Epilepsy Service Dogs Can Save Lives
Epilepsy service dogs are trained to assist individuals with epilepsy by providing support during and after seizures. They can be trained to alert their handler to an oncoming seizure, provide physical assistance during a seizure, and help with tasks like retrieving medication or a phone afterwards. Some dogs may even develop the ability to predict and react in advance to an oncoming seizure once they are placed with their recipient.
Why Epilepsy Service Dogs Can Sniff Out Seizures and How to Get One
As we recognize Service Dog Awareness Month this September, this webinar will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of the two types of epilepsy service dogs, seizure alert dogs and seizure rescue dogs. Additionally, viewers of this webinar can expect to learn more about:
🔬 the research that has been conducted on how and why seizure alert dogs are able to provide warnings to those living with epilepsy and their loved ones.
🐶 the potential for further research surrounding seizure alert dogs and their future role in seizure detection.
✏️ the next steps someone can take if they are interested in an epilepsy service dog for themselves or a loved one.
Speaker
Our presenter is Jennifer Arnold, who founded Canine Assistants, a service dog school located just north of Atlanta, Georgia, in 1991. In her work with Canine Assistants, Jennifer developed the Bond-Based Approach® to living with and loving dogs. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Through a Dog’s Eyes, In a Dog’s Heart, and Love Is All You Need and the creator of the We Leash®. She and her husband, Kent Bruner, DVM and their son, Chase, share their home in Milton, Georgia with a myriad of animal companions.
Moderator
Our moderator is Channing Seideman, the inaugural recipient of our Community Enrichment Program. The Community Enrichment Program, a partnership between CURE Epilepsy and UCB, Inc., aims to improve the lives of individuals with epilepsy by providing opportunities for professional skill development and meaningful employment.
Channing, who has spent the last year as an intern with CURE Epilepsy, has had an epilepsy service dog by her side since 2010. Her first companion was Georgie, a seizure-response dog, who walked her down the aisle at her high-school graduation. Her current canine companion, Bishop, is the great nephew of Georgie and is trained as a seizure-alert dog.
This webinar was made possible by UCB, the Community Enrichment Program Founding Partner.
Q&A Transcript
Is financial aid available to get an epilepsy service dog?
I don’t know about the specific grants for seizure alert dogs. At Canine Assistants we don’t charge at all for our dogs. And we will provide lifetime aftercare, upkeep, veterinary, food, even if necessary, if families need it.
So, it is fairly expensive to have a dog. I would advise you guys not to buy seizure alert dogs if you can help it. And if you do and it’s not working out for you, then reach out to me and I’ll help you fix it.
Because a lot of times when you purchase a service dog, what you’re getting is a dog who’s been well obedience trained. And I got to tell you, obedience doesn’t have squat to do with this. And in a lot of ways, I would say that the more obedient the dog, the less likely they are to spontaneously alert because they’re waiting for you to give them some directive, another reason that we decided to go bond-based.
But there are a lot of people out there. I know there are places that sell dogs to help people who have epilepsy, who are reputable. I have not had experience with any of those. I tend to have more experience with, “Help me, help me. I’ve spent $50,000 or even $20,000 on this dog and the dog won’t do anything.”
All right. So, really quickly, not on the list, but I need to tell you this. We have a homeschool program now. And so we will help people raise and educate their own dogs. You can do it.
Does insurance cover epilepsy service dogs?
Some insurance does cover dogs, but it’s incredibly rare. Incredibly rare. It’s worth reaching out to your provider and asking. Sometimes you can get them to cover upkeep, but you’re going to want…
And dogs of NEA, you’re going to want to, if something happens and you need help with veterinary care, et cetera, I mean, you’re going to want to be sure that you’ve got the money to do that or a program like ours to back you up.
And I have to say, in terms of raising money, social media is a brilliant place to go because dogs and people love dogs. And when you show an assistance dog in need, it’s possible to be able to raise the money for things that you need for a dog via social media.
Can I have other pets in the house if I apply for an epilepsy service dog?
Okay. Dogs of all ages can learn how to do this. There are programs that don’t want you to have other dogs in your home when you get a dog, an assistance dog.
We are not like that. They can absolutely live with pet dogs. As a matter of fact, I think it’s great for them to have a buddy. So, it just depends on the philosophy.
Ours is, that’s awesome. And they’re not going to get so distracted by the other dog that they don’t smell their smell, I promise. They just don’t work that way.
Can you tell us more about the process of getting a dog through Canine Assistance?
We provide dogs to people in every state. We have a pre-app that we ask you to fill out, really to see, okay, so I’m giving you inside information here. We need to know how comfortable you’re going to be with this bond-based approach, how old school you are in your thinking.
So, let that guide you as you answer the questions on the pre-app if you really need our help. Although, I encourage you to be honest with us because it’s the only way it’s really going to work. So, we are having great, we’re beta testing the homeschool program right now, but having great success with it.
So, we have a waiting list. Everybody has a waiting list. I mean, it can be, we evaluate each application based on how much the dog can do physically, socially, emotionally, and medically. And then that’s 50%. And the other 50% is how appropriate the placement is for the dog.
So, it’s not first come first serve. But I will tell you that even here, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. So, if you apply here and pester, don’t tell her I said this. No one send her a transcript, but our Recipient Services Coordinator, Nicole, call or email her, stay on her. Show that it’s a priority.
Are there particular dog breeds that work better than others as an epilepsy service dog?
Jennifer Arnold: All right. Even flat-nosed dogs like Boston Terriers, for example, can pick up the odor. My advice would be that you get a dog who is comfortable working with people. So you notice we use mostly retriever breeds and mixes because they’re not threatening to the public. They’re used to working side by side with people. They’ve got noses that are big enough and roomy enough to do a great job of scent detection.
The information contained herein is provided for general information only and does not offer medical advice or recommendations. Individuals should not rely on this information as a substitute for consultations with qualified healthcare professionals who are familiar with individual medical conditions and needs. CURE Epilepsy strongly recommends that care and treatment decisions related to epilepsy and any other medical condition be made in consultation with a patient’s physician or other qualified healthcare professionals who are familiar with the individual’s specific health situation.