November Epilepsy Awareness Month: Epi-Star: GIBBS
It’s time for another FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong National Epilepsy Awareness Month Epi-Star Feature! I’m so happy to introduce everyone to Gibbs…yes, another amazing “Gib” but with two “b”s, who is also an Epi-dog. This “Gibbs” is a beautiful Labradoodle (his mom is a Labradoodle and his dad is a Poodle), and he and his mom, Tracy Smith, head up the GIBBS-erish...Making Sense of Canine Epilepsy, a fairly new Canine Epilepsy Facebook group.
Gibbs’ story is a familiar and frightening story many of Epi-dog families and caregivers can certainly relate to. Says Tracy, “It started with a noise that was uncharacteristic in our home. Upon my investigation, I walked into our living room to find Gibbs convulsing on the floor. He had fallen off the couch and was stuck between the coffee table and couch. I thought he was dying. Here, enters, epilepsy and our journey to understand the condition and help others along the way, including myself.”
Be Sure to See Details of a Special November 17th Zoom Event "Talking About Canine Epilepsy" Further Down in this Article.
Tracy and her Gibbs’ story sends chills down my spine for way back in 2009, right after my Gibson’s third birthday, I walked in on almost the same scenario…right down to the first thought that he was dying. As I have written in my blog article “One Husky’s Journey With Epilepsy,” sharing my actual raw journal entries from those first scary days, felt it was nothing short of a miracle when after his first episode of leg paddling, foaming at the mouth, and sudden stillness that chilled me so while I was hysterical with the ER vet clinic technician on the phone…begging for them to “send an ambulance! My dog is dying!” Only to turn around and see my beautiful boy, standing (a bit disoriented and temporarily blind as they can be coming out of a seizure), but he was alive! And that was our entrance into learning about Canine Epilepsy. Back in 2009, there was not a lot of information out on the web. As many of you know who follow us, as a career photojournalist, I made it my mission to learn everything I could about epilepsy in dogs, and quiz vets who were experts on the topic, and shared it with others so that no one would feel alone after such a scary experience, and provide a resource section where honest, valid, and vetted information could be found. I’m proud to add GIBBS-erish…Making Sense of Canine Epilepsy group to my recommended lists of Canine Epilepsy resources.
For Tracy, as with so many of us when we first receive the vet’s diagnosis that our dog has Epilepsy, it is very overwhelming at first. And frightening—until we become properly armed with accurate information on how to best move forward in helping our beloved Epi-dogs. Now that doesn’t always mean we can find a “cure.” There is no cure for Epilepsy. Maybe one day there will be—and that is indeed my hope.
Tracy shared her emotions that so many of us experience at first. She said she felt as though she “Fell down the proverbial rabbit hole and spent countless hours, days, even weeks searching on the internet…I stumbled across everything from medical advice, medication information, products promising seizure relief, helpful ]-and-not-so-helpful stories from other pet owners, trigger talk, and a slew of other data that made me feel more confused. Also, everyone's situation, beliefs and experiences are different. What may work for one may not work for another. Exhausting, right? And to make matters worse, I know better! I am a Registered Dietitian and Lactation Consultant so I know how to obtain proper research. And I have a decent grasp of human anatomy & disease. But the need find medical solution over-ruled my logic. Desperation, fear, panic, and anxiety took residence in our home for a few months. For me, picking up the phone and calling on others for support was an important step in gaining confidence in epilepsy management. as well as, learning to remain calm during a seizure. Then I threw my panic attacks out the window – for Gibbs' sake.”
What I love about Tracy and Gibbs’ group is that she
is of the same philosophy as I am (besides her Epi-dog having a cool name similar
to my Gib’s! But seriously, it is the shared philosophy that I love). To develop
a space to not only have an online support group, but connect others with VALID Canine Epilepsy information,
a map to other Epi-families, as well as sharing own experiences. We both list canine-epilepsy.com ~ the Canine
Epilepsy Resources page, and the home of the Epil-K9 Foundation, which is a long-time online
Email support group, as well as info on Emma’s Fund set up through the North Carolina
State University College of Veterinary Medicine by Marion Mitchell. Both Marion
and Emma are the OGs of Canine Epilepsy awareness in my book. (If you scroll down after Gibbs' story here, you will find links to Emma's story and other Epi-Stars!)
Setting up her GIBBS-erish…Making Sense of Canine Epilepsy Group is close to Tracy’s heart for both her own journey, and for others who have Epi-dogs as well. “Gibbs and I are in pursuit of freedom from seizures, but we know that it is not realistic for us all. While we don't know all the answers, we strive to build a network of individuals to help each other maneuver the challenges of caring for a loved one experiencing seizures. We live and learn everyday while trying to figure out a way to make sense of it all.”
There are many groups out there on Facebook, and worth checking out, HOWEVER, it has been my personal experience that some are not using vetted material and stating their opinions as the only way. And that's hogwash and can be downright dangerous for the Epi-dogs. Everyone has an opinion, but when it comes to Canine Epilepsy and seizures, it is MY opinion as both a journalist and having been a long-time caregiver to an Epi-dog myself, that you should want only RELIABLE sources of information.
