Optimizing electroencephalography for diagnosis and management of epilepsy and other neurological conditions in dogs

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About half of Canadian households have at least one dog, with latest dog numbers estimated at 8.2 million. Over 400,000 dogs will develop epilepsy with debilitating implications. Limited diagnostic and therapeutic options affect quality of life for both dogs and caregivers. The only way to diagnose seizures is with electroencephalography (EEG), a test that monitors brain function in real-time, but rarely used in veterinary medicine due to technical challenges. There are no EEG substitutes: video recordings of episodes are unreliable and advanced imaging rarely identifies abnormalities. Veterinary EEG's main challenge is lack of methodological standardization across the range of dog head shapes. Nonexistent standards confound comparison of EEG between dogs, clinics, and syndromes. There is a need to establish reliable electrode locations and minimize artifacts that confound the cortical signal during unsedated recording. Veterinary EEG does not yet incorporate kinetic, heart or respiration rate monitors that might differentiate between physiological artifacts and true brain signals. My long-term research goal of developing new approaches to canine epilepsy represents a significant socioeconomic benefit while paying substantial dividends to patients and caregivers. Past work clarified several technical points in the canine EEG protocol, including that wireless video-synchronized EEG can successfully record unsedated dogs. Part of a global research network, our improvements in EEG technique aided the identification of a genetic mutation in a canine epilepsy syndrome. Building on this work, our short-term goal is to further refine methodological standards for canine EEG to support ongoing research into therapeutic strategies. Funding will recruit graduate and undergraduate trainees to develop electrode placement grid(s) that account for dog head shape variation. Using archival medical scans, we will first evaluate the morphologic relationships across a wide range of dog skulls and brains. Understanding this variability will enable the design of suitable grid(s). Concurrently, we will test and develop procedures for incorporating novel sensors into the EEG protocol. Assessing methodological refinements forms part of a basic science pillar of my canine epilepsy clinical research program. My established training program offers HQP unique experience in veterinary clinical science, opening diverse career pathways. An inclusive commitment to high calibre training and equal opportunities supports my program. Expertise in veterinary neuroelectrophysiology, particularly EEG, is key to clinical improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of canine epilepsy and the understanding of its neuropathology and neurobiology. International collaboration plays a significant role in my program's research success. This proposal to modernize clinical canine EEG will promote further specialized investigation of novel diagnostics and targeted therapies.