No reports appear in which idiopathic epilepsy is proven not to be an inherited disease. Studies of humans, mice, rats and rabbits leave little doubt that epilepsy in these species is inherited. Mice are common animal models for epilepsy in humans, and work is under way identifying the specific genes that cause the epilepsy. It generally is impossible, without considerable test breedings, to determine the degree of involvement of either the sire or the dam in producing epileptic offspring. Internal extracranial diseases require identifying the disease process and providing the specific treatment.
Anticonvulsants are usually the only treatments given for idiopathic epilepsy.
Not all affected individuals require drug therapy. Despite their frightening appearance, infrequent grand mal seizures of 1- 3 minutes duration with no abnormalities remaining after the seizure are generally not dangerous to the patient. In treating seizures, the goal is to keep seizures to a minimum, while avoiding serious side effects. All anticonvulsants have some undesirable side effects and require regular monitoring of the patient. These animals should be treated regardless of the length of the interval between seizures.