NEW! Canine Epilepsy Resources & Epil-K9 List ARCHIVES


 September 2024

Greetings! If you are looking for the Canine Epilepsy Resources website (www.canine-epilepsy.com), you have come to the right place - in a matter of speaking! Let me explain...the Canine Epilepsy Resources, home of the (very helpful and supportive) Epil-K9 E-mail list was recently offline. The co-founder, Marion Mitchell, has retired, and is no longer able to maintain the site. In order to save the valuable information shared on that site for the caregivers of dogs with epilepsy (Epi-dogs), I have received permission to begin migrating as many files as I can to become parked here and become part of our FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library. While we were discussing the future of CER, one of the board members has secured the website for another five years, which is wonderful! This gives us time to begin migrating some of the info here, and the plan is before the five years is up, most of the information contained on that website will be housed here for anyone to read (and always free of charge). 
 
While this is a blog and this is an "archive," you will need to scroll down to read the various articles. This will be evolving as time goes on and I migrate more of the information over, but I will be sure to keep you informed of additions/changes. 
 
If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to ask! And, you can always check out the website (www.canine-epilepsy.com), which will stay online definitely for the next five years.
 
Happy Reading!
 
 

Welcome to the Canine Epilepsy Resource Center ARCHIVES

 and Home of the EPIL-K9 List!

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

This website was designed to provide information and support to those who love and care for an epileptic dog (or cat). It is scary to watch your pet have a seizure whether it be a full blown tonic clonic (grand mal), a petit mal or something in between. You feel helpless as an owner and just want to help your pet. The information on this site is provided to do just that. Please use the links on the left and the right to navigate this site.

About the EPIL-K9 All Breed Canine Epilepsy List

Epil-K9, The All Breed Canine Epilepsy List was founded in 1996 by Alicia Wiersma-Aylward. It is now co-owned and managed by: Marion Mitchell, Chris Desmedt, Alisa Arnoff, Jeanette Tunstall, Kathy Linder, Anne Pelagatti and Jean Collinson. The purpose of Epil-K9 to is to discuss canine epilepsy and seizures. List members are encouraged to ask questions and/or give information on these disorders according to their experiences. However, suggestions and advice found here are not to be misconstrued as an alternative to personal, professional veterinary care. This forum has been designed to provide a warm, welcoming environment to anyone with a seizuring dog or is interested in this health problem. It is also designed to educate and inform us, so we may better deal with seizures in our animals. Therefore, we strive for a friendly atmosphere of mutual cooperation and understanding. We are a large and very active list, with members from over 20 countries. In addition EPIL-K9, is very fortunate to have veterinarians, including leading veterinary specialists in canine epilepsy on the list sharing their knowledge with us. We hope that you will find the information contained in these pages helpful and informative.

Emma's Memorial Fund

This page and the Canine Epilepsy Resource site is dedicated to the memory of Emma, Marion's beloved Dalmatian who disappeared from her yard with the gate closed on the evening of March 20th 2007 never to be seen again. She was almost 14. For many years she was known throughout the world as the "Face of Canine Epilepsy" Even though she is now part of the universe, her light still shines into the dark corners of Canine Epilepsy. Dearest Emma you will never be forgotten. You will live on through this site forever.
 
The Neurology Dept of the Vet School at North Carolina State University (Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab) has set up a Memorial fund for Emma called "Emma's Fund. The fund is used to help the neurology and genetics dept with small research projects on the topic of canine epilepsy or to purchase pieces of equipment toward that research.

Donation Information

If you wish to make a donation to Emma's Fund, this is the ONLY way. 

]Make the check out to: NCVMF - Emma's Fund and address the check to:

Dr. Karen Munana/Julie Ann Nettifee 
College of Veterinary Medicine 
Department of Clinical Sciences; Lab B236 
North Carolina State University 
1060 William Moore Drive 
Raleigh, NC  27607

Information about Emma's Memorial Fund

2019 Update from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Clinical Sciences about Emma's Fund

2018 Update from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Clinical Sciences about Emma's Fund

2015 Update from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Clinical Sciences about Emma's Fund

2011 Update from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Clinical Sciences about Emma's Fund

Article from the Fall Issue, Magazine for the NCU College of Veterinary Medicine

Reports from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine:

Also here is a link to the on going clinical trials: https://cvm.ncsu.edu/research/clinical-trials/list/?specialty=neurology

What's Wrong With Gibson?

