International Epilepsy Day 2025

Dogs with Epilepsy can lead Happy and Meaningful Lives! 

Source

I'm changing things up for a cause near and dear to my heart: Today is International Epilepsy Day! This initiative is jointly sponsored by the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy. It is a global event that takes place on the second Monday of February each year with the aim of improving epilepsy awareness and highlighting the urgent need for further research on this debilitating condition. Epilepsy not only affects just the patients but their families, too. And incidentally, my late Epi-warrior Lana would have celebrated her 20th birthday this month. How appropriate!

Not only humans can be affected by this neurological disorder, but dogs can suffer from it as well. As many of my readers know, my furry friends, Lana and Darren, were diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy at the age of four and two, respectively. Despite the challenges, they were surrounded by love and care, and they both lived life to the fullest! While I managed to keep them relatively healthy for a little over four years, Lana and Darren did battle with plenty of side effects from their meds. Still, they won many of them just as any Epi-warrior would. Supplements, along with nutrition, lots of love, and conventional epilepsy treatments, helped my furry friends every step of the way. They enjoyed traveling, running around and playing, or just relaxing in front of the fireplace. I loved them with all my heart, and they loved life!

Although this is not the first epilepsy awareness blog post that I've written without my beloved Epi-warriors Lana and Darren by my side, it's still not easy. It's downright hard, even though I have different furry friends in my life now. Thankfully, they are seizure-free...knock on wood! I love to look at old photos and videos of my former furry companions before they left to cross the Rainbow Bridge. They were happy and mostly healthy, with a great zest for life. It makes me smile (and sometimes cry) to look at those memories of Lana and Darren, but I hope their message will continue to offer hope to other Epi-warriors and their families. 

Please know that you are not alone with this monster called Epilepsy and that such a diagnosis is not the end! There is a wealth of support out there, with many Epi-warrior parents, veterinarians, and other resources available to share their insights, experiences, and information. I have shared many resources and websites in the back of my book, LIVING WITH CANINE EPILEPSY, for that very reason. And if you can't find what you are looking for, ask around...I'm sure there is someone out there who can help. Remember, there is always hope and support available.

by A. Piper Burgi

Piper is the award-winning author of The Country Girl Empress series. When she isn't busy typing on her computer, she can be found chasing after her furry children or holding on tightly to a good cup of coffee. Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, and Goodreads.