Welcome to Our 3rd Annual #EpiStars Feature! Kicking Off #NEAM With Bear!

  Epi-Star, "Bear"

 

 

by Dorothy Wills-Raftery  

W elcome to National Epilepsy Awareness Month, also known as #NEAM! November is a special month here, as it is where I highlight not only information on Canine Epilepsy, but also share amazing stories about Epi-dogs (dogs who have epilepsy). Inspired by my own Epi-dog Gibson’s story, I wrote the book multi-award winning EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Life With Canine Epilepsy, where I share stories of amazing Epi-dogs across the world. This all launched my Epi-Star series here on my blog that is now in its 3rd year where I continue to feature stories about these amazing dogs who have Canine Epilepsy, but never let that stop them from loving life. Through this, and in my Gibson's name, we have formed a unique and caring community where we connect with with other Epi-dog caregivers, rescues, and veterinarians who care for them. We have become a wonderful network of vetted information and a network of support and camaraderie.

 

I'm so pleased to kick off this year's FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong #NEAM Epi-Star feature with beautiful Siberian Husky "Bear," whose hu-dad Joe Giordano adopted from The Last Resort (TLR) Animal Rescue in New Jersey.

Joe tells me that his Siberian Husky, "Bear," who has called "Bear Bear," story began on March 28, 2010 when he adopted Bear.

 

"Approximately two weeks later, Bear had his first seizure while I was present," recalls Joe. "I immediately rushed Bear to my vet on April 13th, and he started him on 60 mg of Phenobarbital twice a day. Bear remained on Pheno with very good results until about the third week of December. At that time, Bear had a grand mal seizure, so I brought him to AERA (Animal Emergency & Referral Associates ) for a full medical workup. The results of all tests were that Bear was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy."

 

What is Idiopathic Epilepsy?

According to Dr. Karen Muñana, Professor of Neurology at The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at North Carolina State University-College of Veterinary Medicine, and member of the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force, "Epilepsy is a general term, so anything that causes an abnormality in certain areas of the brain can cause epilepsy. If a dog has a brain tumor, it can develop epilepsy. But specifically, what we tend to see most commonly in dogs is a disease called “idiopathic epilepsy,” and that is where the brain appears structurally normal — from what we can tell with testing such as MRI — but at a microscopic level or cellular level, there are some abnormalities. Idiopathic epilepsy can occur in any breed, but we see it more in certain breeds where it has been shown to be inherited. In general, idiopathic epilepsy usually does not affect the lifespan of affected dogs." 

 

"The combination of Pheno and Zonisamide kept Bear’s incident of seizures under control for the rest of his life." ~Joe Giordano

 

Joe continues with Bear's story, "I was told by some people that the best thing to do was to euthanize Bear because there wasn’t much you could do to give him a good life. However that scenario was not in my DNA. I could not give up on Bear, and not giving up on him was the best decision I ever made."

 

"At this point, beside Phenobarbital 60 mg, Potassium Bromide liquid form was added to Bear’s daily regimen. This combination was quickly discontinued because Bear had a bad reaction taking Potassium Bromide. So we then made a change by discontinuing Potassium Bromide and added Zonisamide 100 mg capsules, four capsules in the morning and four capsules in the evening. Thus, the combination of Pheno and Zonisamide kept Bear’s incident of seizures under control for the rest of his life. With the Pheno and Zonisamide, he very seldom had an episode and if he did it was normally a mild one."

 

Although dear Bear crossed over Rainbow Bridge February 22, 2020 when he was "close to 12 years of age," it was not from epilepsy, but also like Gibson, he passed from hemangiosarcoma.

 

"I could not give up on Bear, and not giving up on him was the best decision I ever made."  ~Joe Giordano

 

In true Husky style, Bear loved life. Joe says, "Bear never let epilepsy get him down." Like Gibson, he "had a zest for life."

 

"Bear loved to Husky wrestle with his sisters Mieshka and Ember and his brother Juno," remembers Joe. "And, of course, he loved to run and play in snow, and Bear enjoyed going for walks. Once he saw a leash he was ready to go!" 

Bear with his packmates!

"Bear never let epilepsy get him down in all the years he was with us," says Joe, proudly remembering his boy.

Joe entered Bear in the Rescue to Royalty Challenge "to pay it forward to The Last Resort for rescuing him and all the support they gave him." And, the best news was Bear was voted the Third Grand Prize Winner, getting his story of living and loving life with Canine Epilepsy out there and offering hope to other Epi-dog families.

 

Summing up life with beautiful Bear, Joe says, "Bear was strong and gave me 10 years of love, many smiles and of course a few scares occasionally thrown in before he crossed over Rainbow Bridge in February of 2020. My life would have been empty without him by my side. I feel very blessed that I had him with me all those years and I think about him and miss him dearly. Bear will always be in my heart."

 

"I feel very blessed that I had him with me all those years and I think about him and miss him dearly. Bear will always be in my heart."  

~Joe Giordano

 

 

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.

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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.

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