Awarded "Best in Print" in 2012 - 2019 2by AmericanPet Magazine

Dorothy Wills-Raftery, owner and author of the FiveSibes™, has written a children's book explaining Canine Epilepsy. The book is called What's Wrong With Gibson? and is available for $10.95 + S&H. This is the first book in a series of books featuring the FiveSibes™. From the website: The FiveSibes™ Tales are a collection of beautifully illustrated short story books about the lives of five Siberian Husky dogs living and learning together. These are short, easy to read stories beautifully illustrated with fun characters that will appeal to the child in everyone!

A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to support Canine Epilepsy research, information & valuable resources through 
The Canine Epilepsy Resources.

For more information and how to order the book.

 


EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy

 
Independent Press Award for "Excellence"
in Reference Book Category,  New York City Big Book Award for "Excellence" in Animals/Pets Book Category, Named BEST IN PRINT 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 by AmericanPet Magazine & Named “TOP DOG BOOKS 2015" by Talent Hounds 
 
Author Dorothy Wills-Raftery, owner of the FiveSibes™ and host of "The Sibe Vibe" Dog Works Radio show, has written a second book on canine epilepsy. The book is called EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy and is available for a limited sale price of $39.95 + S&H. (Retails for $49.95).EPIc Dog Tales is a collection of truly inspiring and heartfelt stories about dogs who have lived/are living with canine epilepsy and how they do not let seizures get in their way of living life to the fullest. The book also contains a  valuable library of online resources and information available to help navigate the sometimes stormy waters of canine epilepsy.

A portion of proceeds from the book will be donated to support canine epilepsy research, information & valuable resources through the Canine Epilepsy Resources, Epil-K9 Foundation, and NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine Neurology Department.

For more information and how to order the book. 


 

PODCASTS


The Sibe Vibe Welcomes Marion Mitchell from Canine Epilepsy Resources 

Join the host of The Sibe Vibe Podcast, Dorothy Wills-Raftery as she interviews Marion Mitchell of the non-profit Canine Epilepsy Resources.

On this episode Dorothy and Marion have an in-depth discussion about all things relating to canine epilepsy including: the types of seizures, the treatments–both holistic and medications, the importance of diet, quality of life for Epi-dogs and some of the alternative treatments available for dogs with this disease. Marion also discusses Emma's Fund, the Canine Epilepsy Resources website, and the Epil-K9 support list.

(Release date 11/11/12). 

 

 

The Sibe Vibe Welcomes Dr. Karen Munana, Professor of Neurology at NCSU

The following episode of The Sibe Vibe Podcast may be of interest as it has mentions of Canine Epilepsy Resources, Epil-K9 List, and Emma's Fund, and features Dr. Karen R. Muñana, Professor of Neurology, veterinarian, and author of over 70 works on veterinary neurology; and Julie Ann Nettifee Osborne, a Licensed Veterinarian Technician with Neurology specialty, and author; both from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine's Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab


(Release date 11/2014)

Section Updated: 9/28/2024


 


How to Join the EPIL-K9 Email List


Send an e-mail to LISTSERV@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM with a blank subject header and the following in the body of the message

  • SUBSCRIBE EPIL-K9 then, your first name and last name. We must have BOTH names otherwise we cannot subscribe you.
  • Once you have been subscribed, you will receive a list of instructions on how to post messages and other commands. Please keep them in a mail box in your electronic mail program, you will need them to manage your subscription.
  • Epil-K9 is truly an extended family giving hope, help and support to its many members.

Please Note: This is a very large and active list and it generates a lot of mail. You may prefer to set your subscription to "digest" so that you can read the posts at your leisure. We have just added interactive archives. This will now allow members to do searches and also to manage their subscription very easily. For those of you who are not members of Epil-K9 you can also join the list using this Web interface.


