Meet "Tanner" ~ #LiveGibStrong Final #NEAM 2025 #Epi-Star
After losing their beloved Cocker Spaniel, Maggie in October of 2019, that following January 2020 Julie says, “We decided it was time for a new puppy. Our house was quiet, the holidays were over, and our daughter was only 8 years old and missed her companion. We went to a few adoption events hosted locally. We also went to a breeder, where we put down a deposit on a Golden Doodle puppy. That evening, I had a dream about that puppy and although super cute, I woke up panicked that it wasn't the right dog for our family. I called the breeder and backed out of taking that dog, forfeiting our deposit.”
“I loved having a Cocker Spaniel,” notes Julie. “But my husband and I wanted a dog a little larger in size - more active. I started searching online and looking at breeders of Springers. I came across pictures on a breeder’s Facebook page that had puppies available from their current litter. I fell in love and knew this was the type of dog we needed to add to our family. I spent a few days researching this breeder - digging around the Internet, asking on Facebook groups, getting references and referrals and talking with the breeder asking a million questions. I think saw she posted a video of the litter in its little pen playing - there was one little dog in the back, just sitting there looking at the lady with its tail wagging like crazy - not jumping, barking or being crazy - just being its cute self. I inquired about that dog specifically, and learned his litter name was "Chibbs" of the Sons of Anarchy litter. She named all puppies from the litter after characters in a TV series (all her litters were named this way). I said is ‘Chibbs’ available? She said yes. I said, ‘Is he ready to go?’ She said ‘yes.’ Well, I found a sitter for our daughter and my husband, and I went that afternoon to pick up Chibbs. Little did I know that we hit the doggie jackpot! On the way home he cuddled with me in the passenger's seat, then he threw up all over me (LOL). I took my shirt off and zipped up my coat, and he nuzzled against me the rest of the way home.”
“We decided to keep his given name since my husband, and I were fans of the show and the character Chibbs - well that was until everyone who wasn't familiar with the show thought we named our dog Chips. That's when we knew, it couldn't stay. My daughter picked the name Tanner, as it was her TV crush's name. We all loved Tanner and decided that would be his name, forever.”
“Since it was early 2020, the pandemic hadn't really hit yet. So for a few weeks my husband went off to work, and daughter off to school - and it was just me and my boy. Training him was easy, he was a great listener and very ‘treat motivated.’
Then in March, Covid hit. “My daughter was home, as we were in full covid mode and the three of us spent our days on Zooms, and Tanner was a big love to all her classmates and teachers. His personality was SO big from the very beginning.”
When summer rolled around, Julie says they had so much fun spending time with Tanner. While her husband was at work, she says her and her daughter, along with Tanner, went to their lake house and summered there. “We learned quickly that Tanner LOVED the water and had ZERO fear of anything. He was so fun and brought us so much joy in a time that was scary and so uncertain.”
Then, about two to three months later, Tanner had another seizure. “He was put on Keppra to start. We were advised it was the mildest treatment with the lowest side effects, etc. Not knowing better, we accepted this and started the meds.”
In the meanwhile, Julie began doing a lot of research and joined many Facebook groups to learn more about seizures and Canine Epilepsy. “I quickly learned we were not alone. Also, that this was a very common diagnosis for dogs, which was terrifying. We had NO idea what this journey would bring. We were sad and scared, and grateful for pet insurance!”
One of the scariest things for an Epi-dog's family is watching a beloved dog have a seizure. While the dog is not aware of what's happening, the humans sure do.
"Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in veterinary medicine. The most common cause for recurrent seizures in dogs is idiopathic epilepsy, and many breeds of dogs are genetically predisposed to this disorder. Epilepsy is typically managed with medication directed at controlling the seizures, although the majority of pets do not become seizure free. In these cases, efforts are directed at maximizing seizure control while minimizing treatment related side effects, so as to provide the best quality of life for the pet and the caregiver."
Tanner's last seizure. He was a sweet, brave boy.
Julie says most of Tanner's episodes happened in the evening “while he was resting/sleeping.” Then, after about three years on the medication, “He started having clusters. We were then given Clorazepate to use as his cluster buster to be given after his first seizure of an episode to prevent clustering. This worked for about a year; then it didn't.” Potassium Bromide was then added his list of medications. “I was happy to add this as I had read that lots of others found this medication to be the ‘one’ that helped them the most. I was really feeling like we were going to find the one that will take all of this away for our boy. But, it didn't happen. His seizures got closer together, and his preictal and postictal phases were changing and becoming very odd. After about an hour, he always stopped snapping out of his seizures, but now, he was pacing, his breathing was off, he’d stop to stare at nothing, was very antsy, and just all-around different for hours after. The seizures were really starting to wear on this body and his brain, he was tired.”
