As you may know, canine epilepsy hit very close to home for me. The beautiful black standard poodle, affectionately known as the ‘Ninja’ aka Elsa, came into my life last September. Two weeks after her adoption, this beautiful girl started having seizures. She was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy which means the vet isn’t sure what is the cause. A strong factor as to why she started seizing most likely would be genetic as she was a puppy mill survivor and her lineage is uncertain. Initially it was a little tricky getting the right dosage of anti-seizure medication with CBD oil but I am happy to report that she has been seizure free since late May {knock on wood}. Having a dog with seizures can be a terrifying thing to witness. Even with treatment it’s no picnic in the park and I knew there would be some challenging days. Despite a few hiccups along the way this past year, Elsa is living a full and normal life (just ask her brother who it seems she just loves to torture. Sam: “Mom she’s touching me again!”) Her treatment is specific, can be expensive at times and must be administered at the same time twice a day but it’s been totally worth it for the joy she brings.
Elsa’s condition has inspired me to learn as much as I can about canine epilepsy and I am grateful for loads of online information from our friends at Knotty Toys for Good Dogs and Five Sibes who provide amazing resources. Remember epilepsy is not a death sentence by any means and having the right information is critical in treating it. There are various epilepsy websites including Canine-Epilepsy as well as generalized info found at the Epilepsy Foundation for educating oneself if it ever happens to you or your pet. I’ve certainly learned a lot since that first seizure and hope, with proper nutrition and the right balance of medication, the Ninja can live a long and happy life. If chewing on eyewear is any indication of happiness, she’s in hog heaven since another pair bit the dust earlier this week. #OhThatDog!
Still I love her to pieces and every day I can witness her enjoying a happy life makes me smile. I know, hard to believe this innocent face is such a pill!
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Monika, it’s great that you could educate people better about epilepsy and help take some of the fear out of it. My cousin’s child has severe epilepsy and it’s so unpredictable and they love their little boy so much. It’s such a hard road and yet they make the most of life and try to stay upbeat. More needs to be done to get the word out.
xx Rowena
Thank you, Rowena. This is the fourth dog I’ve had with it (though the first two were in childhood). Having two nephews who also suffer, the continuing research gives me hope for the future for both humans and dogs.
Elsa embodies the definition of lucky dog!
She seems to have won the doggie lottery for everything except in the big brother category. 😇
Thank you for spreading the work, I’m glad you have Elsa and she has you.
I’m so happy for you that the meds are working and Elsa has been doing so well!
It’s been such a relief for me too. I just want her to have a good life as a loved dog. 💜
I really didn´t know that dogs could have epilepsy… Thank you for sharing this postwith us… Information and raising awareness are always key factors when it comes to illness or chronic conditions. Elsa is a brave, beautiful dog!…. Sending love & best wishes <3
Thank you. And yes dogs AND cats can be afflicted. Luckily it’s treatable and they can live mostly normal lives. Elsa is a sweetie that deserves a good life after her puppy mill start.
So glad to hear that Elsa hasn’t had an episode since May! That’s fantastic! She is so lucky that you adopted her and are taking such good care of her. Sorry about the eye glasses. Tippy chewed mine up when she was a puppy – my fault though. I left them laying on a bench outside where they were easy pickin’s.
Dooley Wilson sang “Knock On Wood” in my all-time fave Bogie movie, Casablanca. When I sing along, I do knock on wood – and I don’t mean my head 😂 – so I’ll keep doing it, for Ninja Elsa. Six months is great! One day at a time, but Shadow and Ducky send POT🐾 that it keeps going.
Our challenge furkids teach us so much, don’t they?! It’s impossible to not love them.
Thanks for the well wishes. They both give life such meaningful lessons on so many fronts, even as we take it one day at a time. 😍
OMD, that is so pawsome you’ve been seizure free since May! I am thankful that so much more is known now abouts k9 epilepsy, and there are new medications and treatments now. CBD oil has been a very impawtent addition to lots and lots of ailments for both k9’s and humans!
Sendin’ you guys some AireZens in support and loves….oh, and if you have some cookies…..
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
Many thanks for the AireZen support. We will happily accept any and all good energy. As for cookies…we have a simple new recipe coming soon. Nom, nom!
Mee-you Lady Monika what a wunderful post about Eppylepsy. Mee not know 4 leggedss can have ‘seizeyss’ so mee leerned a lot today! Elsa lookss furabuluss an mee finkss yur care iss doin thee trick an thee meddysin all so.