Here are the basic commands a list member needs to manage their subscription:
 

To send mail to all the people subscribed to the list, send mail to:

EPIL-K9@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM 

*Never* send anything except correspondence to EPIL-K9. Any subscription options (commands) you need to use (unsubscribe, digest, etc.) *must* be sent to the listserver, at Listserv@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM. More on commands below.

You may leave the list at any time by sending a SIGNOFF EPIL-K9 command to LISTSERV@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM

 

OTHER USEFUL COMMANDS

For all of them, you must send an email to LISTSERV@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM Leave the subject line blank and put the appropriate command in the body of the message. Do not type anything after the commands. If you have a signature file, disable that feature before sending your message or your commands may not take effect. Type ONLY the words which are NOT enclosed in parentheses.

HELP: (Gives you basic commands)

SET EPIL-K9 DIGESTS (You will stop receiving each message at the time it is sent to the List, and will instead receive a daily log from the List containing all the individual messages. You will still be able to post at any time. This saves diskspace.)

SET EPIL-K9 NODIGESTS :(You will resume receiving individual messages instead of the daily log)

SET EPIL-K9 NOMAIL: (Temporarily suspends your mail while you are on vacation, busy, etc. Please do not use this option indefinitely. Unsubscribe if you are no longer interested in receiving EPIL-K9 mail)

SET EPIL-K9 MAIL :(Resumes your temporarily suspended mail, whether individual or digests)

CHANGE EPIL-K9 new-address: (To change your email address. In this situation (you changing it yourself), you must send the command from your old address and of course your new address must already be established)


Epil-K9 Policy Statement

The purpose of the Epil-K9 list is to provide a clearing house for ideas and commentary on problems we face dealing with canine epilepsy. It is not the function of the list and/or its owners to promote any veterinary practices, protocols or procedures. Any veterinary medical advice should be dispensed only by a professional vet. The giving of canine health care advice is beyond our competence and training. In the past,we have allowed promotions to be advertised on the list for organizations that provide advice and information with regard to specific canine health care/medical issues. We should endeavor to divorce and sever any connection that our list has with such organizations and eliminate any promotion or advertisement of these organizations on our list. By doing so, we can insulate the list, its owners and members from any liability and/or legal fees which the list may suffer as a result of a perceived legal connection between our list and these organizations.List members are perfectly free to join in and take part in any private communication concerning such veterinary medical issues. We, as list owners, simply cannot endorse any veterinary medical procedures or organizations promoting same.

List Owners:- Marion Mitchell, Chris Desmedt, Kathy Linder, Jeannette Turnstall, Jean Collinson and Anne Pelagatti.

Page last update: 08/19/2019/Migrated to FiveSibes 9/28/2024

All of the articles on this site are the intellectual property of the author please do not copy photos or text without permission. ©1996-2024 Canine-Epilepsy Resources. Permission granted to FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong to replicate. 


 

 


Popular posts from this blog

Why A Purple Pumpkin for Howloween? Plus, A Gibson Howloween Coloring Page!

Image
FiveSibes #Flashback Photo ~ Gibson & His Purple Pumpkin ~ 2014 W oo! Or, should I say Booooo! It's that time of the year when pumpkin hunting and carving is fun thing to do! And, while we are all busy carving and displaying our artworks on the gourds, did you remember to make a purple pumpkin?  "Woo! What's in my purple pumpkin? Treats?!"  ~Gibson/FiveSibes       A Purple pumpkin? What?! If you've been a FiveSibes follower, you know how important the color of purple is to us, and why Purple Pumpkins are a staple here.If you are new to us here at FiveSibes, I initially joined in the Purple Pumpkin Project because we made our pumpkin purple for my Epi-dog Gibson. So, you might be asking yourself, Why was Gibson's pumpkin purple? For Canine Epilepsy Awareness!  You can read more about it in our video further down in this post, or by visiting a previous explanatory post HERE.   Follow the Purple Pumpkin Project on Facebook! In a pumpkin shell—as m...
Read more

