You may be asking yourself,
“Why March?” March 26th is the International Purple Day® for Epilepsy originally created by Cassidy Megan in 2008, with the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia. The Anita Kaufmann Foundation (AKF), a nonprofit organization based in New York and global sponsor of Purple Day, has also launched Purple Day Every Day, because
Epilepsy awareness should be every single day.
“Purple (lavender) is the international color representing epilepsy awareness and we want everyone across the world to know.”
~The Anita Kaufmann Foundation
The
AKF helps to connect people with awareness initiatives, important resources, and various events around the world, as well as also leading the way in
sharing educational information on Epilepsy in dogs via their
#Paws4Purple partnership with this author’s
FiveSibes™ #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Awareness and Educational Campaign launched one year ago in an effort to help others who find themselves on a journey with a
dog that has seizures to
1) know they are not alone, and
2) to offer informational resources to help them navigate the unpredictable waters of Canine Epilepsy.
Today, there are a variety of treatments for
Canine Epilepsy ranging from the traditional to holistic and alternative.
The key is to do research on Epilepsy, seizures, medications, natural treatments, nutrition, and triggers so you can have an informed discussion with your vet regarding the best possible course of treatment for your Epi-dog.
Canine Epilepsy Clinical Trials
There are also clinical trials to enroll your Epi-dog in. Currently, a study led by Dr. Karen Muñana of the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSUCVM), Department of Clinical Sciences and Companion Animal Epilepsy has begun recruitment for their study, “Is Canine Epilepsy Associated with Gut Dysbiosis” in a project funded by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation.
An Invitation from NCSUCVM for Epi-Dogs to Participate From Home
The program recruitment, according to Julie Nettifee, NVT, BS, VTS (Neurology), is to “determine whether dogs with idiopathic Epilepsy have alterations in their gut microbial population. Our study team is looking for households with an epileptic dog and an unaffected dog to compare the bacterial populations within their gastrointestinal tract.” Fecal samples from both dogs will need to be collected and sent to NCSUCVM via pre-paid shipping.
Study Benefits
(FREE for participants)
-
Free fecal floatation to examine for parasites
-
All study materials, including shipping, will be covered by the study
- Participation will provide additional information about epilepsy that may help your dog or other animals in the future
Inclusion Criteria
- Households must have one dog with Epilepsy and one unaffected dog
- Epileptic dog must have presumptive diagnosis of Idiopathic Epilepsy based on seizure onset between six months and six years of age, and not be on seizure medication or be on phenobarbital alone
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Both dogs must not be on any other medications aside from monthly preventatives
- Dogs must be fed the same diet
How to Enroll Your Epi-Dogs in the Clinical Trial
Enrollment period runs through December 31, 2021. To enroll your dogs, or for more information and/or a flyer on the recruitment, email Julie Nettifee at: janettif@ncsu.edu.
