Hi furiends, it’s me—Dot. Your furbulous feline Queen  & devoted fursister to my angel fursister, Epilepsy Warrior Olivia, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge in February. I miss her snuggles & brave spirit every single day, but I pawmised her I’d keep sharing what we learned together to help other good dogs & their humans understand canine epilepsy better. So, today, we’re taking a sniff at some myths & misunderstandings about epilepsy in dogs.

In the last hundred years, there’s been wagnificent pawgress in understanding canine epilepsy—scientists & vets have learned a lot about what happens in the brain, developed effective anti epileptic drugs (AEDs), & found different ways to manage & even pawvent seizures. But despite all that pawgress, confusion still lurks, as Olivia would bark, like a sneaky squirrel.

Let’s Meow About a Few Impawtant Truths:

Canine epilepsy is not a death sentence.

Most dogs with epilepsy can live long, happy, tail-wagging lives with good seizure management.  Olivia was just a few months short of reaching 15 years young & living proof that a well-loved Epilepsy Warrior can have a pawtacular life filled with gratitude, joy, & dogventure. Our huMom always said Olivia was the Prettiest of All Pretties, & honestly; she will be always for us.

Epilepsy is a disorder, not a disease.

During a seizure, there is a sudden & abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain—often described as a brief “electrical storm”—which temporarily disrupts normal brain signalling, leading to the symptoms we see as a seizure. This is not an illness like an infection, but rather a neurological event where the brain’s wiring misfires for a short period; like a momentary storm.

Not all seizures are due to epilepsy.

Sometimes other health issues—like blood sugar problems, thyroid issues, head injury, or exposure to toxins—can cause seizures too. That’s why a proper vet evaluation is pawsitively impawtant.

Seizures aren’t painful.

Even though they can look scary to humans, we furleggers don’t feel pain during a seizure. What good dogs feel afterward is confusion or distress, so it’s essential to have a safe, quiet space ready; low on light & sound; so they can recover without hurting themselves. With that mewed, their muscles may hurt from a symptom of the postictal phase (the recovery period after a seizure).  This pain isn’t from the seizure itself, as seizures aren’t painful, but from the intense muscle activity & physical strain that occurred during the event. Symptoms like confusion, weakness, & unsteadiness are also common during this period & can make our Epilepsy Warriors seem sore.

Epilepsy Warriors don’t swallow their tongues.

Please, humans, keep your fingers away from a Epilepsy Warriors mouth during a seizure. They might bite without meaning to.

Epilepsy is rare in dogs.

While not extremely common, canine epilepsy is one of the most frequent long-term neurological disorders in good dogs, affecting anywhere from about 0.5% to 5% of the population, depending on the breed & region.​

Every seizure looks like dramatic convulsions.

Seizure types vary. A Epilepsy Warrior might have subtle symptoms like staring into space, twitching, or unusual repetitive movements, not just the “grand mal” type most humans imagine.

Sharing information & creating awareness is how we overcome these misunderstandings.

Jerry Underfoot just pawed me to include how impawtant accessibility to care & medication greatly impacts outcomes for Epilepsy Warriors; organizations like Wally’s Canine Epilepsy Foundation help bridge gaps for families struggling financially. That’s why we believe it is dog gone impawtant to support  Wally’s Canine Epilepsy Foundation in their mission to educate, inform & assist good dogs living with canine epilepsy.

Wally’s Canine Epilepsy Foundation also helps save the lives of canine epilepsy warriors every day by assisting those humans who through no fault of their own can not afford the life saving medications for their good dogs. Good dogs who might otherwise would be surrendered or worse, euthanized. A gift to WCEF gives hope to those epilepsy Warriors & their families who are not only battling the ‘epilepsy monster’ from a health standpoint but also financially.

Help support Wally’s Canine Epilepsy Foundation

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