Epi-Star Gibson Kicks Off National Epilepsy Awareness Month: May Epi-Dogs #LiveGibStrong

 Updated November 1, 2025

 

My FiveSibes "Gibson" Les Paul of Mystic Mountain

My Heart Dog. My Epi-Dog. My K9 Hero. 

My Inspiration.

 

by Dorothy Wills-Raftery  

 

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, and here at FiveSibes, we always have, and always will, advocate for Canine Epilepsy Awareness.

During this month of awareness, I like to share with you a few amazing fellow Epi-dogs, who I like to call Epi-Stars. And to kick of the month, I would like to begin with my own very special boy, my fluffy, wooly, loving Siberian Husky, Gibson of the FiveSibes.

If you've followed my blog and my articles, you know my beloved heart dog, Gibson, began having seizures shortly after his third birthday in 2009, and boy, I was scared. When he had his first seizures (and you can read more from my journals HERE), I knew absolutely nothing about Canine Epilepsy or seizures in dogs when I walked in on him post-ictal, and thought I had just seen him take his last, foaming breath.  

Thankfully, it wasn't. While on the phone with the ER hospital, I turned and there he stood, living and breathing, although a bit wobbly and temporarily blind. But my boy was alive! I learned he had just had a seizure.

While he did initially have grand mal and cluster seizures (those was truly very scary)…and the cluster seizures he wound up in the ER hospital in the middle of the night (that was a horrible and frightening experience that is forever embedded in my memory), until I could get him transferred to our vet’s hospital who saved him. 

Please Note: If you are interested in a copy of my award-winning reference book, EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories of Amazing Dogs Living and Loving Life with Canine Epilepsy, see further below in this post. Copies of the printed book are now limited.

 

As a photojournalist by trade, I made it my mission to do research and talk with veterinary experts to learn everything I could on Canine Epilepsy. At the time, there was not much out there on the internet like there is today. So I made it my mission to create a reputable resource section so other families who found themselves on the same journey would have a place to go for information, links, and resources, so they would never have to feel alone...nor, would a dog have to be euthanized (which at the time was a pretty common recommendation). Along the way we met so many amazing people and Epidogs. I am honored to know expert veterinarians in the field, as well as directors of Canine Epilepsy organizations that help Epi-dogs. 

Through my journey with Gibson, I learned to take my lead from him as he embraced life with zest. He did not let epilepsy stop him! He was one of the happiest, silliest, most beautiful soulful dogs I have ever known.

As the saying goes...we have come a long way, baby, when it comes to Canine Epilepsy Awareness. And while we now know so much more about care, we hold out hope for the day when researchers can find a cure.

Before I go on with today's post,  I want to share an important online event for National (K9) Epilepsy Awareness Month (#NEAM) you can now watch any time. A “Must-See” for any Epi-dog caregiver: 

Whine & Wag: Talking About Canine Epilepsy Forum

I'm very excited about this Zoom event, hosted by Tracy Smith of GIBBS-erish...Making Sense of Canine Epilepsy Facebook group, and honored to be among an excellent panel of guests, including a Q&A session with veterinarian neurology experts Dr. Karen Muñana and Julie Nettifee, RVT, from The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Rick Selwood, Founder/Director of The Wally Foundation. All of the the guests are listed above in the event banner.

If you know of anyone who is a caregiver of a dog with Epilepsy, a rescue or shelter, be sure to share this with them! Many questions about Canine Epilepsy are answered...

 

 

Here's some more important info to have that is a great place to start when formulating your own questions for your own veterinarian team. Remember...you are not alone!

 

Gibson showed me that he could do so much, and that having epilepsy did not stop him. He loved life. I always said he had a “zest” for life, and he surely did.  Our message to folks was that dogs can~and DO~live full, happy lives for however long we are blessed to have them. And...they can certainly do all the things dogs who do not have Epilepsy can do--from mushing to showing to hiking and dock diving to skijoring and urban mushing and just chilling on the couch with their beloved hu-families.

