Epi-Stars, "Darren" & "Lana"
by Dorothy Wills-Raftery
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If you've been following us, for the month of
November, which is National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM), I'm highlighting some amazing stories about Epi-Dogs. Insspired 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 was 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; and 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.
Today, I'm happy to introduce you to beautiful Epi-Stars "Lana," a Rhodesian Rideback mix, and "Darren," a Golden Retriever mix, both are A. Piper Burgi's beautiful Epi-dogs.
Says Piper, who in addition to being an award-winning author and hu-mom to not one, but two Epi-dogs at the same time, she is also a military veteran. "I
want to take this opportunity to share a little insight into living
with Canine Epilepsy - a subject matter near and dear to my heart. As
many of you probably know, the two dogs pictured above were my
Epi-warriors, Lana and Darren. They both developed Idiopathic Epilepsy
(epilepsy with unknown cause) within two days of each other when Darren
was two and Lana was four years of age. I did my best to provide them
with everything they needed and the quality of life they deserved. But,
in the end, Darren suffered a massive stroke, and Lana lost her battle
with bladder cancer; they passed away within four days of each other. At
this point, I decided to write a book about their journey called Living With Canine Epilepsy to
let everyone know that dogs with Canine Epilepsy can lead a happy and
meaningful life. Prayers for all the Epi-Warriors out there...may they
stay seizure-free for a long time!"
Piper's book where she talks all about caring for two dogs with Canine Epilepsy.
We now know just how many dogs are affected by Canine Epilepsy and that dogs can and do live full happy lives with it. However, there is some special care that needs to be given.
The journey with an Epi-dog is not always easy, but these dogs truly are amazing. Piper goes on to explain, "Living with a dog that has epilepsy can be a daunting prospect. Still, with some help from a veterinarian and much planning,
epileptic dogs can live a relatively normal, happy, and meaningful life."
And she is so right!
In her article that she shared on her website titled, "November is #EpilepsyAwarenessMonth: A Day in the Life of Two Epi Warriors," Piper shares that "On a good day, we
all got up around 6:00 a.m...well, Lana and Darren stuck their wet
noses in my face to wake me up. Breakfast and the first dosage of daily
meds by 7:00 a.m. Walk/jog, either outdoors when the weather permitted
or on the treadmill by 10:00 a.m. Outings, errands, and playtime
throughout the day. Dinner and the second dosage of daily medication by
7:00 p.m. This schedule had to eventually be adjusted once Darren had to
switch from Phenobarbital to Keppra due to his hypertensive liver, a
drug he had to take three times a day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
"I would sit on the floor next to the dog bed
until they fell asleep again and prayed that there wouldn't be any more
epileptic episodes."
~A. Piper Burgi,
Author & Hu-Mom to Epi-Dogs
She then goes on to note that "On a bad day, one
of my furry children or one after the other would have their first
seizure of the day in the early morning hours, anywhere between midnight
and 5:00 a.m. I wiped away excess slobber off the dog's face. I
administered a pill pocket with Valium in an attempt to prevent a
vicious cycle of recurring seizures. Then, it was time to give the dog a
quick sponge bath to remove the remnants of urine and/or stool after
the dog lost control of his or her bladder and/or bowel due to the
seizure. I cleaned/replaced the doggie bedding and adjacent carpeting as
necessary, fed the patient a snack, provided a fresh bowl of water and
the opportunity to relieve themselves. I would put the dogs back to bed
if it was still nighttime. I would sit on the floor next to the dog bed
until they fell asleep again and prayed that there wouldn't be any more
epileptic episodes. Eventually, I crawled back into bed and attempted to
go back to sleep. If we were lucky, no one had another seizure. If we
were not so fortunate, then the above scenario repeated itself many
times throughout the following day or two, and we would eventually end
up spending the day at the vet clinic."
"What
I would like everyone to remember during this Epilepsy Awareness Month -
is that it is not the end of the world if your dog has epilepsy. Yes,
it is challenging to live with canine epilepsy, and there's no cure for
this condition. However, it can be managed. Just take a deep
breath and deal with it one day at a time."
~A. Piper Burgi
Author & Hu-mom to Epi-dogs
Caring for Epi-dogs, Piper has learned a lot and shares with others tips on how to help your dog when s/he has a seizure. In her article, she shares a more in-depth explanation on the following:
- Keep your Epi-dog safe
- Reduce external stimulants
- Time the duration
- Know when to see a doctor
- Keep a journal
To read her tips in full detail, visit her post HERE.
Even with caring for dogs who have seizures, Piper shares, "What
I would like everyone to remember during this Epilepsy Awareness Month -
is that it is not the end of the world if your dog has epilepsy. Yes,
it is challenging to live with canine epilepsy, and there's no cure for
this condition. However, it can be managed. There may be bumps along
your journey together, but you can get through them. Just take a deep
breath and deal with it one day at a time."
Such excellent words of wisdom and definitely for all Epi-dog caregivers to hold onto, especially on the more difficult days.
"Learning to live with an animal with complex health issues is
never easy; learning to live with two dogs with severe epilepsy can be
an overwhelming task," shares Piper. "Epilepsy manifests in frightening ways, causing a
dog to experience sudden, uncontrolled attacks. Living with a dog that
has epilepsy can be a daunting prospect, but with the help of a vet and a
lot of planning your dog(s) can live a relatively normal life. Common
sense combined with medicine can make canine epilepsy manageable."
The Inspirational Book Behind This Epi-Star Feature Series
To purchase my book, go to our FiveSibes
For November's Epilepsy Awareness Month, we are offering a
25% DISCOUNT using our code: EPIcGIBSON ~and~ DONATING 20% to a Canine Epilepsy nonprofit.
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. Offer ends 12/31/2023.
There is a limited quantity of print books.
💜
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:
✭Epi-Star Gibson of FiveSibes, go HERE
✭All Previous Epi-Stars, go HERE
Click on graphic above to visit our online resource library.
Back
to our Home Page and Our Other Pages, including
Our About the Breed Page and Our #LiveGibStrong On-Line K-9 Epilepsy
Resource Page, ArcticHouse Books & Gifts Shoppe & so much more!
Just click
on "More" Pages at top of blog.
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