Once again, please know this post is NOT to alarm anyone. It's just another informational post for
awareness for dogs who live with seizures and/or Canine Epilepsy. Some Epi-dogs (dogs with epilepsy) are affected by lunar, solar, and a myriad of atmospheric changes, and it can possibly trigger a seizure before, during, and even after an event. Other Epi-dogs may not be affected at all.
According to an article over at CNN Science, "The wolf moon, the first full moon of the year, will ring in
2026, gracing the sky this weekend, but the lunar event will make the
Quadrantid meteor shower a bit harder to spot. The silvery orb will start to look large in the sky around
New Year’s Eve and will reach peak illumination at 5:03 a.m. ET
Saturday, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. The day before January 3 and the day after, the moon will
appear full,” said Noah Petro, chief of NASA’s Planetary, Geology,
Geophysics and Geochemistry Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, Maryland." Plus, according to Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for the
American Meteor Society, "The Quadrantids (meteor shower) will reach peak activity from 4 to 7 p.m. ET Saturday." (Today).
Naturally, all of these events are a great distance away, however, sometimes atmospheric changes and lunar phases can affect some Epi-dogs.
Again, as I've stated in previous posts, I want to reiterate that this is not to sound the alarm bell...but, with this combined phenomena going on,
it *could be* another reason why some sensitive Epi-dogs may *possibly*
display some behaviors indicative of seizure activity. And yes, there are some Epi-dogs who are very sensitive to these types of events.
"There is, in fact, anecdotal evidence revealing changes in animal
behavioral dating back over 700 years. There is so much we, as
scientists, do not yet understand about the interactions of the solar
system and it’s effects on the animal kingdom, however in my opinion,
there is a direct correlation.”
~Meaghan Callahan, DVM, MS, CVA;Veterinarian and Acupuncturist
I'm
sharing this information so other Epi-dog caregivers and keep an eye
out, and as I always say: Stay CALM, but always be PREPARED. And if you are finding yourself stumped as to why your dog is having seizures, this could possible be an explanation. Always best to check with your vet and/or vet neurologist.
According to the National Library of Medicine in the Lunar phases and seizure occurrence: just an ancient legend? paper, "The authors retrospectively reviewed all neurologic records of an
emergency unit from 1999 to 2003 to identify a potential association
between lunar phases and seizure occurrence. Overall 859 patients
admitted for seizure occurrence were divided into the four quarters of
the synodic month according to moon phases. A significant clustering of
seizures around the full moon period was observed, supporting the
ancient belief of periodic increased seizure frequency during full-moon
days.
While
the effects of such lunar activity seems to be debatable, people who
have Epi-dogs that have been triggered know different. According to Meaghan Callahan, DVM, MS, CVA, a Veterinarian and Acupuncturist at Pebble Creek Animal Hospital in Tampa, Florida, stated in an article in Heavy.com, "There is, in fact, anecdotal evidence revealing changes in animal
behavioral dating back over 700 years. There is so much we, as
scientists, do not yet understand about the interactions of the solar
system and it’s effects on the animal kingdom, however in my opinion,
there is a direct correlation,” Dr. Callahan explained.
Simply
put, just keep an eye out for your Epi-dog's behavior. You know your
dog best. Have your Epi-First Aid Kit with rescue meds and calming aids
handy, as well as your dog's cool packs, and cooler beds and collars. If
you detect any seizure activity, do your protcol and contact your vet/vet neurologist.
What's in your Epi-dogs First Aid Kit?
Click on image above for our recommendations!
Better To Be Prepared is our Motto!
Hopefully, your Epi-dog will rest peacefully by the light of the silvery moon, and not be disturbed by any of this phenomena. ~DWR
Other FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong Articles You May Wish to Read (click on images to go to the article)...
For
more information on Canine Epilepsy, including more articles, videos,
podcasts, and veterinary information, please visit my always free #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library.
For more info & to see the stops on my Wolfie, What Is The Rainbow Bridge? virtual book tour, check HERE!
I hope everyone gets through without any episodes.
ReplyDeleteIt's smart to be prepared. After all, the sun wakes us in the morning, so it's obvious we are affected by it in this major way, why can't there be much more minor ways we're affected by other celestial phenomena?
ReplyDelete