Epi-dogs Can #LiveGibStrong

 

Together over the years we have accomplished so much in the name of Canine Epilepsy Awareness, including launching an international #LiveGibStrong awareness campaign, joining Purple Day® Every Day/The Anita Kaufmann Foundation to launch the #Paws4Purple educational initiative featuring my work ~ the first human organization to add Canine Awareness! 

 

💜 My Epi-Star's intro page in our book, EPIc Dog Tales 💜

Gibson also inspired me to write two multi award-winning books on Canine Epilepsy: What's Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy and EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living and Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy (this 264-page beautiful coffee table book contains the stories and photos of 124 amazing Epi-dogs across the world as told to me by their familes); to many articles in national publications; being magazine cover dog; hosting numerous shows on our #FiveSibes "The Sibe Vibe" aired on Dog Works Radio and iTunes; and becoming Purple Day® for Epilepsy Ambassadors since 2012. 

  

 Awarded "EXCELLENCE" in Reference Book Category

*2024 Update* To purchase the book, it's now on Ebay at a discounted price! 

To order on Ebay, go HERE!

Or, go to our  

ArcticHouse Books & Gifts Shoppe HERE. 

Then simply Email us at ArcticHousePublishing(at)gmail.com 

and put EPIc Dog Tales in subject line and you will receive an invoice with the discount. 

There is a limited quantity of print books.

 

To read about this book's release, visit our blog post HERE.  

💜

 Below is a video from the day Gibson and I received the  

EPIc Dog Tales books from the printer shortly before Christmas that year! We were both SO excited! Oh, how I miss my boy's voice!

 

Order EPIc Dog Tales at a discounted price on Ebay HERE.

 

Gibson was truly a star. Wherever he went, he gave his famous "Gibbie" kisses and just made everyone feel better for meeting him. He was a very special boy, an old soul, and my spirit guide. He was truly one in a million and I miss him every day, even though I carry him in my heart for always.

My Cover Dog star, who helped to spread the word about living life with zest, even with Canine Epilepsy. He graced a 2013 cover of AmericanPet Magazine.

 To read the article on Gibson titled "Gib Strong," 

click HERE and go to page 22.

 

I continue to carry on his awareness legacy, even after he earned his angel wings, by participating in promotion of trials by North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab (and I was honored to do the opening welcome for their conference last year); to volunteering with The Wally Foundation as a case manager to help other Epi-dog parents; to partnering with Purple Day® Every Day Presented by The Anita Kaufmann Foundation to author the #Paws4Purple Canine Epilepsy initiative, to developing an important K9 Epilepsy poster "Cooling Down an Epi-Dog: Where Do I Put Cold Packs?!" with the assistance of a renowned artist and Gibson's expert veterinarian.

  

So, as we prepare for the holiday season, it's important to remember that while we have this month to highlight epilepsy awareness and help educate others about how dogs with epilepsy (Epi-dogs) can~and do~ live happy lives, while also sharing important tips and resources to help those families and guardians of Epidogs, awareness and help is not just one month, but all year long. And we here at FiveSibes, have created in the name of my late beloved Epi-dog, Gibson, our #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library packed with info, vet advice, and links to important resources in the hopes of helping others who find themselves on this journey with their beloved dogs. If someone finds out their dog has just received a diagnosis of Canine Epilepsy, this is the place for them to start. Then they can compile questions to review with their vet about the proper care for their Epi-dog.  

 

 

And...an important key item is to find a vet and/or vet neurologist who is knowledgeable about seizures in dogs and will work with you for your dog's care.  

 

 * * * * *

 

Please visit and share my online helpful vetted #LiveGibStrong K-9n Epilepsy Resource Library filled with info & resources to help others! (Simply click on the image below).

 

 Thank you, my sweet Gibbie. 

I'll love you forever.

Note: These are the personal stories of Epi-dogs as told by their families. As always, discuss any medications, alternative treatments, new foods, etc., with your veterinarian first before giving to your dog.

 

💜 

 

Other Stories in Epi-Stars Series:  

 

✭To Read our other featured Epi-Stars, please 

visit HERE. 

 

  💜 Memories Are Visits For The Heart 💜

Return to FiveSibes Main Menu & #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library HERE!  

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Dorothy "FiveSibesMom"