#FlashbackFriday: Gibson's Purple Pumpkin!
#FlashbackFriday Photo ~ Harley & Gibson ~ October 2014
Woo! It's that time of year again...Howloween! And while we're busy carving and painting pumpkins, don't forget to make one PURPLE! By now, most of you have heard me talk about the Purple Pumpkin Project and how it brings awareness to those who have Epilepsy. As a Purple Day® for (K9) Epilepsy Ambassador since 2012, I have always advocated for dogs living with Canine Epilepsy, inspired by my own Epi-dog, Gibson. So when the Purple Pumpkin Project came about, we jumped right on that hay wagon!
The purpose is that on Halloween, the eve of November's Epilepsy Awareness Month, when families are busy trick-or-treating or hosting parties, that among the orange jack-o-lanterns, have a purple one so folks who come by will ask about it. In our case, it would be "Why is Gibson's pumpkin purple?"
To which I reply, "Because he is living with Canine Epilepsy." And that will then open up conversations about how wonderful Epi-dogs are, and that they do not let seizures stop them from enjoy life, and doing things dogs without Epilepsy can do! And...to hopefully encourage folks not to fear adopting a dog with Epilepsy--and even more so, to NOT euthanize the dog or surrender it to a shelter because of seizures. We are here to say first, have the dog checked out by a vet to rule out underlying medical conditions or injury, and second, a dog with Epilepsy CAN live a great life with the assistance of medications, supplements, some nutrition and lifestyle adjustments, and a whole lotta love.
Here's our #FiveSibes video explaining the Purple Pumpkin Project ~and~ featuring some of our wonderful furfriends with their purple pumpkins in support dogs living with Epilepsy:
Long story short: Gibson lived the last seven years of his life seizure free!
That is not to say that he did not have tough days. He did. He had an almost fatal case of Bromide Poisoning, which we were so fortunate to turn around as I immediately got him into my vet who was able to de-tox him and bring him back to health. And he had days of hind end weakness, and frequent vomiting (from the meds). Through all of these things I was able to find treatments or therapies to help him. I used a leg brace and a sling to help him on the days his legs were weak, and he had cold laser treatments to help his back and legs get stronger. I changed his diet to include a lot of nutritional foods to help counteract the weight he gained from the meds and to help with his vomiting. And, there is a cost as a caregiver of an Epi-dog. But I would help my dogs no less than than I would help another member of my family.
But...the good days far outweighed the tougher days. Gibson loved car rides and walks. As soon as his collar and leash jangled, he was up doing his Gibbie hip-hop dance!
As the saying goes, "the more you know"...the very same is about understanding Canine Epilepsy. Information out on the internet can be like the Wild West, with so-called "experts" (they're not) coming out of the woodwork. So where does one go for acurate, up-to-date, easy-to-understand vetted information? We have the sources for you...visit our #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library! It's FREE and chock full of information and valuable resources to help Epi-dog families and caregivers on their journey. Check it out HERE:
My message always has been:
Dogs can~~and DO~~live happy lives
with Canine Epilepsy for however long we are blessed to have them.
Epi-dogs are amazing, strong, determined...and inspirational.
May they all #LiveGibStrong!
