AKC Canine Health Foundation

06/08/2026

Sparkle’s first seizure came shortly after her second birthday.

As a veterinarian, breeder, and lifelong Belgian Tervuren advocate, Dr. Joni Freshman knew what it could mean. When the seizures continued, she made a decision that would help researchers better understand epilepsy in her breed.

What followed became part of the “Sparkle Study” — a research effort built from one dog’s diagnosis and a community willing to contribute to science.

Today, Sparkle’s legacy is helping advance research that could impact future generations of dogs.

Research like this only moves forward because of donor support. Take part in our matching campaign, where every dollar is matched up to $10,000 and help us Turn the Tide against canine epilepsy. 🌊🐾

Donate today: https://www.akcchf.org/turnthetide

06/05/2026

Dogs with epilepsy deserve continued scientific investment.

CHF is committed to supporting research that advances understanding of seizures, treatment responses, genetics, and long-term management of canine epilepsy.

Research funded today could lead to the next major advancement in understanding canine epilepsy. That’s the power of donor-supported science.

If you believe dogs deserve healthier futures, now is the time to help Turn the Tide. 💙

𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 $𝟭𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬: https://www.akcchf.org/turnthetide

Make a Donation Today for a Better Tomorrow. Epilepsy affects thousands of dogs each year, disrupting lives and leaving families searching for answers. Yet with your help, we can change the current. Your gift fuels vital research aimed at earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and brighter futures. T...

06/05/2026

🚨 Important Canine Health Update 🚨

Federal officials have confirmed the first U.S. case of New World screwworm in more than 60 years. While this development deserves attention, there is no need for panic.

Screwworm larvae can infest open wounds and feed on living tissue, causing painful infections in livestock and, in some cases, dogs, cats, and even people. Veterinary and public health officials have been preparing for this possibility, and treatments are already available should cases occur.

For dog owners, awareness is key:
✔️ Monitor wounds that seem unusual or slow to heal
✔️ Seek veterinary care if you have concerns
✔️ Keep your dog current on veterinarian-recommended parasite prevention

This situation is a reminder of why disease surveillance, diagnostics, and veterinary research are so important to protecting the health of dogs.

Stay informed on the latest canine health news:
📧 Sign up for CHF emails: https://www.akcchf.org/contact/
📱 Follow CHF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akccaninehealthfoundation

Celebrating the Breakthroughs Shaping the Future of Canine Health. Meet the 2025 Canine Health Discovery Award Finalists.

06/04/2026

For every dog who has lived through a seizure.

For every family who has waited, watched, worried, and wondered when the next one might come.

For every veterinarian and researcher working to bring better answers within reach.

This is a moment to come together.

For the first time, generous donors are matching gifts to CHF’s canine epilepsy research campaign up to $10,000, creating the opportunity to raise $20,000 or more to help advance the science dogs and families urgently need.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿.
Twice the support for research.
Twice the momentum toward answers.
Twice the impact for dogs affected by epilepsy.

Canine epilepsy affects so many dogs and so many families, but no one has to face it alone.

Together, this community can help turn fear, heartbreak, and uncertainty into progress.

Help turn the tide on canine epilepsy. Give today and have your gift matched.

Donate: https://www.akcchf.org/turnthetide

Make a Donation Today for a Better Tomorrow. Epilepsy affects thousands of dogs each year, disrupting lives and leaving families searching for answers. Yet with your help, we can change the current. Your gift fuels vital research aimed at earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and brighter futures. T...

06/04/2026

A seizure can happen in any dog—a puppy or a senior, a mixed breed or a purebred, a tiny companion or a high-energy athlete. No matter the dog, it is frightening to witness.

At the moment, it can be hard to make sense of what is happening. What looks sudden and chaotic on the outside is the result of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

That is why careful veterinary evaluation and continued research are so important—they help turn fear and uncertainty into understanding, and ultimately, better care for dogs and the people who love them.

Read the current article to learn how the AKC Canine Health Foundation is helping advance epilepsy research for dogs: https://bit.ly/4fQekss

Have you ever known a dog affected by seizures or epilepsy?

Support canine epilepsy research at https://www.akcchf.org/turnthetide.

Celebrating the Breakthroughs Shaping the Future of Canine Health. Meet the 2025 Canine Health Discovery Award Finalists.

06/02/2026

Seizures are frightening for dog owners, and epilepsy remains one of the most important neurological disorders affecting dogs.

For more than 30 years, the AKC Canine Health Foundation has helped fund canine epilepsy research, supporting studies that explore genetics, biomarkers, monitoring, treatments, and the biology behind this complex disease.

Read the current article to learn how CHF-funded research matters to scientists, veterinarians and families who want a better tomorrow for dogs with epilepsy: https://bit.ly/4fQekss

What questions do you wish research could answer about seizures in dogs?

Support canine epilepsy research at https://www.akcchf.org/turnthetide.

Make a Donation Today for a Better Tomorrow. Epilepsy affects thousands of dogs each year, disrupting lives and leaving families searching for answers. Yet with your help, we can change the current. Your gift fuels vital research aimed at earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and brighter futures. T...

05/28/2026

For dog owners, respiratory illness can be frightening, especially when a disease appears unusually severe or difficult to treat.

That’s why CHF-funded research is helping scientists investigate BARDiD, a potential new bacterium associated with respiratory disease in dogs. Dr. David Needle and his team at the University of New Hampshire are studying its genetic makeup and comparing the respiratory microbiomes of healthy dogs and those with canine infectious respiratory disease complex.

Every sample, every sequence, and every careful analysis helps move canine health research forward.

Read this week’s article to learn the history and progress of Dr. Needle’s research: https://bit.ly/3Rx8K4e

Has your dog ever experienced a respiratory illness that concerned you?
Support canine infectious disease research at https://www.akcchf.org/outsmartinfection

05/27/2026

When an unusually long lasting kennel cough appeared across the U.S., researchers began searching for answers in the genetic material found in sick dogs.

With support from the AKC Canine Health Foundation, Dr. David Needle at the University of New Hampshire is studying BARDiD, a newly identified bacterium that appears to be linked to respiratory disease in dogs.

His team is using an advanced DNA sequencing method to better understand the bacterium’s genetic makeup and to learn more about its possible role in canine respiratory illness.

Scientific progress often happens one careful clue at a time. Learn more about those clues in this week’s article: https://bit.ly/3Rx8K4e

What do you most want researchers to better understand about kennel cough? Help them find answers - support canine infectious disease research at https://www.akcchf.org/outsmartinfection

05/27/2026

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs, yet important questions remain about inherited risk and how breed-specific studies can advance understanding of the disease.

Join us on June 23 at 7:00 PM ET for a webinar exploring how a research team at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital investigates idiopathic epilepsy within breeds, including approaches to defining prevalence, characterizing clinical signs, evaluating heritability, and collecting data to support future genetic studies.

Learn how these studies may help support future advances in diagnosis, management, and breeding strategies. Register here: https://bit.ly/3PmBP1D


The Otterhound Club of America, Inc. PBGV Health and Rescue Foundation

05/22/2026

This week, CHF had the pleasure of attending the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America National Specialty Show! 🐾

We’re grateful to the club and its members for welcoming us and for their continued support of canine health research. Events like these bring together passionate dog lovers who care deeply about the future health and well-being of all dogs - and we’re honored to be part of that community.

Thank you for hosting CHF and for helping advance research that gives dogs healthier lives. 💙