Neurobehavioral Comorbidities in Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy: New Insights into Cognitive and Emotional Domains

Neurobehavioral comorbidities in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) are increasingly recognized, yet their phenotypic variability and clinical implications remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify behavioral changes following seizure onset and to explore the feasibility of stratifying patients based on neurobehavioral profiles. Seventy client-owned dogs with IE were enrolled and grouped according to treatment: 29 had drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), 29 were drug-sensitive (DSE), and 12 remained untreated. Owners completed a modified version of the C-BARQ questionnaire, assessing behaviors before and after seizure onset. Nearly one-third of behavioral items showed significant changes, particularly in attachment and attention-seeking behaviors, separation-related behaviors, eating behavior, and signs of cognitive decline such as reduced trainability and dementia-like signs. Principal component analysis followed by cluster analysis revealed two distinct neurobehavioral profiles: Cognitive and Emotional. The Cognitive cluster was associated with a higher total questionnaire score, poorer seizure control (predominantly DRE), and lower owner-perceived quality of life. In contrast, the Emotional cluster was more frequently observed in dogs with DSE or no treatment and was associated with higher quality of life scores. These findings support the clinical relevance of behavioral stratification in canine epilepsy and underscore the need for individualized, multimodal approaches to improve patient care.