Really silly question...

[Rae1889]

I just read a post Bernard put up about a "seizure snake" and when I read the article they thought the snake could recognize a change in body temperature and probably the tremors start, even if they are small ones that we can't really feel.

So my question is how does a seizure dog work *hopefully Crystal11 reads this for some insight* DO they detect the seizure, or only help after you've started seizing? How are they trained exactly to do this? does someone lie on teh floor and pretend to fit, or do they wait until someone really does fit?

I am really bad at googling and all i could find is "My seizure dog," "I have a seizure dog" "pay to have you dog seizure trained" but nothing really answering the questions I have...

Also second question. Anyone heard of seizure cats? or whether one can be trained to be one?

I got 2 cats and want to put them to use...lol..for other than cuddling

 

[Bernard]

I am really bad at googling ...

Try the search function here on CWE (red link at top of the page in the menu bar). Most likely, the topic has been discussed here before and someone else has already done the Googling for you.

FYI:

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/tags/dogs.html

 

[Nakamova]

Not a silly question at all!

I don't think they know exactly what the dogs are responding to, but it seems that they are able to pick up on subtle chemical/physiological changes --tiny alterations in odor or movement -- anywhere from 45 to 5 minutes before an actual seizure.

And they dogs seem to have a protective instinct, that makes them want their owner to lie on the ground. Pretty cool.

 

[occb]

I'm sure your cats could be trained to detect seizures, I just don't know how you'd do it. Maybe there's information online about how seizure dogs are trained, and you can apply it to your cat-training methods.

One of cats is very sensitive to my partner's episodes. When he has mystery pain in his shoulders or neck, Morphy will come over and pat, lick or knead him on the exact spot where it hurts. He's also meowed loudly in my partner's face when he's had a crying or laughing fit (which is very unusual, since he's a quiet kitty), and patted and licked him when he's going through it. He may not be detecting changes beforehand, but he's very supportive during.

Edit: heh, go figure, there are online instructions for training a seizure alert dog.

 

[greatfulgirl]

Well I have a dog and 2 cats and when I am about to have a seizure my dog starts acting weird and I mean weird. She will nudge me and lick me and just try to get my attention and my cat pepper she will clime up into my lap and start meowing at me. I don't know if they can since it or what but my dog helps me up off of the floor if my husband is not around and I need help. I have worked with my dog to train her to do things like when I need help up. onder:

 

[Meetz1064]

OK, now

I KNOW I put up some links just the other day about seizure dogs, but for the living love of Pete, I can't remember what thread they're in. Hmmmm, let me think.....

Here, go to this post, and scroll down to #9:

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f36/how-live-alone-epilepsy-8088/

And yes, I do know of people that have trained their cats to do the same thing; I do not know of any programs that do it though.

Hope this helps some....

 

[skillefer]

Actually, there are two different types of dogs.
1) Seizure Assist dogs: These dogs are trained to assist the person having a seizure. This can be in the form of placing the person in the recovery position, staying with the person while they recover, getting help, carrying id and other items the person might need to help with recovery, etc.

2) Seizure Alert dogs: These dogs can supposedly notify a person if a seizure is about to start, and then assist them.

The only actual scepticism I've noticed is that there are some who question whether a dog or any animal can be trained to alert. for instance, I used to have 3 cats. Only 1 would act odd prior to a seizure. And that was not all the time.