So, how do you find where to go? My recommendation here is this: Always start with checking my #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K9 Epilepsy Awareness Online Resource Library, and now GIBBS…erish…Making Sense of Canine Epilepsy Facebook Group for sources, links, other Epi pages and/or groups to follow, and information you can count on! As Tracy has said, no one is looking to reinvent the wheel, we both are pooling resources that already exist in combination with our own so that a newcomer to the journey with Canine Epilepsy has a starting point.
Tracy and Gibbs group is private, so you’ll need to send a request to follow.
I welcomed Tracy and Gibbs as a new co-host this past March to my Annual #FiveSibes @LiveGibStrong Purple Day® for Epilepsy Blog Hop/Social Media Share. Gibbs and Tracy join another new co-host, Ruby the Therapy Dog, along with my other two longtime Canine Epilepsy champions who have co-hosted with me and my Gibson for several years—“Olivia” and hu-mom Jeanaann Barnaby, and furangel “Rolo” and hu-mom Kimbereley Matchem.
Gibbs, like my Gibson, also lives life to the fullest and does not let Canine Epilepsy stop him! Gibbs has been in training to become a registered Pet Partners Therapy Dog, and just received his certification!
Now, without further delay…let’s
chat with Tracy and the very handsome Gibbs!
Dorothy “FiveSibesMom” (D/FSM): Hello and Welcome, Tracy and Gibbs! Can you tell us a little about why you started the GIBBS…Making Sense of Canine Epilepsy group?
Tracy Smith (TS): My internet search of Canine Epilepsy provided a significant amount of information, however as I sifted through websites, blogs, and Facebook pages, I found that I was still searching for answers to help to navigate our new lifestyle changes that supported Gibbs’ needs. In summary, I needed a way to collect all the pertinent information, for us and organize it all in one page, with visuals, videos, and simplistic content, while creating a network of people who wanted to connect for a bon-a-fide support group, either virtually or in person.
D/FSM: What is the drive behind Gibbs’ group?
TS: Gibbs and I are in pursuit of freedom from seizures, but we know that it is not realistic for us all. While we don't know all the answers, we strive to build a network of individuals to help each other maneuver the challenges of caring for a loved one experiencing seizures. We live and learn everyday while trying to figure out a way to make sense of it all.
D/FSM: What do you hope the page will mean for others?
TS: I hope this page finds its purpose in providing practical help, tips, resources, virtual /in person support group meetings and fill the niche of what is absent from other pages.
D/FSM: What is the Mission of Your Group?
TS: To connect owners of epileptic dogs to nourish, build relationships and provide support through group meetings and conversations. We want to encourage lifestyle changes that enhance the lives of humans and animals who have seizures and the families who care for them.
Tracy shares what her “Pie in the Sky Dreams: are for her Page:
1) Get enough followers to support a website
2) Provide “Scholarships” that helps LOCAL individuals pay for meds/vet bills for canine epi warrior pet parents. It has been brought to my attention that the Wally Foundation provides this type of relief, but would like to see if it would be beneficial to assist/collaborate for our immediate community.
3) Devise a network of trained individuals or other Epi Warrior pet parents that could assist in Epi Warrior care, for when pet parents need a vacation or have an emergency and pets can’t travel with them.
Tracy also hosts “Whine & Wag” virtual chat sessions for members to get together and talk about their Epi-dogs and support each other on the journey called Canine Epilepsy. You do need to be a member of the group to attend, and as a member, you’ll get info on how to attend the Zoom events. These Whine & Wags are not only opportunities to connect with each other for support and sharing of Canine Epilepsy resources and personal experiences, but being a video group helps add that personal “hang-out” feeling. What a great way to get to know each other!
On November 17th, Tracy hosted a very important interactive Whine & Wag for November’s Epilepsy Awareness Month called “Talking About Canine Epilepsy” that I am thrilled to have joined the panel of wonderful guests—as you can see from the graphic below—including a Q&A session with veterinary neurology experts, Dr. Karen Muñana, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology), Professor of Neurology at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine/The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab, and member of the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force, and Julie Nettifee, RVT, MS, VTS (Neurology) & Research, also from The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at North Carolina state University-College of Veterinary Medicine and the 2020 American Humane Hero Veterinary Nurse, along with several other Canine Epilepsy caregivers and advocates. A “Must-See” for any Epi-dog caregiver.
Click on graphic below and enter Passcode: cjZCQs8? in box where asked in order to listen to the 2-hour session (you can pause it).
You can follow the Facebook Event page, too, HERE.
To Join the GIBBS-erish…Making
Sense of Canine Epilepsy Facebook Group, go HERE, and be sure to tell them Gibson's (of the FiveSibes) Mom sent you!
💜
Other Stories in Epi-Star Series:
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