When LadyMum an mee red thee ‘knock on wood’ werdss, LadyMum knocked on her head, mew mew mew…..now THAT was funny!
An mee-yowin about ‘seizeyss’; LadyMum has onlee had 1 of them this month (*knock on wood*).
***nose kissesss*** Siddhartha Henry xxx
Trust me, I knocked on my noodle when I typed it! Sounds like your mum is improving too. That’s good news.
Wishing the best for Elsa! She is blessed to have you and you are blessed as well! 🙂 You just gotta love that face, even if she is a pill! LOL!
Precisely. She’s a real stinker some times but makes my heart sing.
🙂
When I first moved to Idaho in the early seventies we had a large dog with epilepsy. I still remember laying on the floor with him trying to give him comfort when he would have a seizure. Thankful treatments have come a long way so dogs like Elsa can have a good life
We had cocker spaniels growing up and a few of them had seizures. It was terrifying and confusing to watch but thankfully there are now ways to help them with this disease.
Great post. Inherited disease–including serious neurological ones like epilepsy–is just one of the many reasons why puppy mills need to be banned.
Thank you. And I couldn’t agree more. Until mills or eliminated, the genetic pool is going to be heartbreakingly shallow with more dogs like Elsa will end up passing all those horrible genes along to their offspring.
It is a tragic situation, so glad to see more and more cities are taking legislative action on this issue.
Now if they will just enforce legislation, it’ll make a real difference in the quality of lives of many pets.
Yes, that’s half the battle…
Elsa is so lucky to have found her way to you and Sam!
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
I’m sure Sam would rue his luck, but I’m pretty grateful for the addition of this little Ninja.
We have a doggie friend who has been seizure free for over two years…medication and love.
Wow, that’s pawsome! The vet said if she had 2-3 a month she’d be happy! Good for your friend!
Very happy for you both. Keep the streak alive.
As for Sam, Kali advises to lodge yourself between the sofa and end table in such a way that your sister can only see your butt. Or crawl underneath the recliner while the leg support is raised. These two techniques have provided Kali with moderate protection from the incoming heat seeking missle we call Kloe. 🙃
Thank you for the well wishes. I’ve passed along your astute advice to Sam. He indicated his zip-a-dee doo-dah ‘wheels’ afford him enough shade to keep him from the jaws of death. That and a quick low growl seems to have served him well thus far. I laughed out loud at the ‘incoming heat seeking missile’ reference. What a pawfect description!
Does Elsa need a therapy parrot?
Only if they don’t mind being chewed on. On the plus side, she has a soft mouth, unless you’re a pair of glasses, then all bets are off. LOL
I am keeping my fingers crossed for Elsa [and you] that the medication will continue working.
Have a wonderful day,
Pit
Many thanks. I remain optimistic she will continue to do well on the current regime. 😄
And she doesn’t just enrich your life, she enriches the lives of those of us who get to read about her antics!
Aw…thank you. She’s such a knucklehead but I’m kind of biased.
Elsa is blessed to have a mama like you, truly, truly blessed!! xoxo
Can’t help with enjoy spoiling her and seeing how much she’s enjoying life these days.
I can’t believe the things we can learn to do if we take the time to be educated. I am so very happy that humanity has moved on from the time that owning a dog was just that, another belonging, something dispensable and although enjoyable, not quite worthy of the expense to maintain and provide over and above medial treatment. I am so proud to be part of this society of people that treat all lives like they are worthwhile.
Congrats to your Elsa for being proof that a bit of research and digging deep into our wallets can result in quality of life for another living being. Love that she is doing well on her meds!!!
We still have a long ways to go in educating uprights on animal rights but I think we may be moving in the right direction. Every bit of progress makes a difference in the life of some creature. With Elsa, I think the CBD oil has been such a ‘pawsitive’ addition and one that I hope will keep her liver properly functioning to process the Phenobarb safely.
Perfect!!! ❤️
Thank you, and it’s wonderful to hear the Ninja has been seizure-free since May. I know that makes your heart happy. (Can you believe tomorrow is December?)
It boggles the mind tomorrow begins December. WHERE did this year go?
hugs to Elsa and to all pups …it is important to spread the word, that having this disease is NOT the end of something it is the begin of a special thing…
There seem to be more pets with special conditions than ever before whereas in the past they may have been put to sleep. They can lead full and happy lives that in term make our lives that much more enriched.