It's Our 11th Annual #LiveGibStrong Purple Day®️ for Epilepsy Awareness Blog Hop & Media Share to #GoPurple
Woo! Today is THE day—Purple Day® for Epilepsy Awareness worldwide. A day when we #GoPurple to bring awareness to epilepsy in all forms and show the world it's not something to be feared and highlight important information and amazing success stories of those living with epilepsy and seizures. Here, at FiveSibes, we're about dogs, so we will be discussing Canine Epilepsy and hoping to turn social media purple in honor of all Epi-dogs, humans, cats, rabbits, and even horses who live with epilepsy.
Join
us - it's simple! Have your pet wear something purple like a bandana or collar, or bake
something purple (like a purple dog treat for your pup and purple cupcakes or cookies for the humans!), or create a piece of purple
artwork, turn a photo purple, whatever you like...then you can go to the
bottom of this post and link it up! Simply scroll down to the end of this post and you will see the blog hop and media share link will be under the badge. Simply click on it and follow the simple instructions to link up and your thumbmnail will then appear in the list. You can also share your links and purple pic under the Purple Day post on our FiveSibes: Siberian Husky K9 News & Reviews Facebook Page!
.gif)
Watch our video below for details on what this special day is all about.
What's New For Purple Day 2026?
Each year, I love to launch some new piece of information, video, podcast, book, etc. This year, it's all about helping to raise funds for The Wally Foundation~Canine Epilepsy (TWF). TWF is a non-profit organization that offers possible financial assistance to families who may be having a difficult time with finances for medications and tests so needed by dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy.
For those who share life with dogs on medication, getting them to take it can sometimes be tricky! With Epi-dogs, they often times have many medications to take daily, and sometimes they flat out refuse, or spit up the pills and/or capsules, only to be discovered at a later date. That can be a real fright for the caregiver, and could trigger a seizure for the dog.
So this year, I'm thrilled to say that we've joined with Husky Coffee Company to present "Gibson Coffee" - a limited time fundraiser benefitting The Wally Foundation! If you missed my previous post on this, please click HERE to read more about it!
For a limited time, you can order GIBSON'S COFFEE and Husky Coffee Company will DONATE $5 from each bag, and $15 from each subscription to The Wally Foundation! I want to give a heartfelt "thank woo" to Oliver of Husky Coffee Company for making the special blend of Gibson's Coffee and joining me in K9 Epilepsy Awareness!
I also want to sent out a "thank woo" to BJ Fox who created the lovely handmade purple awareness ribbons, and these beautiful purple pillow and quilt sets for me! Sorry-Not-Sorry, I am so keeping and cherishing the one featuring my beloved Gibson! (The other we will raffle off at a later date, most likely in November for Epilepsy Awareness Month, to raise funds for Epidogs in need!)
One of BJ's purple ribbons (see below) is part of our special Giveaway pack! For details see bottom of post!
.gif)
You can get lots of in-depth information in my FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong Library, but here are a few tips on what to do if your dog has a seizure:
- Remain Calm. Watching your dog go into a seizure is very alarming. As difficult as it is, it is important--for you and your dog--that you remain clam before, during, and after a seizure.
- Secure Other Pets. When a dog goes into a seizure, keep other family dogs/peets safely in another room to prevent confusion and that pet from possibly attacking the seizing dog out of fear.
- Use Caution. Keep hands and objects away from a seizing dog's mouth, as s/he may, during the involuntary movements, clamp down with his teeth and cause injury.
- Cool Down Your Dog. Post-seizure activity can drive up a dog's temperature to dangerous levels. Place ice/cool packs at the base of your dog's neck, on the spine (think between shoulder blades), under the "arm pits" of his legs, and on the belly. A cooler collar or wet bandana around the neck helps, as well as applying cool cool water to the paw pads. (Refer to my Cooling Down an Epi-Dog poster HERE.)
- Give a Small Snack. When a dog comes out of a seizure, give a little all-natural vanilla ice cream, or if none on hand or your dog is lactose intolerant, use honey, maple syrup, or corn syrup to help raise low blood sugar levels. Follow up with a protein, such as boiled chicken, tuna, stick of mozzarella cheese, spoonful of cottage cheese, etc. to help stabilize sugar levels (and avoid hypoglycemia).
