Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy (BFJE) is an inherited neurological disease that occurs in Lagotto Romagnolo dogs due to a mutation in the LGI2 gene. Symptoms of BFJE typically occur early in pups between five to nine weeks of age and are characterized by seizures that usually resolve by approximately four months of age but some adult cases of BFJE have been observed within the breed. Severely affected dogs may develop ataxia in addition to seizures. With disease resolution, the prognosis for affected dogs is typically good.

• Lagotto Romagnolo

A (CLEAR/NORMAL): These dogs have two copies of the normal gene and will neither develop BFJE nor pass this mutation to their offspring.

B (CARRIER/NOT AFFECTED): These dogs have one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the mutation associated with this disease. They will not develop BFJE and will, if bred, pass the mutation to 50% of its offspring, on average.

C (AT RISK/AFFECTED): These dogs have two copies of the mutation associated with BFJE which results in seizures and potential ataxia.