#NEAM Epi-Star: Epilepsy Doesn't Stop "Toby" the Therapy Dog!
by Dorothy Wills-Raftery
Today's FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong #NEAM Epi-Star of 2024 is also our last one of this year's series. I'm pleased to introduce you to Erin and Clyde Van Dyke's handsome three-year-old Saint Bernard, "Toby."
Erin recalls when Toby had his first seizure, and as with most Epi-dogs, it's always a frightening experience. "Toby was a two-year-old Saint Bernard rescue that we flew to Oklahoma to pick up and drove him home to Maryland to meet his other Saint Bernard fur sibling, Zeus, last November. Twelve days later, I awoke to my husband yelling that Toby was having a seizure. As soon as the vet opened at 7:30, I called and they said to bring him in to get checked at 8:30. Well we didn’t make it that long. Toby had another seizure and we got him in the van and off to the vet we went. He had another seizure on the way there. Once in the office, waiting for the doctor to arrive, Toby had his fourth seizure. He was then given IV Valium by another doctor. That was the last of the seizures for that day."
As Epi-dog caregivers, we know the challenge it can be to discover what could have triggered the seizures, and more often than not, it remains a mystery and a continued roller coaster ride of exploration of which medications, supplements, diets, etc., could hopefully help.
"We thought the seizure was from him receiving a dose of Simparica the week before. The rescue reached out to the breeder and she was told neither of the parents had seizures," recalls Erin. "Toby was doing well for a month and then had an episode of vomiting. Later that night he had another seizure. We took him to the vet on that Monday and had bloodwork done, just to make sure we weren’t missing anything. Everything was fine, so we continued with the plan to eventually try and wean him off Phenobarbital to see if it was from the Simparica. "
Unfortunately, Erin notes, "This was not going to happen. We tried, and he had another seizure. We started him on Keppra XR in hopes it would manage the seizures and we would be able to get him off the Phenobarbital since we were concerned about his liver being affected. Again this was not going to happen. Seizures continued every time his Phenobarbital dose was lowered."
Erin then says she decided to make an appointment with a neurologist since "Toby’s vet didn’t have a lot of experience with epilepsy." Then she discovered some eye-opening news. "Five days before his appointment with the neurologist, I was searching on Toby’s breeders Facebook page and found one of the other pups from one of her litters had been put down due to seizures. I contacted that owner through Messenger and found out at least five other pups from different litters have epilepsy. Here we were blaming ourselves for giving him the Simparica and causing it, and it was in fact genetic."
Their Toby was diagnosed on November 14, 2023 with epilepsy.
Even after discovering the genetic trait in so many from the bloodline, and the disheartening news about one being euthanized for seizures, Erin says they met with a veterinary neurologist. "We are still trying to find a combo and dose to control his seizures. We tried Zonisamide and it was a nightmare of cluster and partial seizures. We continue to increase the Phenobarbital, and it is currently at 300 mg twice daily and Keppra XR 2250mg twice daily, but still are having seizures every two weeks."
In spite of Toby still experiencing seizures, Erin says Toby loves life and enjoys working as a Therapy Dog. Seizures do not slow this boy down!
"We have continued to let Toby do activities he enjoys," says Erin. "Toby has completed his Therapy Dog certification and has started visiting at the local hospital twice a month. He also visits a retirement home for priests once a month."
Toby loves his job and does it with pure canine confidence! "He loves to go and will run in circles around the kitchen until I get his gear on him," reports Erin.
"This big guy has brought joy to our life despite the frustration of dealing with epilepsy. There have been many sleepless nights and anxiety with leaving him alone. Hopefully someday we will be able to get his seizures under control and he will be able to continue living a long, happy life."
~Erin Van Dyke
In addition to his Therapy Dog work, Erin says, "He also loves to go on his daily walk even though I tell him he needs to pick up his pace to a walking pace not a crawl! He likes to rough house and play tug with his big brother and also his foster sister (also a Saint Bernard). With his confidence, he has been a great trainer for his foster sister that came with severe stranger danger after coming from a hoarding case. Oh, and let’s not forget about his love for food!"
Through all the ups-and-downs-and-back-ups with dealing with the "seizure monster" called Canine Epilepsy, Erin and Clyde love their big boy. "This big guy has brought joy to our life despite the frustration of dealing with epilepsy. There have been many sleepless nights and anxiety with leaving him alone. Hopefully someday we will be able to get his seizures under control and he will be able to continue living a long, happy life."
Amen to that.
Epi-Dogs Rock! Stay strong, Toby. You're an Epi-Star, as are your amazing hu-family.
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.
Other Stories in the Epi-Star Series:
Click on graphic above to visit our online resource library.
Gosh, Sir Toby sure is handsome!
ReplyDeleteAn another amazing story. And what a cutie pie Toby is.
ReplyDelete