Evaluation of fecal microbial populations in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy

Idiopathic epilepsy is a common neurological disorder of dogs characterized by recurrent seizures for which no underlying basis is identified other than a presumed genetic predisposition. The pathogenesis of the disorder remains poorly understood, but environmental factors are presumed to influence the course of disease. Within the growing body of research into the microbiota-gut-brain axis, investigations into the association between the gut microbiome and epilepsy are in their infancy, but some preliminary findings support a role for certain microbes such as the Lactobacilli in drug resistant epilepsy. Here we evaluate fecal microbial populations in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy compared to healthy dogs.