Drink Up! It's National Coffee Day!

Us humans sure do love our cofffee here at the FiveSibes homestead! And what's better than a delicious cup of coffee? Coffee with our Siberian Huskies, of course! 

Since today is also our Flashback Friday, here's my sweet furangel Gibson celebrating Coffee Day with me from several years ago. I always love taking my morning coffee with my Huskies!

Like our mugs in the above photos? The Sibe Vibe ones will be coming soon to our website, and you can buy the embossed Husky mug below. I purchased this mug and it is a fave of mine! Plus, it holds a big 18 oz of java (or tea, soup, ice cream, etc)! Woo!

(Note: I am an affiliate of Amazon, so if you purchase the mug by clicking on the link below, I will get a tiny commission, *at no cost to you*, so thank you!)

 

Do you have a photo from your pet's past that you'd like to share? Come stroll down Memory Lane with us here at FiveSibes and join in our Flashback Friday blog hop (we are open all week, so join in any time)! Just post your pic on your blog, grab our badge from below (yes, that's Gibson & little bro, pupster Wolfie!) & link to our blog, then join the blog hop below so others can come visit and see your flashback photos, too! A fun way to relive past fun times with our pets, present and past, and a great way to kick off a weekend!  (To see past posts, put "Flashback Friday" in our Search bar at top of blog). We hope you'll join us for some Friday fun!

 

Let Them Eat (Birthday) Cake!

Woo! Harley, Wolf, Bandit, and Chloe (and furangel Gibson in spirit) here, and we are taking over Hu-Mom's blog today because it's her birthday!!! Woo! The day was pretty cool, well, not as cool as snow, but pretty close! It was Hu-Mom's first birthday as a grandmother, and in our family, the maternal Moms graduate to "Nanny" once the babies are born! So, it was pretty fun with our little hu-brother, Cody, here now! 

Cody gave Hu-Mom a cute little stuffed Husky (Hu-Mom really liked that, but so do we, and so does our hu-brother, Cody! Guess there will be some sharing of that Husky stuffie!) 

Oh, and there was ice cream cake! Woo! And we all got to share in having some of the vanilla part! Nom-nom-nommmmm! Hu-Mom was pretty excited, too, because it was here very first "Nanny" birthday cake! We are so thankful for so many things: our new little hu-brother, our hu-mom, our pack family, and, oh, woo, the ice cream cake, for sure! Here's some pics of us having some tasty fun!

Woo! Oh yeah! The pièce de ré·sis·tance!

 We waited patiently for some of that yummy cake...

Come on, cake, get into our mouths!

Our alpha queen"momma" Harley gets the first taste!

Nom-nom-nommmm...oh, yeah...we Pupsters dig right in!

Then we all share some licks so nicely together. 

We love our ice cream! 

 What? Who has ice cream all over their faces?

Happy Birthday, Hu-Mom! We love woo! 

  
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We are joining up this week with Brian's Home Thankful Thursday Blog Hop with Thankful Tuesday fun! Be sure to stop by and see what our furpals are thankful for, too!

 

 

Autumn Teaser

The Autumn Equinox teased us into the excitement of cooler temps and crisp days, however, summer does not seem to want to let go of those long hazy, lazy days. She is clinging on, with another day going in the 90s coming tomorrow! I'm with Bandit...hanging out in the air conditioned house with her and the other FiveSibes until Mother Nature realizes it is Autumn's turn to shine!

“To say it was a beautiful day would not begin to explain it. It was that day when the end of summer intersects perfectly with the start of fall.”
– Ann Patchett

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Fall in Love With Autumn on Flashback Friday!

Today is the Autumn Equinox, marking the official first day of Fall here in the northern hemisphere of the United States! I have to say, it's my very favorite time of year! The stunning colors and crisp air does much for the mind, spirit, and soul! The cooler temps sure do please the Huskies, too, of course! I mean, northern breed by nature, they love it when the thermometer drops! My FiveSibes have that extra bit of energy and spend less time lounging and more time playing! Today, I'm flashing back a few years to this fun pic of my sweet angel boy, Gibson, who was having a blast rolling in the falling leaves. Always the silly boy, the comedian of the bunch, he always manged to brings smiles to everyone's face - and in this trip down Memory Lane, he once again reminds me of his zest for life and silly Siberian Husky nature!

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace, As I have seen in one autumnal face." ~John Donne

 You're Invited!

 Come Stroll Memory Lane With Us!

 

Do you have a photo from your pet's past that you'd like to share? Come stroll down Memory Lane with us here at FiveSibes and join in our Flashback Friday blog hop (we are open all week, so join in any time)! Just post your pic on your blog, grab our badge from below (yes, that's Gibson & little bro, pupster Wolfie!) & link to our blog, then join the blog hop below so others can come visit and see your flashback photos, too! A fun way to relive past fun times with our pets, present and past, and a great way to kick off a weekend!  (To see past posts, put "Flashback Friday" in our Search bar at top of blog). We hope you'll join us for some Friday fun!

