Potenziale terapeutico del cannabidiolo (CBD) nell’epilessia refrattaria canina: un’analisi delle evidenze cliniche. ; Therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) in canine refractory epilepsy: an analysis of clinical evidence.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in veterinary medicine. It is a brain disorder characterized by a persistent predisposition to develop epileptic seizures, which are episodes of abnormal electrical brain activity. These seizures manifests with symptoms such as muscle spasms, loss of consciousness, and involuntary movements. In this context, it is important to distinguish epilepsy from other conditions that cause seizures, such as those triggered by toxins or metabolic imbalances, which don’t fit classical definition of epilepsy. Seizures can develop in several forms, depending on the brain area involved, and can be classified as focal, focal processing to generalized or generalized. Diagnosing epilepsy in dogs is complex and is primarily based on the medical history provided by the owners, as it is rare for the veterinarian to be a direct witness of a seizure. It is crucial to gather detailed information on the frequency, duration, and circumstances of the seizures, as well as on the dog’s behavior between episodes. This is followed by physical and neurological examinations to identify the underlying cause of the seizures, which may be idiopathic (genetic origin), structural (related to brain lesions or diseases), or of unknown origin. The treatment of epilepsy relies on the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), aimed to reduce frequency and severity of seizures. Complete seizure remission is often difficult to achieve, so the primary goal is to maintain an acceptable quality of animal life. The most commonly used drugs are Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide, but in recent years, newer antiepileptic medications such as Imepitoin, Zonisamide, and Levetiracetam have been introduced, providing greater tolerability. Despite wide availability of AEDs, some dogs do not respond adequately to treatments. In such cases, this is referred to refractory epilepsy, where seizure control is difficult even with multiple combined drugs. This is a significant challenge in managing the condition, and ...