When your dog is diagnosed with epilepsy, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Watching your dog experience a seizure can be distressing, and the unpredictable nature of the condition can make it seem like you’ve lost control. However, how you perceive the situation can be just as important—if not more so—than the actual state of your dog’s seizures. Maintaining a positive mindset plays a crucial role in both your dog’s wellbeing and your ability to manage the condition. This article will explore how perception, mindset, and a sense of control can influence the quality of life for both you and your dog.
Why Perception Matters More Than Seizure Frequency
The scientific research behind canine epilepsy, such as the studies by Berendt et al. and Wessmann et al., reveals an important insight: the perception of your dog’s condition often has a greater impact on quality of life than the actual frequency or severity of their seizures.
According to the research conducted by Wessmann et al., dogs with fewer seizures were generally rated as having a higher quality of life, but interestingly, the severity of seizures did not significantly alter these perceptions. This means that even dogs experiencing relatively mild seizures were sometimes seen as having a diminished quality of life, while dogs with more severe but less frequent seizures could still be viewed positively, depending on the owner’s mindset.
So, what does this tell us? It tells us that the way you perceive your dog’s condition can shape their reality. If you view epilepsy as an insurmountable challenge, it can feel like your world is shrinking, and every seizure becomes a mountain. But if you approach the condition with confidence and a belief that it can be managed, you create a more positive experience for both you and your dog.
Control vs. Uncertainty: How Mindset Changes the Game
A big part of caring for a dog with epilepsy is coming to terms with the unpredictability of the condition. The unpredictability of seizures can leave many owners feeling like they’re living with a "ticking time bomb," a phrase echoed by participants in the qualitative study by Pergande et al. This feeling of powerlessness can lead to anxiety, stress, and even social isolation for some owners.
However, research shows that when owners shift their focus from trying to control every aspect of the disease to accepting that seizures will happen but can be managed, their overall outlook improves dramatically. The key is in shifting from fighting against epilepsy to working with it—understanding that while you may not control when or how often the seizures occur, you can control how you respond to them.
A positive mindset stems from this acceptance and from focusing on the actions you can take:
Monitoring and tracking seizures so that you and your vet can adjust treatments.
Educating yourself on all things seizure related including holistic care you can provide as an adjunct therapy.
Providing the best possible lifestyle you can within your means for your dog.
Creating a calm environment to reduce stress for both you and your dog.
Establishing a routine for medications, natural care interventions, and daily activities to support both you and your dog.
Reframing the way you think about seizures and epilepsy.
Acting with compassion to yourself under very difficult circumstances.
By concentrating on what you can do, rather than fearing what you can’t, you regain a sense of control. This control directly influences how you perceive your dog’s wellbeing, which can reduce stress and improve quality of life for both you and your dog.
Seizure Treatments: Building Stability, Not Perfection
One of the hardest things for many owners to accept is that there is no cure for epilepsy. Even with the best treatment plan, seizures are likely to occur from time to time. It’s natural to want to prevent every seizure and to feel disappointed or even heartbroken when one happens. However, this expectation can create unnecessary stress for both you and your dog.
Seizure treatments, whether medical or holistic, work by creating a more stable brain environment—one that is more resistant to seizures, but not immune from them. The aim of these treatments, whether it’s anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), dietary adjustments, or natural therapies like MCT oil or probiotic supplements, is to build resilience in the brain, making it less likely that a seizure will occur.
However, it’s important to understand that no treatment—whether drug-based or holistic—can offer 100% prevention. The goal is to reduce frequency and/or severity, and most importantly to improve overall quality of life. This means that even with successful treatment, your dog may still— and likely will — have seizures. Accepting this reality can shift your mindset from expecting a cure to recognising the benefits of seizure management.
When owners fixate on finding specific triggers or hope for a perfect solution that completely prevents seizures, it can lead to disappointment, frustration, and unnecessary stress. Instead of focusing on avoiding every seizure, it’s more productive—and emotionally healthy—to view epilepsy as a condition that can be managed with care and support. Accepting that seizures are part of the journey allows you to focus on the progress you’ve made in improving your dog’s overall quality of life rather than seeing every seizure as a setback.