 

Grab Our Badge!

 

FiveSibes is also joining in the Pet Parade hosted by Rascal and Rocco, Bionic Basil’s Blog, and Barking from the Bayou! Be sure to stop by and check out their Blog Hop, and they are opened all week, too!

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Flashback Friday: An "A" for Bee

It's official! The kiddos are all settled back in school for another year. It's class time not only for the hu-kids, but for the pups as well! Today we are flashing back to 2014 when our Pupster girl, Bandit, all decked out in her new backpack and bandana, was all ready for school! I had enrolled her in some one-on-one classes for what I originally thought was a hearing problem, but am pretty convinced now it was more of an attention issue. After getting a few tips, with a little extra TLC and treats, she has been back on track ever since! (Unless, of course, a squirrel, opossum, woodchuck, or bird visits our yard)! But I think our Bee gets an "A" for her spiffy Back-to-K9-School outfit!

And what did Bee learn in class? That...
 
S - Siberian Huskies

C - Can

H - Have

O - Oodles

O – Of

L – Learning fun!

Have your pups been enrolled in school? 

If so, what was their favorite part of class?

 You're Invited!

 Come Stroll Memory Lane With Us!

 

Do you have a photo from your pet's past that you'd like to share? Come stroll down Memory Lane with us here at FiveSibes and join in our Flashback Friday blog hop (we are open all week)! Just post your pic on your blog, grab our badge from below (yes, that's Gibson & little bro, pupster Wolfie!) & link to our blog, then join the blog hop below so others can come visit and see your flashback photos, too! A fun way to relive past fun times with our pets, present and past, and a great way to kick off a weekend!  (To see past posts, put "Flashback Friday" in our Search bar at top of blog). We hope you'll join us for some Friday fun!

We are also joining in the Pet Parade Blog Hop! Join the fun with Rascal and Rocco, Bionic Basil’s Blog, and Barking from the Bayou! We are open all week so hop in the parade with us!

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Read Last Post: "Comparative Studies in  Human & K9 Epilepsy Studies: Triggers, (Clinical Trials) & and Tribulations"

Comparative Studies in K9 & Human Epilepsy: Triggers, (Clinical) Trials & Tribulations

 

Read "News" Below For Upcoming Webinar, Open Clinical Trials & Grant News

A solar eclipse. A full moon. Severe storms. Devastating hurricanes. And, according to NASA, “Two solar flares were released by the Sun (on September 6), on which was the most powerful flare recorded since 2008.”  What are solar flares? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center reports that “Solar flares are large eruptions of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun lasting from minutes to hours” and, while they do occur periodically, this powerful one set a “strong geometric storm watch” in effect for several days.

What Does All This Mean For Those with Epilepsy?

According to NeuroResearchProject.com, from a medical hypotheses on National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) PubMed.gov, “Admissions of 762 patients for epileptic seizures and 1,553 for dizziness were studied for the connection with the level of monthly and yearly solar activity in the 11-year solar cycle and with four levels of daily geomagnetic activity levels (400 epileptic patients and 802 patients suffering with dizziness). Conclusion: Admission of patients with epileptic seizures and dizziness are related to geomagnetic and solar activity.“

Furthermore, “The annual percentage of patients with convulsive seizures in the Neurological Department of the Bangur Institute of Neurology, Calcutta, is found to be significantly correlated with the annual values of sunspot numbers and geomagnetic activity” over the 11-year period. “For a particular geomagnetic (GMA) activity index the correlation coefficient is significant at a 99% confidence level.”

Beyond the Human-Canine Bond

Beyond the amazing love and communication bond that exist between our beloved dogs and us, humans and canines with Epilepsy, also share many of the same seizure triggers—including genetics, illness, injury, stress, certain foods, stress, anxiety, ingestion or inhalation of toxins, flashing lights, fireworks, environmental factors, changes in barometric pressure, thunder and lightning storms, lunar phases, eclipses, and solar flares. Dogs and humans alike are prescribed some of the same type of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), such as Phenobarbital, Keppra, etc., and alternative treatments, such as Cannabidiol (CBD), to treat seizures. 

“Epilepsy in dogs has many similarities to the diseases in humans. There is increasing interest in exploring Epilepsy from a comparative standpoint – to create discoveries that can impact both human and animal health.” 

~Dr. Karen Muñana, 

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

According to Karen Muñana, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology) and Julie Nettifee, RVT, BS, VTS (Neurology) at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where much research and clinical trials in the areas of epilepsy in companion animals are conducted, “Epilepsy in dogs has many similarities to the diseases in humans. There is increasing interest in exploring Epilepsy from a comparative standpoint – to create discoveries that can impact both human and animal health.”