- Water. Let your dog slowly drink sips of water.
- Safety Precautions. Post-seizure, a dog may experience temporary blindness. Be sure your dog is safely away from stairs and other potential hazards.
- Calm Reassurance. Your dog won't remember the seizure, but s/he most likely will come out of one confused. Love, gentle touches, soft words, and hugs will help reassure your dog that s/he is safe.
- Keep a Journal. Take notes, either in a notebook or on a digital app or videotape the seizure if possible. Mark down the date, time and length of seizure, symptoms, as well as what your dog was doing/eating/near prior to the seizure. Use these notes to help create a seizure log to share with your veterinarian.
- Go to the Vet! When the seizure is over, it is important to be sure to have your dog checked out by your vet to rule out any underlying health issues. Depending on the test results, your vet will make a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment.
- Create an Epi First Aid Kit. If you don't already have one, now is a good time to create on. (What to put in a kit is also in our library).
- Be Informed. Research all you can on Canine Epilepsy, seizures, possible triggers, medications, and alternative treatments so you can have a well-informed conversation with your vet about your dog's care. A great place to start gathering information is from our FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Resource Library.
- Network. Connect with other Epi-dog caregivers for support and informational exchange.
- Download the Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab's brochure. (Click on image below).
Some past highlights of #LiveGibStrong Canine Epilepsy Awareness
💜I
began highlighting Canine Epilepsy Awareness on my new podcast "The Sibe
Vibe" aired on Dog Works Radio and iTunes. The episode on "Talking
Epilepsy" with Dr. Karen Muñana and Julie Nettifee, RVS, MS, VTS
(neurology) of The Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at North Carolina State University-College of Veterinary Medicine was nominated
for Award of Excellence by the Dog Writers Association of America!
💜#Paws4Purple was born!
In 2018, the human nonprofit The Anita Kaufmann Foundation (now the
Purple Day® Every Day, presented by The Anita Kaufmann Foundation)
invited me to have #LiveGibStrong be part of their organization and we created #Paws4Purple , an
initiative for
dogs with epilepsy. Available on the site are free informational bookmarks and handouts, with hard copies available upon request or to download. (1).png)
💜 In 2024, I wanted to discuss the wonderful caregivers of dogs epilepsy. I am proud of the Caring for the Epi-Dog & Caregiver: The Importance of Self-Care video done in partnership with the Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab. My Purple Day co-hosts also contributed to the video, that is chock full of important information for the Epi-dog caregiver. If you didn't catch it on YouTube or in previous posts of mine, you can view it below:
💜Last year for Purple Day 2025, I teamed up with Purple Day co-host, Tracy Smith, Epi-dog caregiver and administrator of GIBBS-erish...Making Sense of Canine Epilepsy Faceebook group to bring you our video slideshow on "Helpful Tips on Giving Your Epi-Dogs Medicine." We hope this will be helpful to many! You can view the video below:
💜Also in 2025, I wrote an article on grooming Epi-dogs...
a.jpg)
(click on image below to go to library)
🟣 A helpful item is having one of our FREE Epi-Dog First Aid Bookmarks I created in partnership with Purple Day® Every Day/The Anita Kaufmann Foundation. They are sturdy and beautifully printed and great to keep on hand to post on your fridge, on a bulletin board, in your Epi First Aid Kit, in your purse, with your pet sitter/walker, for your vet's office, at the animal ER, at your local rescue and animal control, etc. To request a supply of these sturdy and helpful bookmarks, simply Email Debra(at)akfus(dot)org and put #Paws4Purple Bookmarks in the subject line, or drop me an Email at: FiveSibesLiveGibStrong(at)gmail(dot)com (Remember to replace at and dot with @ and the . )
🟣 So if see a seizure happening, don't panic. Stay calm...and follow the protocols. For dogs (since FiveSibes is a K9 blog)...read my #LiveGibStrong Online K-9 Epilepsy Resource Library so you can be prepared should your dog ever experiences a seizure.
May all Epi-Dogs #LiveGibStrong!
.gif)
%20copy.gif)
💜It takes a community to help Epi-dogs and their caregivers, and we have a wonderful community!Thank You to all who read and share our posts.
Comments
Post a Comment