SCARBOROUGH, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Canine epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders among dogs, and there's no known cause or consistently effective treatment.
To learn more about the disorder, and possible treatments, several neurological veterinarians are participating in an FDA clinical trial.
Two of them are local doctors, working at the Maine Veterinary Refferal Center in Scarborough.
According to Dr. Alan Potthoff, the veterinarians are seeking dogs experiencing seizures to take part in the study, which will test a new compound for canine epilepsy.
Qualified dogs will receive medical care that includes physical and neurological exams, blood and urine testing, an MRI, and medication free of charge.
An estimated 780,000 dogs are diagnosed with epilepsy each year, and veterinarians say there's no consistent way to treat it.
"Even if you have an anti-epileptic compound, it doesn't mean it's going to work on that particular seizure focus," said Dr. Potthoff. "It may work for a year or two years and then all of a sudden it starts up again."
Dr. Potthoff said he hopes this clinical trial will lead to more research about the disorder.
"We're always looking for new compounds that are effective and safe," he said.
For more information about participating in the study, visit http://www.helpfordogswithseizures.com/.