Study tracks epilepsy burden across nine Dutch dog breeds

A newly accepted Frontiers in Veterinary Science paper puts a spotlight on epilepsy across the Netherlands' nine native dog breeds, offering a rare cross-breed look at prevalence, clinical phenotype, and quality of life in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and epilepsy of unknown cause. The study, led by Tippy Rolink with co-authors including Paul Mandigers and Sofie Bhatti, was accepted on August 13, 2026, and, based on the available abstract, reports prevalence estimates ranging from 0.23% to 2.8%. It also concludes that breeding strategies were most effective in reducing epilepsy frequency in Dutch Smoushonds and Kooiker dogs. (frontiersin.org)

That focus is significant because the Dutch breeds represent relatively small pedigree populations, where inherited disorders can become concentrated more quickly than in larger, more genetically diverse populations. Earlier International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force work specifically noted that the Netherlands has nine native pedigree breeds and highlighted the importance of identifying breed-specific epilepsy patterns and possible genetic risk. Utrecht investigators have been working in this space for years, including prior publications on epilepsy prevalence in Dutch dog breeds, first-line veterinarian perspectives, and breed-specific phenotype studies in Irish Setters, Border Collies, and Labradoodles. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

The new paper appears to extend that program by combining three issues clinicians and breeders both care about: how often epilepsy occurs, how it presents, and how much it affects daily life. The abstract says prevalence varied markedly between breeds, from 0.23% to 2.8%, and points to two breeds, Dutch Smoushonds and Kooiker dogs, where breeding strategies were associated with the clearest reduction in epilepsy frequency. Even without the full paper's tables yet available, that finding suggests organized breed-club or registry-level interventions may matter, especially in closed or relatively small breeding populations. That is an inference based on the abstract and the broader literature, but it's consistent with how hereditary disease control is usually approached in purebred populations. (frontiersin.org)

The study also fits with a growing body of evidence showing that epilepsy burden differs by breed, not just by seizure count. In prior Frontiers work, this same research network found that quality-of-life effects can vary substantially across breeds and can affect both the dog and the pet parent. In Labradoodles, for example, the group used owner questionnaires to capture seizure semiology, treatment response, and quality-of-life measures, while a broader pilot study across 14 breeds concluded that breed-related differences in owner-reported quality of life were measurable. (frontiersin.org)

No independent expert commentary on the new Dutch-breeds paper was readily available in the initial search results, which isn't unusual for a newly accepted veterinary neurology paper. Still, the surrounding literature gives useful context. Consensus guidance from the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force has long argued that idiopathic epilepsy likely has a genetic or suspected genetic basis in many purebred dogs, and that breed-specific characterization is clinically relevant for diagnosis, counseling, and research. Separate work on the Dutch Partridge Dog has already identified a risk locus and CCDC85A variant associated with idiopathic epilepsy, underscoring that at least some Dutch breeds may have traceable genetic underpinnings. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For general practitioners and neurologists, the practical takeaway is that breed context should inform conversations earlier. If prevalence and phenotype differ meaningfully between Dutch breeds, clinicians may be better positioned to discuss age of onset, likely seizure patterns, treatment expectations, and quality-of-life tradeoffs with pet parents. For veterinarians who work with breeders or breed clubs, the paper may also strengthen the case for structured health surveillance, open reporting, and breeding recommendations when epilepsy risk is documented. Prior Dutch research has shown that epilepsy is common enough in practice to create uncertainty around diagnosis and management, and this new paper may help narrow that uncertainty for some breeds. (research-portal.uu.nl)

The breeding angle may be especially important. The abstract's suggestion that epilepsy frequency fell most clearly in Dutch Smoushonds and Kooiker dogs implies that selective breeding policies can make a difference, at least in some populations. For veterinary professionals, that raises familiar but important questions: what level of evidence is enough to recommend breeding restrictions, how to balance disease control with genetic diversity, and whether breed-club action can move faster than formal genetic test development. Those details will likely depend on the full paper's methods and the strength of pedigree or longitudinal registry data. (frontiersin.org)

What to watch: The next step is the full article publication, which should clarify the nine breeds included, case definitions, questionnaire design, prevalence calculations, and how the authors assessed the apparent success of breeding strategies in Dutch Smoushonds and Kooiker dogs. (frontiersin.org)