Over at Paws to People: Bridges to Cures, they are committed to furthering translational studies and research in catastrophic diseases, such as epilepsy and cancer, in an effort to save the lives of both humans and pets. Susan Sehi-Smith, founder and president, notes that, “Dogs who experience seizures are particularly sensitive to changes in weather and even in season or moon cycle.” Sehi-Smith also says that, “research suggests that more seizures occur in the winter and that there might be a connection to fewer daylight hours. It is interesting to note that these correlations have been seen both in animals AND humans.”

"If during these types of phenomena, you notice mood or behavioral changes in your dog, don’t ignore it." 

~Dorothy Wills-Raftery, 

Author and Founder of FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong 

K-9 Epilepsy Awareness Campaign

So with all the wild weather and disruptions in the atmosphere, why is it important that we listen to our dogs? Explains Sehi-Smith, “Dogs are so much more sensitive to things like changes in air pressure, rising humidity, storm dynamics, and temperature changes than humans are. It is the same with high tides, earthquakes, and other environmentally driven events. Often our pets can sense changes approaching even before the news hits the weather channel.”

Our dogs’ intuition, and their language in response to these changes, can be verbal or behavioral. Bottom line is, if during these types of phenomena, you notice mood or behavioral changes in your dog, don’t ignore it.

If you are wondering what types of behavior your Epi-dog may display, Sehi-Smith explains, “Being so ‘attuned’ often causes general nervousness, pacing, restlessness. It can heighten normal behavioral responses like barking or needing to be close to you. This sensitivity can trigger unusual behaviors as well: incontinence, refusal to eat, fear-responses, aggression, anti-socialness.” She also notes that for dogs that live with chronic conditions, such as hip dysplasia and rheumatoid arthritis, “weather can sometimes dictate additional pain. Dog systems can be thrown off balance during weather swings decreasing the effectiveness of medication and increasing limping or mobility issues. You might see a temporary spike in a diabetic pet’s blood sugar numbers. Or skin conditions might become hyper-itchy or sensitive. Weather affects responses to certain cancer treatments, and the patient’s overall state of being. And so it is with autoimmune illnesses and others.” And again, Sehi-Smith reports that, “There is much anecdotal evidence that (seizure) reactions are triggered during periods of extreme weather and during the approach of full moons in the lunar cycle.”

"Often our pets can sense changes approaching even before the news hits the weather channel.”

 ~Susan Sehi-Smith, 

Founder/President Paws to People: Bridges to Cures

According to Dr. Muñana, “Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in veterinary medicine, and is estimated to affect up to 1% of dogs and 2% of cats in the general population.” (Dr. Muñana will be addressing “What’s Feeding Those Seizures? An Update on Refractory Canine Epilepsy and the Potential Link to Gastrointestinal Health” in an upcoming webinar sponsored by the AKC CHF. Registration info below).

 While we can not always know exactly which things from a long list of possible triggers will actually trigger a seizure, when there is advance notice of such things as inclement weather, electromagnetic field (EMFs), lunar phases, and solar eclipses and flares, we can prepare ourselves by being ready for a possible seizure in order to help Epi-dogs as best as we can should a seizure arise. Being calm is extremely important for the seizing dog, and the best way to be calm (as calm as one possibly can be in such an emotionally heightened situation) is to be prepared.

Please refer to my post on “Preparing for a Solar Eclipse” HERE for a list of tips, plus what items should be in your Epi-dog’s First Aid Kit. And, as always, do research and have a conversation with your Epi-dog’s veterinarian for how to best treat and care for a dog with seizures.

Epilepsy can be extremely frustrating and worrisome for Epi-dog parents, as there are so many, an almost endless list, of possible seizure triggers, but there is much hope as new research surfaces, and many new clinical trials and studies are being conducted. In 2014, the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKC CHF) launched an Epilepsy initiative, and in February of this year, they announced “a new initiative to advance research into canine epilepsy.” According to the AKC CHF, “one in every 100 dogs will be affected by Epilepsy, many dogs, with the support of dedicated owners, can lead a good life by following a veterinarian’s treatment plan.”

***UPCOMING WEBINAR***

“What’s Feeding Those Seizures? An Update On Refractory Canine Epilepsy And The Potential Link to Gastrointestinal Health” with Karen R. Muñana, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)

DATE: October 24, 2017

TIME: 8:00 PM US/Eastern

Summary: “This 45-minute webinar will include discussion of refractory epilepsy in dogs, with a review of its clinical characteristics and our current understanding of the mechanisms that can result in drug resistant seizures. The concept of the microbiota-gut-brain axis will also be introduced, and evidence presented to demonstrate the role that the gastrointestinal system plays in the development and progression of epilepsy and other neurological disorders in humans.  Finally, published information on the link between the gastrointestinal tract and epilepsy in dogs will be reviewed, and future directions for research explored.”

