November Epilepsy Awareness Month: Meet Epi-Stars Boo & Nala
Epi-Stars "Boo" and "Nala" enjoying being snow dogs!
by Dorothy Wills-Raftery
My #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong November Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM) “Epi-Star” features I began last year, and it’s based on the concept of my book EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy), where I highlight some amazing dogs who have/had Canine Epilepsy (also known as Epi-dogs), but never let that stop them from living life. I am pleased to say I am continuing with these amazing true stories in our second year of highlighting “Epi-Stars!” You can find all of our amazing Epi-Star stories here on my FiveSibes blog by going to the menu, or click *NEW* Special Series: Epi-Star Stories.
Today, I'd like to introduce you to Holly and Mike Stoddard’s two beautiful Siberian Huskies girls named Shaboo “Boo,” and “Nala,” both who never let having Canine Epilepsy stop them from enjoying life! Both Boo and Nala were featured in my book, too!
In my book, Holly tells readers about her “Boo” who was the second female in the Stoddard pack. She was a black and white beauty the Stoddards welcomed when she was just a puppy. “She was the runt of the litter, but we didn’t care,” notes Holly. “She (was) our beautiful, brown-eyed girl.
Holly explains that her Boo started having grand mal seizures in January of 2009. “On one afternoon, a week after Christmas in December of 2008, I let our Sibes out to go potty and when I looked out the window to check on them, Boo had no use of her back legs. I immediately called the vet and my husband and I brought her right over for an emergency visit. Boo had pinched nerves in her middle and backend of her spine. They gave her a shot and meds to take home. She cried all night. I called the vet’s office back the next morning and was able to get her in for a visit with our regular vet. He gave her another shot and told me to keep her on the meds. By Friday of that week, she wouldn’t eat or take her meds anymore. Saturday morning, I called the vet’s office again. While waiting for a vet tech to come back to the phone with an answer for me, Boo had gone out in the snow, rolled around on her back, and must have popped it back in place and was fine. But, by January 2009, she started having the grand mal seizures. (Our vets feel there is no relation between the two situations, but to me it seems more than coincidental.)”
Holly did feel the seizures aged Boo, but it didn’t change her disposition. “She was the sweetest girl, even after having a seizure she gave me kisses as if to say, ‘thank you for helping me through it.’
Holly says that typically after Boo experienced a seizure, she would nap. “By the next day she was back to Boo mode. Other than her seizures, Boo was a typical Siberian Husky, and she said her two favorite things to do were go for rides and now! They even had to “spell R-I-D-E out” so Boo didn’t know what they were talking about, or else she’d become very excited about a car ride! And when it came to snow, in true snow dog fashion. “When it snowed, she’d be so happy! She loved to sit out in it for hours on end.” And Boo loved the camera! Any time Holly was taking pics of her pack, Boo, she said, would sit pretty and pose!
Not certain what triggered Boo’s seizures, Holly felt it may have been due to grieving the loss of another dog, her parent’s Siberian Husky Boo loved to play with. “She seemed to know he was an older dog and showed such great respect for him. For a while after he had passed, she was grieving the loss of him, then shortly after his passing is when her seizures started.”
Holly said the vet recommended keeping a journal on her seizures, including when she has them, where, time of day, date, and a description of what happens during one. She does not have them frequent enough for our vet to put her on meds.”
Holly did then switch all of their Siberian Huskies to a grain -free diet
Holly remembered how much Nala, even as a senior, loved to play outside with her younger Sibe brother, Chip. She even taught him how to hunt
Later on, Holly says they learned that triggers to both Boo and Nala seizures “were stress related to fireworks, gunshots, and stressful situations” and also Nala would have a seizure whenever her sister Boo would have a grand mal seizure. “It could be a bit of a challenge when two dogs are seizing at the same time.”
Otherwise, Holly notes, “Nala remained the queen of the pack and lived a normal doggie life. She still could come flying into the house, and almost land into her daddy’s lap in the recliner, throwing her toys around!”
Looking back, Holly said it was always “great to see her playing and enjoying life with us and her Sibe siblings.”
💜
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.
Love those two sweet faces. I hope it's a successful month for fighting the evil Epilepsy Monster!
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