#NEAM - A Tale of TWO Adopted Epi-Dogs: One Brave Adult and One Courageous Puppy
Epi-Stars, "Lilian" & "Malina"
by Dorothy Wills-Raftery
Today, I'm so pleased to introduce you to our third FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong #NEAM Epi-Stars of 2024, "Lilian" and "Malina" and I’m thrilled to bring you a story from another “FiveSibes” home! Amy Stringer is the “proud” hu-mom to five huskies: “Sadie,” “Lilian”, “Cy,” “Bear,” and “Malina.” Two of her beautiful pack members are Epi-dogs - Lilian and Malina...that she CHOSE to adopt and love forever. Dogs having seizures did not frighten Amy away. As a matter of fact, after having one, she opened her heart and home up to another little girl with seizures.
“I was blessed to find Lilian in 2018 through Adopt a Husky Minnesota,” says Amy. “Lilian had been dumped after having a litter of puppies and been in rescue for some time due to her epilepsy. From reading her bio, I knew she belonged with me.”
"Lilian taught me
patience and that all dogs deserve a chance. One of my favorite quotes is ‘Every
dog has a story waiting to unfold in its glory.’ They just need a chance.” ~Amy Stringer
Amy goes on to explain that “Lilian had cluster seizures
almost daily and needed patience and time from a vet to get her on the right
meds and the right dosage. Seizures scared her, and she was a high anxiety
dog that didn't sleep well due to most seizures occurring at night. A lot
of patience, a lot of love, and a lot of trust from Lilian, and we got her
seizures under control!”
Amy credits her Epi-dog, Lilian as “the one who started me on this journey with volunteering with Adopt a Husky Minnesota. Lilian taught me patience and that all dogs deserve a chance. One of my favorite quotes is ‘Every dog has a story waiting to unfold in its glory.’ They just need a chance.”
Amy then fast forwards to 2024. She notes that after “a sudden career change, my love for Lilian and watching her live a healthy normal life,” Amy volunteered to become a foster for Adopt A Husky Minnesota. On June 10, 2024, Amy shares that the rescue received a message that someone needed to surrender their puppy to them. “The owner also said that the puppy had been having seizures, but they had put her under the care of a vet,” explains Amy, who immediately stepped up to foster the puppy. “A temporary foster met the owner and picked her up until I could make the trip the next day. I know that seizures can be very scary, especially for someone that has not experienced them before.”
So the next morning, Amy says she made the drive to Minnesota to pick her up. “While I was driving, the temporary foster called me with panic in her voice. The little puppy was seizing in her arms...and was taken to Animal Emergency and Referral of Minnesota.”
The puppy weighed pounds and was approximately eight weeks old, and spent the day at the vet, says Amy. “I sat in the parking lot (even after my rescue told me to go home and we would make other arrangements.) I knew that this little girl had been let down by humans too many times in her short life and I wasn't leaving her.”
At the end of the day, Amy says the puppy was released to her. “ We made the trek back to Iowa. She was diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy and no other health problems. She was put on Pregabalin.”
"Malina" meeting some of her new pack family!
With five Huskies now, two of them epileptic and the newest one just a puppy, how did that first introduction and week go? Amy reports, “The first week was very rough. There was not much sleep for either of us. She was a scared puppy and would only sleep while sleeping on my chest. She would cry for hours on end. My pack was also curious on how to help this eight-pound puppy. Each day she started to trust me a little more.”
The new pup was given the name “Malina.” Amy explains, “Malina is the Inuit sun goddess. With her fiery red coat, the name fit her perfectly.”
Amy recalls how “Each day the seizures became shorter. However, the Pregablin left her unable to control her bladder.” But, Malina's trust in Amy continued to grow. And Amy began to see a slow change in her little Epi puppy. “We had to work though her severe fear of kennels, her fear of being left alone, daily baths due to her incontinence, and getting her to gain weight. Malina started to go everywhere with me, and she was soon the princess of our local farmer's market. Malina learned to trust humans again, and loves meeting new people.”
But soon Amy saw Malina have another setback. “After starting her puppy vaccinations, it was found she had round worms. But each day she kept improving. Malina was put on a high protein dog food and soon she was gaining weight.” Amy reported that another upside was that “The seizures kept getting shorter and less frequent.”
Malina is currently on Phenobarbital, and Amy says she only takes half the dose for her recommended weight. “I knew as our bond grew, that this is her home. Malina found her forever home the day that I picked her up in Minnesota,” shares Amy.
Amy enrolled Malina in a Good Citizen class with plans of training her as a Therapy Dog. “Her foster dad is a firefighter, and I am a retired police officer. As a former detective, I know the importance a dog can have during interviews, debriefings, and court proceedings. I know Malina can bring people comfort during their dark days with her sunny personality.”
“Malina doesn't let epilepsy hold her back,” Amy proudly states. “After leaving law enforcement unexpectedly, Malina helped me realize that I have another purpose, and that I can help my community in other ways. Malina and I can do it together.”
However, the Husky puppy was to face yet another tough setback. Amy explains how she noticed Malina would “run into things” when she would take her out to go potty in the dark, so they took her to Iowa State University to get check out. Then they received the devastating news. “Malina was diagnosed with severe Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). At the age of 5 months, she is rapidly going blind.”
At this point, Amy reports there is no surgery for Malina. “She started taking Ocu-GLO (vision) supplements to try and slow the PRA. At some point she will be put on daily eye drops to try and stop cataracts from forming so that it does not lead to glaucoma. She will be on meds and supplements for the rest of her life.”
"With every obstacle life puts in front of her, she
keeps putting a paw forward and is the gentlest dog I’ve ever met. We all can learn
from Malina. I know I have. Epilepsy, blindness, nothing stops this puppy from
loving her best life.” ~ Amy Stringer
“It was a few rough days,” recalls Amy. “But I realized she is still the same happy puppy that I took to Iowa State. We are going to give her the best life possible. With every obstacle life puts in front of her, she keeps putting a paw forward and is the gentlest dog I’ve ever met. We all can learn from Malina. I know I have. Epilepsy, blindness, nothing stops this puppy from loving her best life.”
Even with everything that young Malina has faced in her short life, “Malina is now a happy, thriving puppy.”
And through everything—being mostly blind and epileptic, Amy
proudly reports, “We still passed our STAR puppy test!”
Congrats, Malina!
Bravo to Lilian and Malina for not letting epilepsy get in the way of them living life to the fullest.
Epi-dogs truly rock ~ as do their wonderful caregivers, like Amy.
Other Stories in the Epi-Star Series:
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