Registration is FREE! Compliments of sponsor, the AKC Canine Health Foundation! 

To sign up, visit: 

 http://vetvine.com/list/index/profile/listing_id/792/what-s-feeding-those-seizures-an-update-on-refractory-canine-e

APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR:

“The Use Of Accelerometry To Detect Seizure Activity In Dogs With Idiopathic Epilepsy” Enrollment Ends 10/15/2017

Principal Investigator: Dr.Karen Muñana, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Download FLYER: https://cvm.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Accelerometry-to-Detect-Seizure-Activity-Study.pdf

*NOTE* This trial will run later than the original date of October 2017. They are actively seeking more cases. Dog would have to come to NC State for their visits. 

“The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Canine Epilepsy: Determining the Role of Lactobacilli (Pilot Study)” – Enrollment Ends 1/27/2018

Principal Investigator: Dr.Karen Muñana, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Download FLYER: https://cvm.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Study-flyer.pdf

 

"Efficacy of Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Epilepsy in Dogs" 

Purpose: "Dogs with epilepsy that are receiving conventional anti-convulsants and having at least two seizures per month. Upon enrollment, every dog will be evaluated by a neurologist and any medication adjustments will be made prior to starting the trial"

Interested participants can learn more by contacting one of the  research technicians by emailing CSUNeuroTrials@colostate.edu or Dr. Stephanie McGrath, or by calling (970) 305-0455​, or visit HERE.

 

NATIONAL DATABASE FOR DOGS WITH EPILEPSY – to register your Epi-dog, fill out the form HERE.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT STUDY:

American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKC CHF) "Efficacy of Cannabidiol (CBD) for the Treatment of Canine Epilepsy" A “major” clinical Trial to “study the use of Cannabidiol to treat drug resistant epilepsy in dogs.”

Study Leader: Dr. Stephanie McGrath, a board-certified veterinary neurologist at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

For more AKC CHF info and other news on Canine Epilepsy, visit http://www.akcchf.org.

CALL FOR RESEARCH GRANT APPLICANTS:

Paws To People: Bridges to Cures Offers Open Grant Application. Paws to People is 501(c)3 non-profit registered in the State of New Mexico that is committed to “achieving lasting change that transforms the lives of humans and pets suffering from catastrophic disease. Through our grant making, we support innovative thinkers, researchers, and organizations that are working to find causes, preventions, and cures for catastrophic diseases.” For more info and grant application, visit HERE.

RVC Clinical Investigation of Nutrition Breakthrough to Help Manage Dogs With Epilepsy

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/research/research-centres-and-facilities/clinical-investigation-centre/news/nutrition-breakthrough-to-help-manage-dogs-with-epilepsy

 University of Helsinki. "Significant Epilepsy Gene Discovery in Dogs." ScienceDaily

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170221110730.htm

RVC DIGITAL K9 EPILEPSY DIARY & INFORMATION CENTER

For keeping a digital journal, as well as important seizure information, download the FREE Royal Veterinary College (RVC) mobile app for Apple and Android devices. Check out my past FiveSibes blog post with Gibson all about this app HERE.

  

 

"IMPORTANT LINK BETWEEN ZINC DEFICIENCY AND SEIZURES IN SIBERIAN HUSKIES" with Margit Maxwell, dog trainer, canine behavior specialist, and an Epi-dog parent who specializes in the training of Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. Margit is the creator and writer of The Divine Dog Project.  Click HERE to listen.

"TALKING CANINE EPILEPSY"  with Gibson's lead vet, Dr. Arnold Rugg, the Medical Director & Owner of Kingston Animal Hospital in Kingston, NY, and he discusses in great detail Canine Epilepsy, seizures, and Gibson's case. Click HERE to listen.

"TALKING CANINE EPILEPSY & CLINICAL TRIALS" with Dr. Karen R. Muñana, Professor of Neurology, veterinarian, and author of over 70 works on veterinary neurology; and Julie Ann Nettifee Osborne. a Licensed Veterinarian Technician with Neurology specialty, research specialist, and author; both from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Click HERE to listen.

 This contains an Amazon affiliate link that if you click on it and purchase the book, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). Thank you in advance!

EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy is a library of valuable resources, informational links, canine epilepsy expertise, and 122 personal stories of families from across the globe living with, and loving, an Epi-dog. 

Author Note: I feel absolutely honored to have "met" these amazing dogs, who are from all breeds, and their equally amazing human companions. I will forever have a special bond with each and every one of these wonderful dogs, and you will too after reading about them.

 #LiveGibStrong

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