Kirton A, Winter A, Wirrell E, Snead O C
Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Epilepsy Behav. 2008 Oct;13(3):499-504. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.05.011. Epub 2008 Jul 1.
Evidence supporting seizure-related behaviors in dogs is emerging. The methods of seizure response dog (SRD) training programs are unstudied. A standardized survey was retrospectively applied to graduates of a large SRD program. Subjective changes in quality of life (QOL) parameters were explored. Data were captured on animal characteristics, training methods, response and alerting behaviors, effects on seizure frequency, and accuracy of epilepsy diagnosis. Twenty-two patients (88%) participated (median age=34, range=12-66, 73% female). Most had childhood-onset epilepsy (87%) that was refractory with averages of 36 seizures/month and 4.8 medications failed. All had neurologist-confirmed epilepsy, most being symptomatic partial (64%). SRD behaviors were reliable, including emergency response system activation in 27%. All reported SRD-related QOL improvements (major 82%, moderate 18%) across multiple parameters. Spontaneous alerting behavior developed in 59%. That SRD programs may select genuine epilepsy patients, instill valuable assistance skills, and generate meaningful QOL improvements supports further seizure dog research.
支持犬类癫痫相关行为的证据正在不断涌现。癫痫反应犬（SRD）训练项目的方法尚未得到研究。一项标准化调查被回顾性应用于一个大型SRD项目的毕业生。探讨了生活质量（QOL）参数的主观变化。收集了有关动物特征、训练方法、反应和警报行为、对癫痫发作频率的影响以及癫痫诊断准确性的数据。22名患者（88%）参与调查（中位年龄=34岁，范围=12 - 66岁，73%为女性）。大多数患者为儿童期起病的癫痫（87%），难治性癫痫，平均每月发作36次，4.8种药物治疗失败。所有患者均经神经科医生确诊为癫痫，大多数为症状性部分性癫痫（64%）。SRD行为可靠，27%的患者能激活应急反应系统。所有患者均报告在多个参数上SRD相关的生活质量有所改善（显著改善82%，中度改善18%）。59%的患者出现自发警报行为。SRD项目可能筛选出真正的癫痫患者，传授有价值的辅助技能，并带来有意义的生活质量改善，这支持了对癫痫犬的进一步研究。
