If you or a loved one is struggling with a seizure disorder like epilepsy, you may be wondering if a service dog can help. The good news is that service dogs can assist with seizures, and sometimes they can even recognize them before they happen.
While this may be the case, that doesn’t mean a seizure dog is right for everyone. In fact, it helps to learn more about how a service dog for seizures can help before you try to get one. Thankfully, we have your back in this guide. Read on to learn more.
Can a Service Dog Help with Seizures?
Yes, service dogs can help with seizures. In fact, they can drastically improve the quality of life of someone who deals with a seizure disorder, like epilepsy. What’s more, epilepsy and other seizure disorders are disabilities that qualify for a service dog, so you can speak with a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) to determine if a seizure dog is right for you.
While a service dog can help with seizures, they shouldn’t be the only source of treatment. For example, if you get a service dog, that doesn’t mean you should avoid medications and other treatment modalities.
How a Service Dog for Seizures Can Help
A service dog for seizures can help you in many ways, and depending on your situation, there may be some unique ways for a service dog for seizures to help you. That said, we take you through some of the most common ways that they can assist you below.
1. Providing Support During Seizures
The most notable way that a service dog for seizures can help you is by providing support during a seizure. If someone is seizing, a service dog can put themselves between the person and the ground, which can prevent them from falling and hurting themselves.
Service dogs can also prevent someone from rolling around and hurting themselves. If someone is choking or dealing with other issues, a service dog may also be able to offer assistance.
2. Getting Help for Someone During a Seizure
One of the biggest reasons that people choose a service dog for seizures is to get help during a seizure. When someone is dealing with a seizure in public, service dogs can find help, press buttons that call 911, or even form a barrier between them and a crowd of people.
This ensures that people are kept safe during a seizure and that help can arrive, even if they’re alone.
3. Emotional Support
Another benefit of having a service dog for seizures is the fact that they can provide emotional support for someone who has a seizure disorder. You’ll find that seizure dogs can give people the confidence they need to go out in public without having anxiety or fear that a seizure may ruin their entire day.
While this may not be as impactful as some other tasks we covered, you’ll find that this has a big impact on someone’s life. It can give someone the confidence necessary to go to school, work, or enjoy a vacation.
4. Prevent Seizures from Happening
Last but not least, seizure dogs can prevent someone from having a seizure. If a service dog knows what triggers a seizure, they can ensure that you don’t go near it. For example, if a room has flashing lights, the dog can search the room first to protect you.
Service dogs may also be able to use their senses to determine if a seizure is likely to happen and get you somewhere safe.
Service Dog for Seizures: Our Final Thoughts
When it comes to seizure disorders, finding treatment that gets the job done and improves quality of life can be difficult. Thankfully, a service dog for seizures may be the thing that you need to start feeling better. If you or a loved one is struggling with a seizure disorder, it’s always a good idea to reach out to a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) to determine if a service dog is right for you.
Then, it comes down to finding the right dog and ensuring that they’re trained to help you with your specific condition.