Shared struggles: Parallels in caregiver burden between canine and paediatric epilepsy

Disease-specific aspects of pet owners' caregiver burden could be missed by generic burden measures. This study aimed to assess whether a framework developed to describe caregiver burden in parents of children with epilepsy was applicable to caregivers of dogs with epilepsy.

An online questionnaire incorporated a novel 10-item qualitative and quantitative caregiver impact assessment (CIA) tool. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine the underlying factor structure of the CIA. Participant scores were calculated, risk factors for burden statistically identified, and free text coded into item-specific topic summaries.

The mean CIA score indicated an overall negative impact of canine epilepsy among 590 international respondents. Caregivers of dogs receiving anti-seizure drug polytherapy and/or with a history of status epilepticus reported the greatest burden. Impacts included increased anxiety/worry (83.7%), poor sleep quality (68.6%) and tiredness (57.1%). Caregivers' fear of not being present during a seizure appeared to be a catalyst for multiple burdens.

Caregivers most negatively impacted by their dogs' disease may have been more likely to participate, limiting generalisability.

Caring for a dog with epilepsy is associated with substantial caregiver burden, with notable parallels with caring for a child with epilepsy. The CIA shows promise as a tool for capturing disease-specific caregiver burden in pet owners.