Acupressure and Ice to Relieve Seizures and A #LiveGibStrong Epi-Tip

Image
*Updated March 2022   Our Vet-Approved FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong  "Cooling Down an Epi-Dog: Where Do I Put Cold Packs?" Informational Poster   Poster Is A Great Resource for:     ✔︎ Veterinarian Offices ✔︎ Vet ER  Hospitals ✔︎ Rescues & Shelters ✔︎ Dog Wardens & Animal Control Officers ✔︎ Trainers ✔︎ Groomers ✔︎ Dog Walkers  ✔︎ Dog Parks  ✔︎ Pet Supply Stores & Boutiques ✔︎ Dog Friendly Businesses ✔︎ Police Departments ✔︎ Fire Departments   To request FREE* printed copies, simply send an Email with #Paws4Purple Materials in Subject line and what you'd like copies of and how many, to: Debra@AKFUS.org  of the Purple Day® Every Day as Presented by The Anita Kaufmann Foundation    For More Info on Canine Epilepsy, Please Visit Our #LiveGibStrong Online Library & Resource Page HERE.   Here's a great tip, diagram and explanation from Tallgrass Acupuncture Institute as to why ice on certain acupressure poin...
Read more

#PrayersForHarley - Dewclaw Tumor

Image
Dewclaws. Such an unnecessary evil for a dog. In August, I noticed Harley limping. At 11-and-a-half, she is a bit stiff-legged at times from arthritis, but this was a more pronounced limp and she was having an extra tough time sitting down. She seemed very uncomfortable. She was also becoming a bit snarley, especially when I was touching her paw, which is something that never typically bothers her. Upon further checking, I noticed an odd lump around her dewclaw on her right leg, thinking it was possibly a pulled dewclaw, maybe a splinter, thistle, or even a bee sting , she became extremely agitated when I touched it.    (Warning: some photos may be somewhat graphic, but I am sharing for educational purposes).   Oddity beneath the dew claw.   Off to the vet we went. At the vet, Harley is protective of her paw by hiding it . Harley's paw was shaved and it uncovered a very large inflamed area surrounding the dewclaw and beyond, as you can see in ...
Read more

The Rainbow Bridge Welcomes A New FurAngel - Buddy, the Christmas Husky - A Forever Symbol of Hope for Rescued Dogs

Image
Original photo by and courtesy of Lisa Byrd; modified by FiveSibes The Rainbow Bridge must be some (p)awesome place to be for it has so many amazing, beautiful angel animals there. My beloved Gibson is there. As is my Chelsey, Sandy, kitty Smokie, bunny Sunny, my fox Ah, many horses, and so many others pets. We have many furfriends who have also crossed The Rainbow Bridge. All of these beloved animals are there...so healthy and happy, with all the dogs enjoying their zoomies and playing Fetch all day in a land that is eternally beautiful. Sounds perfect. Only catch is when our devoted companions are there, we can no longer physically be with them. So while they are in a place where the spirit soars, our hearts are broken as we are missing them here with us. It is a hurt we all as pet parents now way too well.  And today, as unbelievable as it seems as I write this, we have to bid a final farewell to another dear furpal, Buddy, the Christmas Husky , who has now earned h...
Read more

Fit For Our #FiveSibes Alpha Queen: Celebrating Harley's 14½ Birthday

Image
Born on March 10, 2005, our beautiful alpha queen, pupster surrogate momma, and my daughter's and our first Siberian Husky,  turns 14½ today! You may be wondering why are we celebrating her half birthday? Because, as heartbreaking as it is, we now know she will not be here in March to celebrate her 15th Birthday as I once had hoped. Heartfelt thanks to Ann at Zoolatry for this beautiful badge. Thank you all who are sharing it and joining paws for our girl. As amazing and strong as our queen has been, and how proud I have been of how she still could outrun Pupsters Wolf and Bandit, still splash in her pool like a puppy, tear up a dog bed like there's no tomorrow, and chase her tail until the sun sets, our beloved Husky leader has also been dealing with health issues that we have been treating, but are now slowing her down and, heartbreakingly we are preparing ourselves for her journey, that we as pet parents all dread, to the Rainbow Bridge.  “Dogs' lives a...
Read more