Toby's Foundation has sponsored CHF Grant 03659-A: Evaluating Long-chain Fatty Acids as a Nutritional Biomarker in Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy
Dr. Go Togawa, DVM MSc PhD, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech

August 2026

This research focuses on idiopathic epilepsy in dogs, a condition that causes repeated, sometimes life-threatening seizures and can be very difficult to manage in a large number of patients. By carefully measuring natural fats (long-chain fatty acids, including omega-3s) in dogs' blood and comparing healthy dogs, well-controlled epileptic dogs, and dogs with hard-to-control seizures, the study will determine whether these fats can be used as a new type of biomarker to predict seizure control and drug resistance. The key idea is that a simple blood test, combined with thoughtful nutrition, may one day help dogs with epilepsy have fewer seizures, feel better, and live longer, more comfortable lives.

Read the CHF article here: Can Natural Fats in the Blood Reveal New Clues in Canine Epilepsy?