“Our hearts were breaking more with every episode. Our fear of leaving him alone for any length of time was growing and our lives were 100% controlled by epilepsy. We were so blessed to have Barbara Drury’s Manilow’s Doggie Daycare (in Massachusetts) for a break from our reality.” Barbara understood because she, too, had shared life with a dog, “Manilow,” who lived with epilepsy. Adds Julie, “Barbara and her team loved dogs, knew Tanner's needs, and ensured he was safe and cared for when he was in their care. It was a true blessing for us, a real peace of mind. Besides, Tanner LOVED it there. All we had to say was ‘Want to go see your friends?' and Tanner jumped up and ran for the door. He knew, and he was so excited!”
“Our daughter was getting older (now 12/13), and our family was really struggling with not being able to travel as much as we would like to. We couldn't do things like go out to dinner and grab a quick show or movie after because we were always afraid to leave Tanner home. We were always thinking, ‘What if something happens and we aren't home?’ We needed to be home every night at 6 PM to give him meds, so all our plans revolved around that time, or someone stayed home to be with him. It was taking over our whole life. But, Tanner was WORTH IT.”
“We knew after every episode that it was worsening, and we were losing any control we thought we had over this disease. It was wearing on us, and literally breaking our hearts each and every time. We knew he wasn't going to live to be an old boy, but we treasured each and every day we had.”
“One night, while sleeping, Tanner woke having a seizure. He fell off our bed onto the floor and continued to seize for a few minutes. This one was different. We knew it was. His postictal activity was really bad. We had cooled him down, gave him water, gave ice cream, meds—all the things we knew to do. The next day, Tanner went for a walk with my husband and did okay, but not his normal self. But, he pushed through and had fun with his dog friends that he walked with almost every day.”
Julie says, “Tanner loved those walks with his Dad. It was their special time. My husband never missed a walk, not for anything. They would go for as many walks as they could – it was their special bonding time! Tanner never needed a leash, he never left us - ever. He just wanted to be with his people - he was so special.”
Those moments are absolute treasures. While we all work to help our Epi-dogs live the best life possible—and they truly do—you never know if, or when, another seizure will strike, and that is the big unknown that is the deep emotional tug on caregivers.
“That next evening, Tanner started vomiting - a lot,” recalls Julie. “He was shaking and was just ‘off.’ He couldn't seem to get comfortable. He would lay down for no more than a minute or two before getting up and moving to a different location or a different position. Again, each time only for a few minutes at most. He was uncomfortable and scared, you could see it in his sweet eyes. One time, he even hid in the back corner of our spare bedroom under the bed. He had never done this. He doesn't even go in that room, ever. We knew it was bad. The next morning after being up all evening with him, we went to the vet. I don't think I fully knew what was going to happen that day, I was in denial. But I also knew our boy was suffering—he was hiding, and he was definitely not okay."
"At this point, Tanner was taking a total of 11 pills a day. 11 pills," notes Julie. "He took them like a champ every time, no problem. He was such a good boy! He trusted us, he loved us, and he deserved to be put at peace while we could do it with his dignity. My heart was broken as I sat on the vet floor hugging him. He laid his head on my chest, and let out a big sigh. I knew he was done. He was tired. I can't even type this without crying...my husband and I stayed with him till the very end. Tanner was our boy, and he was the best boy.”
“No matter where I was sitting, he was next to me. He would kiss my face at least 100 times a day, but wouldn't give kisses to anyone else. He was a momma’s boy through and through. Until it was Daddy's turn!" ~Julie Woznac
“Tanner was by the far the best dog we have ever witnessed,” says Julie. “My husband and I, and now our daughter, have always had a dog in our life. Tanner surpassed any dog we ever had loved before. All dogs are blessings, but Tanner was special. I truly believe he was our ‘soul dog.’ He was meant to be ours, epilepsy and all. We keep telling ourselves, we didn't let him go, epilepsy took him. And it did. It robbed our boy of the full life he so much deserved. I am so beyond angry, and feel completely unsettled with our decision to let him go. He should still be here with us at least for another five years. Tanner left us right before his sixth birthday.”
Julie and her family have so many good memories of their beloved Tanner. Those memories will carry on his legacy. “No matter where I was sitting, he was next to me,” Julie fondly recalls. “He would kiss my face at least 100 times a day, but wouldn't give kisses to anyone else. He was a momma’s boy through and through. Until it was Daddy's turn! Then they would run errands together, walk, play ball in the yard. Tanner loved his orange Chuck-It ball more than life. He would chase it for hours, running back-and-forth, taking a break to lay in the grass in between. He loved the water. We had an above-ground pool that we got a dog ramp and stairs for, just for him. His own entrance/exit to the pool where he would jump in over and over again. He was so fun.”
“I can't get over that he is not with us anymore. We cry daily, and talk about him all the time. Our daughter misses playing with him and she misses the sound of his tags on his collar, the tags that we added so we always knew where he was, just in case! We are lost. Our world has been shattered. We will never be okay without Tanner, but we will treasure the time we had—five amazing years.”
Epi-Dogs Rock!
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.
Return to FiveSibes Main Menu & #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library HERE!
💜
Get my book featuring beautiful Epi-dogs across the world:
Follow FiveSibes on Social Media!Click on the logos below to go to some of our pages!
Comments
Post a Comment