Meet Epi-Star Molly of Molly's Canine Epilepsy Outreach
Epi-Star, Molly
by Dorothy Wills-Raftery
In honor of
November being National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM) and my being inspired by
not only my own Epi-dog Gibson’s story, but all the stories in my book EPIc Dog
Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Life With Canine
Epilepsy, I am moved to bring back for a second year my series on Epi-Stars--dogs who have Canine Epilepsy, but never let that stop them from
loving life. Sometimes that journey creates amazing bonds...between Epi-dog and caregiver, between Epi-dog, caregiver, and their veterinarian team, and sometimes a bond forms with other Epi-dog families through sharing our knowledge and experiences with others: case in point - this series ~and~ this issue's NEAM guest Epi-dog and her hu-dad.
Today, I am pleased to be highlighting Willard Moore’s beautiful English Setter “Molly.” Molly was also featured in my book, too!
With input from Willard, Molly's story was first written by Julie Nettifee, RVT, MS, VTS Neurology, The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab, North Carolina State University-College of Veterinary Medicine for the publication “Clinical Trials: A Mission for Molly” from the NCSU-CVM news magazine. In May of 2006 he had set out to find a new furry best friend. Willard recalls how he had grown up with English Setters, so that’s what he was looking for in a canine companion. He searched PetFinder, and in a shelter located in North Carolina, he spied a “thin, shy, tan and white English Setter named Molly,” and the rest, as they say, is history! (Or in this case, herstory)!
Willard said Molly settled in nicely with her new family. However, one month after Willard adopted Molly, she experienced her first grand mal seizure. Then she had a second, and a third seizure and “wound up in the hospital where she was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy,” recalls Willard. Molly was put on the anti-epileptic drug Phenobarbital.
Moore says he was hopeful that the drug would control Molly’s episodes, but the violent seizures continued to worsen. “Other drugs such as Potassium Bromide and rectal Diazepam were added to her treatment regimen. The medications made her appetite and thirst insatiable. She would strip bark from trees, drink from the garden hose – all changes in behavior that can be side effects of the drugs. She continued to experience cluster seizures with several episodes in a row at any time of the day or night."
The seizures were difficult to witness, especially for Moore who had spent many days and nights next to her while her body continued to “misfire.”Additional months passed, and Molly soon graduated from obedience class and enjoyed many great times with her family, but the epilepsy continued to take a toll on Molly and the Moore family.
Sadly, Molly’s quality of life was slipping away, and Moore grieved for her and for the life she never had a chance to experience. After one long and particularly difficult night of watching Molly endure ever-stronger seizures, Moore had a long discussion with his veterinarian and made two fateful decisions. First, he contacted Erin Kennerly, a PhD candidate in the Department of Genetics at North Carolina State University (NCSU), who was studying the underlying genetic contributions to drug response in epileptic dogs, to draw a blood sample from Molly so drug response in treatment-resistant epileptic dogs could be better understood and potentially lead to predictive test for refractoriness. And, secondly--Moore made the decision that allowed his veterinarian to euthanize Molly and finally free the suffering dog from the devastating disease.
Molly’s story may have ended there, but Willard committed himself to help change the “face” of Canine Epilepsy. In his quest to help others, Willard contacted Dr. Karen Muñana, professor of neurology, who directs an epilepsy research program in the CVM (The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab), as well as officials with the Epil-K9 Foundation and AKC Canine Health Foundation. Moore then began to distribute information related to the study of Canine Epilepsy at kennel club shows, agility trials, the NCSU-CVM Dog Olympics, and numerous other canine events.
Today, Willard continues to spread the word about Canine Epilepsy in Molly’s honor through his Mission for Molly. “In Molly’s honor, I created a traveling display booth to help spread the word about Canine Epilepsy,” says Willard, adding, “I will always miss Molly. This crusade helps me to deal with the pain of the last ride we had together.”
In Molly’s memory, Willard has set up a fund at the NCSU-CVM Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab that is a part of the Seizure Studies Fund to help support projects related to the causes and treatment of Canine Epilepsy, as well as education efforts about the disease. Moore and the spirit of Molly continue to make a difference toward a more complete understanding of epilepsy.
For more information on Canine Epilepsy, or to donate to the Seizure Studies “Molly” Fund, contact Julie Nettifee, MS, RVT, VTS (Neurology) at janettif@ncsu.edu.
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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 the Epi-Star Series:
Click on graphic above to visit our online resource library.
I don’t know if I ever told you, my golden Chloe had a couple seizures. It was very a scary experience, and I’m grateful it resolved and wasn’t long term. ( it was the result of a well known topical flea and tick medicine, which we stopped, and she never gad seizures again.). Watching your dog go through a seizure makes you feel so helpless. I’ll have to check out her story.
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