| Animal: | Dogs |
| Age: | None specified |
| Sex: |
Any
|
| Healthy Pets: | No |
| Keywords: | epilepsy, seizure, dog, canine |
| Type: | Device |
| Target: |
20 Participants
|
If the exams, tests, and procedures show that your dog can take part in the study, and you choose to enroll them, then the following will happen as part of the study:
- A repeat MRI of your dog’s head
- Brain surgery to implant electrodes
- CT scan of your dog’s head after surgery to make sure the electrodes are in the right place
- A surgery at the same time to implant a radio device under the skin near the shoulder blades
- Recheck physical and neurological examinations and evaluation of device function every 2 months for up to 2 years
If you allow your dog to participate in this study, you will be responsible for keeping all scheduled visits, learning to care for and maintain the implanted device, committing to recharging of the ‘radio’ and transmission of data into storage, and covering the following costs:
- Diagnostics, treatment, or increased costs of hospitalization for unrelated illness that may develop during the 2 year course of the study;
- Veterinary care costs relating to treatment and hospitalization of chronic breakthrough seizure episodes, during the 2 year course of the study, unless it is likely to be related directly to the implanted device (infection or migration);
- Costs of complications from the implanted device above $5,000; and,
- Costs associated with rechecking, maintenance, or explanting of the device after the study is completed at 2 years.
NOTE: At the completion of the study (24 months), the implanted device will be removed. If you think it is helping your dog’s seizures and you would like to keep the device, it will be donated to you for the life of the device. However, ongoing recheck examinations will not be considered part of the study. Neither will the device be supported technically by the research personnel or grant money following the completion of the study. If you decide to keep the device after study completion, and it stops working, you will be responsible for paying for it’s removal. Conversely, it may be left in place but non-functional. If you do not want to keep the implanted device at the end of the study (i.e. at 2 years), it will be surgically removed, and paid for by the study.
We are looking for dogs with epilepsy:
- Having at least 2 identifiable seizures per month (separated by at minimum 8 hours and maximum of 60 days) that are poorly controlled with any of the typical medications or treatment (e.g., anticonvulsant medications with or without diet or nutraceuticals interventions);
- That have shown resistance to at least two anti-epileptic drugs with therapeutic blood levels;
- Taking anti-epileptic drugs for the past 3-6 months prior to the study; and, Otherwise medically normal and neurologically stable between seizures.
We cannot accept dogs:
- Having seizures because of another disease/condition (e.g., brain tumors, infections, immune-mediated disease or congenital malformation);
- That have had previous brain surgery; or,
- With other systemic diseases that could influence brain function.
You will be provided with an estimate of the costs that are likely to be incurred during the treatment of your dog. If there are any significant changes to this estimate that arise during treatment, these will be discussed with you prior to proceeding with medical care of your dog.
| Location |
Small Animal Clinic - Neurology and Neurosurgery
Davis, CA 95616
Have any questions or want to learn more? Leave your contact details below and the research team will reach out to you.