How To Get A Free Service Dog For Epilepsy

Many people with epilepsy find that their quality of life and sense of well-being improves when they have a trained service animate being to aid them. If yous or someone you love has been diagnosed with epilepsy, hither's what you need to know nigh deciding whether a service creature is right for y'all — and starting the process to go your own.

How Service Animals Aid People With Epilepsy

Service animals tin can aid people diagnosed with epilepsy in several means. You'll demand to know what kind of support yous desire earlier you invest in a service animal.

It is important to annotation that in the United States, simply dogs and miniature horses can officially be registered as service animals. Other animals, like cats, tin be registered as emotional support animals (and provide much-needed support), merely they will not be granted the aforementioned legal rights and privileges equally official service animals.

Many people with medical weather such as epilepsy observe that dogs are the best support animals for them. Although whatsoever intelligent dog with a practiced temperament can be trained as a support animal, near people cull from the following dog breeds:

Golden retrievers
Labrador retrievers
Rottweilers
Poodles and doodles
German language shepherds
Collies
Cairn terriers
Akitas

Seizure Alert Dogs

Seizure alert dogs tin can find seizures before they occur. A seizure alert dog tin be trained to display a particular behavior, like pawing at the footing, as their manner of alerting you lot or your caregivers of oncoming seizures. The canis familiaris's alerting behavior gives you lot time to accept yourself to a safe place before the onset of a seizure.

There is some controversy over whether dogs can actually notice seizures before they happen. Studies are inconclusive, and more inquiry is needed. The American Kennel Club advises that it is impossible for a canis familiaris to be trained in how to detect seizures, but some may do information technology naturally. Yet, some people swear by their seizure alert dogs and say that having one has changed their lives for the better.

Seizure Response Dogs

Seizure response dogs will not detect seizures before they happen, but they can aid afterward. They may go go another person, help you go to a telephone to telephone call for help, activate a medical warning device, or preclude you lot from injury by lying beside you during a seizure. These dogs can aid people alive more independently because they offer a reliable source of aid.

Seizure Assistance Dogs

Seizure assistance dogs may perform some of the same tasks as seizure response dogs, just they are also trained to offer emotional support. While people of all ages with epilepsy can have a seizure assistance dog, these animals are most oftentimes paired with children.

In add-on to notifying parents or adults if a seizure occurs, seizure assistance dogs offering comfort to children. Their back up tin can also allow a kid to do things like sleep past themselves in their ain room and get through hard medical procedures with conviction.

How To Prefer a Service Fauna for Epilepsy

There are approximately 20 nonprofit and for-profit organizations in the United States that train seizure alert dogs. Some organizations just train dogs in certain types of service, and others require yous to live in a specific region so you lot tin can participate in the dog-training process.

In add-on, companies accept unlike awarding procedures and policies. You will likely need to provide proof from a neurologist that you have been diagnosed with epilepsy and that your provider recommends — or even prescribes — a service animal for your needs.

You will also demand to accept a plan to pay for your service animal. Training tin cost between $fifteen,000 and $lxx,000, and insurance does non cover that expense. There are grants available to people in certain locations and situations to help cover those costs, only getting one can be difficult and take a long fourth dimension. Some people with epilepsy pursue crowdfunding, take out a loan, or piece of work with an arrangement that offers a payment plan to cover the costs of a service creature.

In general, y'all tin can expect to wait up to 18 months to be paired with a service dog. The dog-training process can accept up to 2 years. Y'all may likewise need to travel to participate in certain aspects of the grooming process or accept a trainer come to your abode several times.

The Epilepsy Foundation is a great place to start looking for seizure canis familiaris trainers near you. Their searchable database will allow you to find people who can assist you start the procedure of getting a service dog.

How a Service Fauna Could Change Your Life

Some MyEpilepsyTeam members have shared how service animals have improved their lives. One member wrote, "I had a service dog for 14 years. She was the best. On i occasion, she even had to grab her ain leash and help me discover my fashion back habitation." Another shared, "My service dog is Rosco. He helps me when I take circuitous partial seizures."

These dogs can help people with severe epilepsy regain lost independence. As 1 fellow member wrote, "My furry-legged friend toll me $x,000, but at present, I tin utilize public transportation." Others observe that their dogs requite them confidence: "I'm feeling weak in the legs, but Hazelnut, my service dog, is saying that I'm OK for now."

Things To Keep in Mind With Epilepsy Service Animals

There are a few serious responsibilities that come with having a service animal for epilepsy. Every creature comes with a time, energy, and financial commitment. Just like whatever pet, you volition need to brand sure your service animal gets enough exercise, plenty of love and attention, and routine vet visits. If your support animal gets sick, you will be responsible for caring for them. Past taking on a service dog, you are committing to what could exist a decade or more of animal care.

Your whole family unit will demand to be set up to commit to having the animal and learning to piece of work with and around them. While the animal will be there for your epileptic seizures, family members may need to aid intendance for the brute and make a place for them in your daily life.

Service animals tin can likewise draw a lot of attention in public places. Even though most people mean well, you lot will need to be prepared to explain your animal'due south job and ask people to stay away then they tin can work.

If you are set up to brand the commitment to a service animal and you know what y'all're looking for, start looking for preparation organizations in your area today.

Find the Support Team You Demand

Do you lot take a service brute, or are you interested in getting i? Do y'all have stories y'all'd like to share nearly how your service dog has helped you? MyEpilepsyTeam is the place to do it. Hither, you can share your stories, enquire questions, and hear back from people who sympathize your journey with epilepsy.

Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation on your Activities page.