Just curious, after reading an earlier post about Welsh Mountain dogs - can epilepsy in dogs be passed on to litters?

It is believed so, though it can 'skip' generations. I don't believe there is a single breed that can be declared free of it.
:(

Think you are correct JG, most if not all breeds can suffer from it and it is believed to be hereditary, which is why most breeders would not breed from a dog or bitch that had epilepsy in it's background and is one of the things that is searched for before choosing a stud. It is more common in some breeds than others and seems to effect bitches more than dogs.

Epilepsy is not straight forward. There are (semi) proven links in some breeds, Goldens, Labradors, GSD's Keeshonds Irish Setters and Beagles to name just a few but there are plenty on non hereditary causes of epilepsy. Hydrocephalus Epilepsy can be caused by a knock on the head also poisoning can bring it on and of course neither of these two would be hereditary.

There is also another Epileptic like ailment, "Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome" (Thanks DawnB) which can appear very similar to epilepsy. It has been seen in Germany in Border terriers and Labradors but has not yet (to my knowledge) been diagnosed in the UK.

Best wishes, John

Think one of the problems with epilepsy is that it is so difficult to tell what type or even if the seizure is in fact epilepsy, the dog having to be under observation at the time of a seizure for the brain activity to be seen. What ever the cause of the fits it is best where possible, I would have thought, to steer clear of breeding from a dog with a history of epileptic type condition or a dog who's ancestry has such a condition. It is one of the saddest things to see a child having to deal with a fitting pet.

Believe that Snorry has a lot of info on the subject, may be he will give us his opinion.

Try this link