T oday is International Epilepsy Day! Each year, Epilepsy Day falls on the second Monday of February, and since February is the month of love, it is another perfect time to show a whole lot of love for our Epi-dogs (dogs with epilepsy)!      A little background for new readers. I have been a proud official Purple Day® for Epilepsy Ambassador (for K9 Epilepsy) since 2012, inspired by my own journey with my beloved, amazing Gibson who was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy shortly after his third birthday. Through all his trials come tribulations with epilepsy, he never let having seizures stop him from having such a zest for life! I learned so much from him, and loved him dearly. He was my heart dog. Gibson is the namesake for all of my awareness and educational initiatives, and when he earned his wings, he had lived the last 7 years of his life seizure free. He did not pass from epilepsy. He passed from hemangiosarcoma .   I also am very proud and honored that in 201...

Your dog just had a seizure. Or, maybe this is not the first one. The first thing always is to contact your veterinarian. If it is a first-time seizure, your vet may say "wait-and-see" if there is another.  This is a fairly common practice. Typically, a vet will need to run some tests, including bloodwork, and these are important in helping to diagnose and treat your Epi-dog.   Once you've contacted your vet, take some time to think about what your dog was doing or eating prior to the seizure. Was s/he outside? Inside? Did s/he go by any plants or in the garage? Was hot or cold out? Any construction going on? Was your dog sick lately or acting differently? Any new scents around, like a new room freshener or candle burning? What was s/he eating prior? All of these things are important to note so you can inform your veterinarian. The list of possible triggers or causes is staggering. And not all seizures are Canine Epilepsy.   The most important thing to do if your dog has...