#NEAM: Meet Epi-Dog "Finnegan" - From Possible Euthanization to Success Through VNS

 

Epi-Star, "Finnegan"

 

 

by Dorothy Wills-Raftery   

W riting about amazing Epi-dogs (epileptic dogs) and sharing their stories and success is something so near and dear to my heart. Today, I'm so pleased to shine a spotlight on my next amazing Epi-dog as part of my 3rd Annual National Epilepsy Awareness Month (#NEAM) Epi-Star Feature! November, as many of you know, is a special month here at FiveSibes. Inspired by my own beloved Gibson, who was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy shortly after he turned three, I began the #LiveGibStrong Canine Epilepsy awareness and education initiative. I authored the multi-award winning EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Life With Canine Epilepsy, a 264-page beautiful book, where I share stories of amazing Epi-dogs from across the breeds and across the world. As a follow-up to all the amazing Epi-dogs and caregivers I've met along the way, I picked up where my book left off with this annual Epi-Star series here on my blog, where I continue to feature stories about these amazing dogs who have Canine Epilepsy, but never let that stop them from loving life.

 

Today's story is about my next FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong #NEAM Epi-Star of 2024, Donna Ciarlante's beautiful "Finnegan," a three-year-old Border Collie.

 

"My foster dog, Finnegan, has refractory idiopathic epilepsy," states Donna. "Finnegan, a border collie from working lines, is now three years old, and we have been on this journey together since he became our foster dog when he was nine months old."

 

Finnegan a/ka/ Finn and one of his "jolly" balls!

 

To share Finnegan's back story, Donna says he was originally, "Purchased as a puppy from a breeder in Oklahoma by a family residing in Massachusetts. His seizures began at seven months of age, and from vet records it appears that he had cluster seizures from onset. His family brought him to a veterinary neurologist and after some testing to rule out other causes for his seizures, he was started on Keppra." 

 

However, Donna reports that the Keppra did not help Finnegan, "So the dose was doubled. He continued to have seizures and Phenobarbital was added. The adjustment to Pheno was really tough (soiling in the house, behavior changes, constant hunger) and although his family loved him very much and sought out the care he needed, they could not tolerate the side effects of the medications he was prescribed to control his seizures...and the family brought him to the vet to be euthanized at nine months of age. The vet encouraged the family to reach out to a rescue rather than euthanize the puppy, and that is how Finnegan fortunately ended up at the New England Border Collie Rescue."

 

Visit: https://nebcr.org

 

Luckily for young pup Finnegan, his next stop was Donna, who took him in and fostered the pup through the rescue.

 

Finnegan at the New Hampshire Highland Games, a celebration of Scottish heritage at one of the "largest and most diverse Highland Games held in North America." 

 

"Finnegan arrived to us already started on Keppra without any effect and had just recently had the Phenobarbital added. He was having a very difficult time adjusting to the Phenobarbital, and I understood why his family was unable to continue to care for him. He nearly made it three months seizure free when the cluster seizures began again. After several hospital admissions, Potassium Bromide was added and then Zonisamide when he still continued to experience cluster seizures."

 

Continues Donna, "As you know, it is impossible to know that you have a dog who is refractory to medications until you have experienced all the med trials, hope, sadness, grief, hopelessness, acceptance, and perseverance this experience thrusts upon you. The med trials take time to evaluate. With each med that was added, the side effects took more and more of this dog away. We had several hospitalizations that I was certain would end up with euthansia, but Finnegan always managed to pull through at the last minute. He has a fighting spirit that I attribute to his Border Collie perseverance." 

 

 "Finnegan enjoys walks with his foster siblings, playing with his jolly ball, stalking the cats, and watching over the sheep. We will continue to work towards giving Finnegan the best quality of life possible."~Donna Ciarlante

 

 

Clinical trial gives H*O*P*E! 

Finn getting his VNS treatment.
 

With the seizures still happening even while on the added medications, Donna knew they were out of treatment options. Then, fate stepped in. "The opportunity to participate in a clinical trial for a vagal nerve stimulator (VNS) was given to us by Finnegan's neurology team. Although we had been living with so much uncertainty over the past year, I was certain that Finnegan did not want to give up just yet, and so we committed to the year-long clinical trial." 

 

What is Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS)?

