Premature death, risk factors, and life patterns in dogs with epilepsy.

analyzed. Results: The median age at death of dogs was 7.0 years. The life span of dogs in which euthanasia or death was directly caused by their epileptic condition was significantly shorter as compared with epileptic dogs that were euthanized because of other causes (P 5 .001). The median number of years that a dog lived with epilepsy was 2.3 years. Females lived longer with epilepsy than males (P 5 .036). Seizure type (primary generalized versus focal seizures) was not significantly associated with survival time. The remission rate of epilepsy (spontaneous remission and remission with treatment) was 15%. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: The diagnosis of epilepsy implies an increased risk of premature death. The prognosis for dogs with epilepsy is dependent on a combination of veterinary expertise, therapeutic success, and the owner’s motivation.