Dogs that sense an epileptic seizure earlier than humans.
Sometimes help comes completely unexpectedly.
Not from a doctor. Not from a device. But from a dog.
Dogs that can warn of epileptic seizures are not a movie script, but a reality. Such dogs can warn their owner of an impending seizure. For some people, this is a life-changing experience: they feel more secure, they feel more confident leaving the house, and it is easier to travel or be around people.
However, there are still many myths surrounding this topic.
And the reality is more complicated than it might seem at first glance.
How a dog can sense an impending seizure
Scientists have found that before an epileptic seizure, certain biochemical changes occur in the human body. Specific volatile chemicals are released through the skin and breath. Humans cannot smell them. However, dogs can.
A study published in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior showed that dogs were able to distinguish the smell associated with an epileptic seizure from the normal human state with 93.7% accuracy.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505020308702
In some cases, the dogs responded even before the seizure began, with an average warning time of about 68 minutes.
Another study showed that even ordinary pet dogs that have never been specifically trained begin to change their behavior when exposed to a seizure-related odor.
This suggests that an epileptic seizure has a distinctive odor that dogs can recognize.
How a dog warns
Every dog signals differently, but it is usually a specific, repetitive action that the dog has been trained to do.
For example, a dog may:
to nudge the owner with the nose
to put a paw on a leg
to start whining
to prevent further progress
lie down next to
Some specially trained dogs can also:
press the help button
to invite other people
lie down nearby during a seizure to protect the person from injury.
Can any dog be taught this?
This is where the most important and honest part begins.
You can try to train a dog by reinforcing its reaction to certain smells or changes in a person's state. However, no trainer can guarantee that this will work.
Some dogs start to give warnings very accurately.
Some only occasionally.
And some never.
This is neither the coach's nor the host's fault.
It's just that not every dog has the necessary sensitivity for this.
A little bit from my experience
I have been working with dogs for many years - both as a breeder and as a trainer.
During that time, I had to participate in training various working dogs. For example, together with the team, we trained a guide dog that today helps a blind person. There were also projects with therapy dogs and a dog that learned to show when a person's blood sugar level rises.
Therefore, sometimes people ask if it is possible to try to train a dog to warn of epileptic seizures.
Sometimes, yes, you can try to work and train.
However, I always say very frankly right away: there can be no guarantees here.
Sometimes the result is very good.
Sometimes weaker.
Sometimes it doesn't work at all.
And a person should know this in advance so that they can make their own decision calmly.
Nutrition is also important
It's rarely talked about, but the physical and mental condition of a working dog depends heavily on nutrition.
Endurance, concentration and nervous system stability are directly related to a proper diet. Therefore, many trainers choose specialized feeds, such as
Link to Royal Canin Maxi Adult – for active larger dogs, helps maintain energy during training
Link to Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult – often used in raising and training Golden Retrievers
Royal Canin Maxi Puppy – helps develop the immune system and nervous system of a growing dog
Proper nutrition is not just about feeding.
This is part of the preparation for work.
The pros and cons of living with such a dog.
If everything goes well, such a dog can provide a person with something very important - a sense of security.
He can:
to warn of an impending attack
give time to lie down or take medication
to help a person feel more confident outside the home.
But there is another side.
A working dog is a responsibility:
he can't be left alone at home for long periods of time
often he has to accompany a person almost everywhere
he needs training and rest
Even a well-trained dog can sometimes make mistakes.
Ultimately, it's always a team
Dogs experiencing epileptic seizures are an interesting area where science, medicine, and cynology meet.
But this is not a miracle.
It is always a process that includes:
patience
observation
trust
and sometimes a little luck.
Sometimes such a dog becomes a real early warning system for a person.
And sometimes - just a very good friend.
And that's already a lot.