According to VetTimes, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) in dogs is to produce an anti-epileptic effect that "involves the placement of a pacemaker-like device delivering intermittent stimulation to the vagus nerve. This method currently has limited clinical use due to its restricted availability, expense, and invasiveness." 

If you want more information on VNS, please have a conversation with your Epi-dog's neurologist.

 

Finnegan completed the trial in May 2024. Donna happily reports, "He has not required a hospital admission for seizures since January 2023. Over the past nine months, the seizures that he does experience are milder and he has not clustered, although we do have a cluster protocol that we use to prevent cluster seizures."

What promising news to hear! Especially for an Epi-dog where all the anti-seizure medications were not working. "Prior to the VNS, the protocol was not effective. Finnegan still takes four medications, although we have been able to decrease his Bromide dose, which has given him a better quality of life. Besides the medications, Finnegan eats a low carb diet, and has supplements of probiotic and MCT oil." 

Finn's VNS Trial Completion!

Have a tissue handy! This is a truly heartfelt, inspirational video of Finnegan, a true Epi-warrior and his VNS trial! Finn is proof that Epi-dogs are amazing, but how they, alongside their wonderful caregivers, fight to have a happy life, the same as any dog without epilepsy.

     

 

"The results of the clinical trial for the VNS is exciting," states Donna. "Finnegan was one of five dogs, and four of the five showed improvement in their seizure control. I believe the plan is to do another five-dog study. If the study indicated the VNS is an effective option, the company that makes the VNS will make a scaled down affordable version of their human VNS for canines. Fingers and paws crossed!"

 

Finnegan is at "therapeutic" levels for the VNS. While things can change at any given moment, it's currently working to control his seizures that he's had since a puppy. This is a huge and positive breakthrough, especially for dogs with refractory idiopathic epilepsy.

 

More power to the One Health, or One Medicine, method of studying illnesses that affect both humans and canine. According to the American Kennel Club's Canine Health Foundation, "One Health is an initiative to improve animal and human health globally through collaboration between veterinarians, physicians, osteopaths, dentists, nurses, and other scientific-health professionals. It recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment." 

 

It is the hope that one day, through such research and trials, diseases, as epilepsy and cancer, successful treatments and cures may one day be discovered for both. And hope is a pretty powerful thing!

Finn with his foster pack family!

 

As for Epi-Star Finnegan, Donna notes, "I never planned to have such a long term foster as I have three Border Collies of my own. For now, he'll stay with me as I don't consider him adoptable yet. Finn has a better quality of life than he did a year ago and he has taught me to keep an open mind as sometimes what seems unlikely, turns out to be possible." 

 

 "Finn has a better quality of life than he did a year ago and he has taught me to keep an open mind as sometimes what seems unlikely, turns out to be possible." ~Donna Ciarlante

In the meantime, what's Finn up to? Donna happily reports, "Finnegan enjoys walks with his foster siblings, playing with his jolly ball, stalking the cats, and watching over the sheep. We will continue to work towards giving Finnegan the best quality of life possible."

 

Bravo to amazing Epi-warrior Finnegan!

Bravo to New England Border Collie Rescue for taking Finn in!

~And ~

Bravo to his loving foster hu-mom, Donna!

Epi-Dogs Rock!

Caregivers of dogs with epilepsy are amazing folks. It's so important to remember to care for yourselves, as well as your Epi-dog! Please be sure to watch my special slideshow "Caring for the Epi-Dog and Caregiver: The Importance of Self-Care"

If you are looking for information on Canine Epilepsy, check out our FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library where you will find accurate and vetted information you can trust including links, articles, podcasts with vets and veterinary experts, helpful tips, bookmarks, where to go if you need financial help with epilepsy medications,. Epi-Star success stories, and much more. It's a great place to seek out information so that you can have an in-depth conversation with your vet about your Epi-dog's care.

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The Inspirational Book Behind 

This Epi-Star Feature Series 

  

To purchase my book, go to our FiveSibes

ArcticHouse Books & Gifts Shoppe HERE or on Ebay HERE. 

A percentage of sales will be donated to Canine Epilepsy Research.

If you prefer, you can Email me at ArcticHousePublishing(at)gmail.com 

and put EPIc Dog Tales in subject line and I will send you an invoice where you will have a variety of ways to pay. Please note, there is a limited quantity of print books.

 

💜 

 

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.

 

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