Seizure response dog explained

A seizure response dog (SRD) (also known as seizure dog) is a dog demonstrating specific assisting behaviour during or immediately after a person's epileptic seizure or other seizure.^{[1] [2]} When reliably trained such dogs can serve as service dogs for people with epilepsy.^[3]

Tasks

Tasks for seizure dogs may include, but are not limited to:^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

• Find someone to help
• Activate an emergency response system
• Stimulate a person to help them "wake up" after a seizure
• Use body weight to keep the person in a specific position
• Act as a brace to help the person up
• Retrieve a phone or medication
• Physically remove the patient from an unsafe situation (e.g., the middle of a street)

Seizure alert dog

A dog demonstrating specific behaviour prior to a person's epileptic seizure is also referred to as seizure alert dog (SAD).^{[2] [8]} Reports suggest that some dogs can be trained to anticipate epileptic seizures.^{[3] [9]} However, this ability has been questioned.^{[10] [11] [12]}

Seizure response and seizure alerting behaviour may spontaneously develop in dogs living with children and adults with epilepsy.^{[1] [2] [8]}

External links

• Seizure-alert dogs National Geographic News article
• Canine Assistants Service Dog School - Specializing in the placement of Seizure Response dogs, and seizure scent research

Notes and References

1. Epileptic Disord . 12 . 2 . 142–5 . 10.1684/epd.2010.0313 . 2010 . A seizure response dog: video recording of reacting behaviour during repetitive prolonged seizures . Di Vito L1, Naldi I, Mostacci B, Licchetta L, Bisulli F, Tinuper P . 20472528 . 3337471 .
2. Neurology . 2004 . 62 . 12 . 2303–5 . Seizure-alerting and -response behaviors in dogs living with epileptic children . Kirton A1, Wirrell E, Zhang J, Hamiwka L . 15210902 . 10.1212/wnl.62.12.2303. 9842443 .
3. Epilepsy Behav . 2008 . 13 . 3 . 499–504 . 10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.05.011 . Seizure response dogs: evaluation of a formal training program . Kirton A1, Winter A, Wirrell E, Snead OC . 18595778. 27549519 .
4. Web site: Seizure Dogs . Paws With A Cause . 2014-10-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140916164512/https://www.pawswithacause.org/i-want-a-dog/seizure-dogs . 2014-09-16 .
5. Web site: Seizure Service Dogs . Pawsitivity . 2021-04-26.
6. Web site: Seizure response dogs with special training . Canine Assistants . 2014-10-01 . 2014-10-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006131618/http://www.epilepsyadvocate.com/resources/seizure-response-dogs.aspx . dead .
7. Web site: Seizure Dogs . Epilepsy foundation . 2014-10-01.
8. Seizure . 2003 . 12 . 2 . 115–20 . Seizure-alert dogs: a review and preliminary study . Dalziel DJ1, Uthman BM, Mcgorray SP, Reep RL . 12566236 . 10.1016/S105913110200225X. free .
9. Strong V . Brown S . Walker R . Seizure-alert dogs--fact or fiction? . Seizure . 8 . 1 . 62–5 . 1999 . 10091851 . 10.1053/seiz.1998.0250 . free .
10. Doherty. MJ. Haltiner, AM . Wag the dog: skepticism on seizure alert canines.. Neurology. Jan 23, 2007. 68. 4. 309. 17242343. 10.1212/01.wnl.0000252369.82956.a3. 33328776 .
11. Ortiz R . Liporace J . Seizure-alert dogs: observations from an inpatient video/EEG unit . Epilepsy Behav . 2005 . 6 . 4 . 620–622 . 15907758 . 10.1016/j.yebeh.2005.02.012. 45676449 .
12. Krauss GL . Choi JS . Lesser RP . Pseudoseizure dogs . Neurology . 2007 . 68 . 4 . 308–309 . 17242342 . 10.1212/01.wnl.0000250345.23677.6b. 5294710 .