Study into Onset of Late Seizures

An independent initial Survey was undertaken in 1997 which indicated an elevated percentage of Field Spaniels suffering Seizures between the ages of 6 - 9 years.

At the 2002 Annual General Meeting, the Members passed a motion to investigate this further by means of a Pedigree Study.

Late Onset Seizures

An independent survey of fits, seizures and convulsions was conducted on fields in 1997 and it was noticed that there seemed to be a high occurrence of seizures in older Fields. The main area of concern was Fields between the ages of 5-9 years of age. Following this the KC’s own health survey, completed by our members, highlighted that neurological problems (including epilepsy) was the third highest health problem in our breed, behind tumours and old age.
The veterinary profession have recently established that repeated seizures or epilepsy with no obvious cause can occur in dogs at this age. This is a recent discovery and the term late onset idiopathic epilepsy was created to describe this.

This survey however could not determine precisely what the cause for this was. There are many causes for seizures, including trauma, toxins, tumours and of course idiopathic. Idiopathic epilepsy is a diagnosis by elimination. That is, they look for other causes of seizures and if they can't find any, they make the diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy. At this time no one yet has been able to determine which applies to the Field Spaniel. There is a protocol provided by the Canine Epilepsy Network that can be followed that can ascertain whether an outside cause can be determined. Not only that but it will also provide a baseline from which to watch for potential side affects of anti-epileptic drugs

Some owners are unable to deal with the seizures and have their dogs put to sleep. In these cases it would be useful to have an autopsy done to help determine the cause of the seizures. We need for more people to follow this protocol once it is determined that their Field has had a seizure. There have been at least two Field Spaniels that have followed this protocol and have been diagnosed as late onset idiopathic epileptics

In 2002 the FSS membership decided unanimously to agree to a pedigree study and research into the problem of Late-Onset Seizures in the Field Spaniels to try and ascertain a cause and if there is a hereditary factor involved.

This is NOT a witch-hunt. Owners cannot be blamed even if it does turn out to be hereditary. As it affects dogs between 5-9 years, by the time dogs have begun to display any symptoms, they have usually completed their breeding.We have no evidence to indicate that any owner has continued to allow their dog to be used after it has started fitting. As we currently do not know if it is idiopathic, or hereditary, it is also foolish to suspend all breeding programs on the possibility that a dog may be either affected or a carrier.

We have agreement from the AHT that any dog that has had seizures can have details and a DNA sample sent to them as part of their ongoing Epilepsy research. We also need members to complete the health forms with details and pedigrees of their dogs so we can get a clearer view of the numbers involved and if there are any recurring incidents that lead up to the seizures.