Info

[Angela2011]

My name is Angela I am 37 and a mother two young children under three. Last three years my seizures have gotten really bad they have left me with bad injuries like broken teeth large bruises I don,t get any warning when I have an attack so things like Alarms with buttons are no good. having these seizures don,t help me as I have suffered from depression for six years on an off. I have taken my seizures on very busy roads and my children,s pram has roled away this has lefted scared to leave my home. I am trying to get something to help me had read about alert dogs but I was wondering would a normal dog work I mean I would need something that could be carried with my medical history alarms with buttons don,t work because I get no warning so the are useless to me. PleAse can someone give me some info please. I want to go out with my children but I am so scared. Please I don,t want to get killed plzz

 

[Fedup]

Angela2011

An alert dog sounds like what you want but do not give up, a normal dog as you put it might do the same job but its not a guarantee a lot depends on the bread of the dog you get, for example with young children I would recommend the likes of a cocker spaniel, they are bread for hunting but the temperament is ideal, just do not try to chastise the children in front of it. They can make a good seizure dog but it all depends.

 

[AlohaBird]

Hi Angela,
My seizure alert dog is in the picture with me in my sig.
I just found him by accident though. l didn't know he knew how to alert me until after I took him home. This ability is not something that you can train a dog to do. They either know it or they don't. You train them in how to behave in public and what to do to protect you while you are incapacitated by a seizure.
Any of the herding dog breeds tend to be good at being a medical alert dog, shepherd collie, etc. or a mutt with some of that in them like mine.
Contact your local Epilepsy Foundation. They may be able to help you locate a seizure alert dog. I have heard however that, depending on the location, there can be a long waiting list.
I hope you find a companion like my Valentino.

 

[valeriedl]

I don't get any sort of aura before a lot of my seizures.

I have a cat who will a lot of times know when I'm going to have a seizure. He'll follow me around the house meowing at me and he'll get on me and won't let me move. He won't let me up either until the seizure is over. He's a very big boy.

When I would get an aura and could feel one coming on he would do the same thing and it took me awhile to figure out that he actually knew when a seizure was coming on. He didn't do this right away when I was first diagnosed with epilepsy either, it was after a few years. I think it took him a little time to understand what was going to happen.

I can't say that a cat can be as good as a seizure dog because I don't take him into public places but he works pretty good for me at home.

 

[Cint]

I have "auras" before my seizures, but I don't have a seizure-alert dog. However, there are several websites that can direct you.

www.4pawsforability.org/seizure-assistance-dogCached

http://www.epilepsyadvocate.com/resources/seizure-response-dogs.aspx

And more info from the Epilepsy Foundation:

http://www.epilepsy.com/get-help/staying-safe/seizure-dogs

The term "seizure dog" covers a variety of activities associated with a service dog's response to an epileptic seizure. Some dogs have been trained to bark or otherwise alert families when a child has a seizure while playing outside or in another room. Some dogs learn to lie next to someone having a seizure to prevent injury. Others are said to be able to activate alarm systems. Dogs that are trained to respond in various ways when someone has a seizure are no different from service dogs for other disabilities. Public interest in seizure assistance dogs has fueled demand for dogs with these skills. Some people with epilepsy have found that trained seizure dogs help them with securing speedy assistance when a seizure occurs or alerting others for help. Dogs can be trained as service animals for people with seizures and the law protects a person's right to use the animal in any public place.

Read the Epilepsy Foundation's statement on Seizure "Predicting" Dogs and learn about the Rights of Individuals with Service Dogs