Seizure response dog

For dogs that experience seizures, see Epilepsy in animals § Dogs.

A Seizure Response Dog can be brought to restaurants or other businesses.

Service dog for a boy with autism and seizures calms him during hospital stay.

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.<ref name = eddivito2010>Di Vito L1, Naldi I, Mostacci B, Licchetta L, Bisulli F, Tinuper P (2010). "A seizure response dog: video recording of reacting behaviour during repetitive prolonged seizures". Epileptic Disord. 12 (2): 142–5. doi:10.1684/epd.2010.0313. PMID 20472528. S2CID 3337471.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)</ref><ref name = nkirton2004>Kirton A1, Wirrell E, Zhang J, Hamiwka L (2004). "Seizure-alerting and -response behaviors in dogs living with epileptic children". Neurology. 62 (12): 2303–5. doi:10.1212/wnl.62.12.2303. PMID 15210902. S2CID 9842443.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)</ref> When reliably trained such dogs can serve as service dogs for people with epilepsy.<ref name=ebkirton2008>Kirton A1, Winter A, Wirrell E, Snead OC (2008). "Seizure response dogs: evaluation of a formal training program". Epilepsy Behav. 13 (3): 499–504. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.05.011. PMID 18595778. S2CID 27549519.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)</ref>

Tasks

Tasks for seizure dogs may include, but are not limited to:<ref>"Seizure Dogs". Paws With A Cause. Archived from the original on 2014-09-16. Retrieved 2014-10-01.</ref><ref name="Seizure Service Dogs">"Seizure Service Dogs". Pawsitivity. Retrieved 2021-04-26.</ref><ref>"Seizure response dogs with special training". Canine Assistants. Retrieved 2014-10-01.</ref><ref name="EF1">"Seizure Dogs". Epilepsy foundation. Retrieved 2014-10-01.</ref>

• 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).<ref name = nkirton2004/><ref name="sstrong1999"/><ref name = sdalziel2003>Dalziel DJ1, Uthman BM, Mcgorray SP, Reep RL (2003). "Seizure-alert dogs: a review and preliminary study". Seizure. 12 (2): 115–20. doi:10.1016/S105913110200225X. PMID 12566236.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)</ref> Reports suggest that some dogs can be trained to anticipate epileptic seizures.<ref name=ebkirton2008/><ref name="sstrong1999">Strong V; Brown S; Walker R (1999). "Seizure-alert dogs--fact or fiction?". Seizure. 8 (1): 62–5. doi:10.1053/seiz.1998.0250. PMID 10091851.</ref> However, this ability has been questioned.<ref>Doherty, MJ; Haltiner, AM (Jan 23, 2007). "Wag the dog: skepticism on seizure alert canines". Neurology. 68 (4): 309. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000252369.82956.a3. PMID 17242343. S2CID 33328776.</ref><ref>Ortiz R; Liporace J (2005). "Seizure-alert dogs: observations from an inpatient video/EEG unit". Epilepsy Behav. 6 (4): 620–622. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2005.02.012. PMID 15907758. S2CID 45676449.</ref><ref>Krauss GL; Choi JS; Lesser RP (2007). "Pseudoseizure dogs". Neurology. 68 (4): 308–309. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000250345.23677.6b. PMID 17242342. S2CID 5294710.</ref>

Seizure response and seizure alerting behaviour may spontaneously develop in dogs living with children and adults with epilepsy.<ref name = eddivito2010/><ref name = nkirton2004/><ref name = sdalziel2003/>

See also

• Working dog – Dog trained to perform practical tasks
• Working animal – Domesticated animals for assisting people

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