Caring for the Epi-Dog & Caregiver

You know the scene...you’ve been up most of the night watching over your beloved dog who just had a seizure or is ill. Whether you dog has been diagnosed with Canine Epilepsy or just experienced its first seizure, it is a frightening experience for dog caregivers. Triggers come in many ways and forms, and not all the same things trigger a seizure in dogs. The “wild west” of causes can keep a dog parent on edge—from developing a care and hopefully anti-seizure treatment plan with your vet, to the daily worry of whether or not your dog will have another seizure. Then there is the post-seizure cleanup of both your beloved dog and its surrounds. Caring for an Epi-dog can be exhausting mentally, physically, and sometimes even financially.

While we now know a lot about Canine Epilepsy and how these Epi-dogs can and do live happy lives thanks to medication, nutrition, alternative therapies, and mainly the overall care given by the families who love them. But just as important as it is caring for dogs with epilepsy, or any type of health issue or disability, it is equally important to care for the caregiver.

 

 

On March 26th (Purple Day® for Epilepsy 2024) I proudly debuted a new slideshow I created with support from Karen Muñana, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology) and Julie Nettifee, RVT, MS, VTS (Neurology) of the Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at North Carolina State University-College of Veterinary Medicine titled, "Caring For The Epi-Dog & Caregiver."

 

This video highlights 14 Epi-dogs from across the world and their stories and self-care tips, plus info and charts from caregiver journals, art, photography, music, and ways for the caregiver to destress and unwind in order to give the best care to their special needs dogs. Pause the video and be sure to read all these fabulous stories, as well as info from the Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab.

And...a bit of trivia, the beautiful music you hear in this slideshow video was written and composed by Julie Nettifee of the Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab, and the piano and vocals are by Lyndy Harden! 

Note: The best way to watch the video is to pause it to allow time to read the heartfelt information given by Epi-dog caregivers across the world, from the US to the UK. This is also available in PDF print copy if you would like one sent to you, Email us at FiveSibesLiveGibStrong(at)gmail(dot)com and put Epi-Dog Caregiver in the Subject Line.

 

 

To read the original Purple Day 2024 blog post, please go HERE.

 Do you have my big, beautiful coffee table book featuring

Gibson's Intro Page in EPIc Dog Tales... 

 

There are a limited supply left of these big, beautiful coffee table books! Visit our ArcticHouse Books & Gifts Shoppe! Send us an Email at ArcticHousePublishing(at)gmail(dot)com 

and we will invoice you. 

BONUS: If you mention code "Gibson" you will get 20% off!