapies, to work alongside medications, are urgently
       needed. If successful, behavioural therapy would be
       an affordable intervention, improving the quality of life
       of epilepsy patients like Kodi, Bella and Dylan and their
       owners, internationally.

                                                                                                          Kodi






                                                               Dr Rowena Packer,
                                                               co-designer of the RVC
                                                               Epilepsy Tracker App






















                                                   Bella                                                Dylan

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