Anti-seizure drugs could cause canine obesity, study finds
Dogs receiving ASD medication had a higher interest in food than healthy dogs.
New research has revealed that anti-seizure drugs (ASD) could be leading to more epileptic dogs becoming obese.
Researchers say that the drugs cause epileptic dogs to have an increased appetite which, when not properly managed, can cause weight issues. This risk is increased when dogs are given treats to help administer medication.
Dogs which suffer from idiopathic epilepsy are often prescribed ASD throughout their lifetimes. These drugs reduce the frequency and severity of the dog’s seizures, but rarely lead to seizure freedom.
The medication has a number of long-lasting side effects, including decreased energy, increased food intake and weight gain.
Though these side effects are widely published in veterinary literature, they have not previously been quantified or studied.
To analyse food motivation, researchers from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) collaborated with the University of Cambridge to issue a validated Dog Obesity Risk Assessment questionnaire. The survey was designed to determine the link between ASDs and weight gain, as well as considering how caregivers manage weight gain.
The data compared 222 dogs that were diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy with a control population of 7,086 healthy dogs.
Dogs which had idiopathic epilepsy and were receiving ASD were found to have a much higher food motivation than healthy dogs. They had increased interest in food, were less selective and were more interested in getting more food outside of meals.
Although their carers put effort into managing their pet’s diet, these dogs still had greater fat mass.
Fifty-three per cent of owners of dogs with epilepsy said they would always use treats to administer ASD medication, with 34 per cent saying they did not adjust their dog’s main food ration to suit. Since medication is usually administered twice a day, this can have a significant increase on calorie intake.
Rowena Packer, principal investigator of this research, said: “The findings of this research are key in helping the veterinary team provide greater information and support to pet owners managing their dog’s epilepsy.
“Although anti-seizure drugs are an essential part of the epilepsy treatment toolkit, ensuring owners are aware of the side effects and long-lasting impact of these medications is key in treatment decision-making, ensuring a balance between negative side effects such as increased food motivation against potential positive effects such as reduced seizure frequency, to maintain quality of life.”
The full study can be found in the journal Vet Record.
Image © Shutterstock
BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.
