How Common
How common is epilepsy in dogs and cats?
The numbers behind the diagnosis — and why they matter for you as an owner.
Epilepsy is not rare. It is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs and one of the most frequent neurological conditions seen in veterinary practice. Understanding how common it is — and which animals are most affected — can help you contextualize your pet's diagnosis and understand why this field of veterinary research has grown so significantly in recent years.
How common is epilepsy in dogs?
The most widely cited estimate for epilepsy prevalence in the general dog population is 0.6–0.75%, established in the IVETF consensus reports (2015). This means that roughly 1 in every 130–160 dogs seen in a veterinary practice has epilepsy. A VetCompass study of over 455,000 dogs attending UK primary care practices found an annual incidence risk of seizures of 0.62% — with Labrador Retrievers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, and Yorkshire Terriers among the most commonly affected breeds.
Breed predispositions — why some dogs are more at risk
Idiopathic epilepsy has a strong genetic component, and prevalence varies dramatically by breed. The IVETF consensus report on breed predispositions identifies significantly elevated rates in breeds including Border Collies, Belgian Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Irish Wolfhounds, and several others. In some breeding lines of Belgian Shepherds in Denmark, prevalence has been documented at up to 33% — highlighting the urgency of responsible breeding practices in affected breeds.
- Belgian Shepherd (Tervuren, Groenendael) — up to 20–33% in some lines
- Border Collie — significant predisposition documented
- Labrador Retriever — one of the most commonly affected breeds in primary care
- Golden Retriever, Irish Setter, Bernese Mountain Dog, Irish Wolfhound
- Australian Shepherd, Vizsla, Standard Poodle
How common is epilepsy in cats?
Epilepsy is less well studied in cats than in dogs, partly because it is less common and partly because feline patients are less frequently presented for neurological workup. Published estimates suggest epilepsy affects approximately 1–3% of cats, though the true prevalence may be underestimated due to underdiagnosis. Structural causes are proportionally more common in cats than in dogs, and idiopathic epilepsy is diagnosed less frequently in the feline population.
Why these numbers matter
Understanding how common epilepsy is helps contextualize your experience. You are far from alone. Thousands of pet owners are navigating exactly the same decisions, questions, and emotions that you are. The growing body of research in this field — from the VetCompass programme to the IVETF consensus statements — exists because veterinary scientists and clinicians recognize the scale of the condition and the urgency of improving care for affected animals and their owners.
- Volk HA, et al. IVETF consensus reports — editorial. BMC Veterinary Research. 2015;11:194. doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0460-3
- Heske L, et al. IVETF consensus: current understanding of idiopathic epilepsy of genetic or suspected genetic origin in purebred dogs. BMC Veterinary Research. 2015;11:175. doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0463-0
- RVC VetCompass Programme. VetCompass study explores the classification, diagnosis, and clinical management of seizures in dogs. Royal Veterinary College, 2020. rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass
- Bride ME, Samarani F, Grant LE, James FMK. Canine epilepsy/seizure occurrence in primary care and referral populations. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2024;11:1455468. doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1455468
Caregiver resources
Support for the moments between appointments.
Your vet sees your pet occasionally — you live with epilepsy every day. PetSeizureCare makes a small set of practical, evidence-informed resources for exactly those in-between moments.
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