This mindset shift is empowering. It means that when a seizure happens, it’s not a failure—it’s just part of the process. Instead of feeling heartbroken or defeated, you can focus on the fact that you've done your best for your dog, and that for all the other time in the day, week, month, or year, they are living their happiest best life with you.
By accepting that epilepsy is a chronic condition, and that seizures may happen regardless of how well it’s managed, you’re freeing yourself from the emotional burden of expecting perfection. This acceptance doesn’t mean giving up hope or resigning yourself to a difficult life. It means understanding that progress and management are the real victories.
Perceived Wellbeing: Dogs Feed Off Your Emotions
Dogs are incredibly sensitive to their owners' emotional states. Several studies, including those referenced by Packer et al., show that stress in the owner can influence stress in the dog. If you’re anxious, fearful, or frustrated, your dog may pick up on these cues, which can, in turn, increase their stress levels—potentially even triggering more seizures.
This creates a feedback loop: the more stressed you are, the more likely it is that your dog will be stressed, which may worsen their seizures, leading to more stress for you. On the other hand, maintaining a calm and positive environment can help your dog feel more secure, reducing their overall anxiety and potentially lowering their seizure frequency.
In one sense, the wellbeing of your dog is not purely a reflection of their medical condition—it is also a reflection of how you approach the condition emotionally. When you remain calm, confident, and proactive, your dog will likely feel more at ease, helping to break the cycle of stress and seizure activity.
Shifting Your Perception: From Helpless to Empowered
One of the most powerful things you can do as an owner is to shift your mindset from helplessness to empowerment. Owners in the studies by Berendt et al. often reported feelings of helplessness when they first witnessed a seizure. Studies on similar conditions show that knowledge is power - learning more about epilepsy and how to manage it, can make you more confident and capable of handling their dog’s condition.
Here’s how you can start changing your perception:
Stay Positive
Remind yourself that epilepsy is a manageable condition. With the right care, your dog can live a long, fulfilling life. While it’s natural to feel anxious, focus on the small victories—such as reduced seizure frequency or improved recovery times after a seizure.
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Educate Yourself
The more you understand about epilepsy, the more empowered you’ll feel. Knowledge not only helps you understand what’s happening but also enables you to make informed decisions about your dog’s care. The studies you’ve read, for instance, show that remission is possible in some dogs, providing hope for the future. That's why we have created our Dogileptic blog, thoroughly researching all topics related to canine epilepsy and exposing that information to you, our community of epi dog owners.
Focus on What You Can Control
Seizures may be out of your control, but your response to them isn’t. Create a routine, track seizures, and work closely with your vet or holistic care provider to adjust treatment plans when needed. These steps help you feel more in control, even in the face of unpredictability.
Be Kind to Yourself
Remember, you’re not alone. As referenced in Pergande et al., the emotional burden on owners can be significant. It’s important to recognise that you’re doing your best. Don’t hesitate to seek out support groups or speak openly about your struggles. Sometimes, just talking to someone who understands can lighten the load.
The Ripple Effect of a Positive Mindset
When you foster a positive mindset, the benefits ripple outwards. You’ll feel more confident in managing your dog’s condition, which can lead to better decision-making and less stress. Your dog, in turn, will feed off your calm and positive energy, helping them feel more secure. The emotional connection between you and your dog is powerful, and when both of you are thriving emotionally, it creates an atmosphere where epilepsy becomes just another part of life—something to manage, not something to fear.
Conclusion: Perception Shapes Reality for Dogs with Seizures
In the world of canine epilepsy, perception truly shapes reality. While seizures may be unavoidable, how you approach them can make all the difference in the world. By focusing on the things you can control—whether through medical treatments, natural care interventions, or lifestyle adjustments—you can create a more stable and resilient environment for your dog. This, combined with a positive and empowered mindset, fosters a better quality of life for both you and your dog.
Remember, epilepsy doesn’t have to define your dog’s life, and your positive perception can shape a reality where both you and your dog thrive. With the right combination of treatments, a supportive environment, and self-care, you can navigate the challenges of epilepsy with calmness, confidence, and care—together.
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References:
Wessmann, A., et al. "Quality‐of‐life aspects in idiopathic epilepsy in dogs." *Veterinary Record* 179.9 (2016): 229-229.
Wessmann, A., et al. "Evaluation of quality of life in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy." *Journal of veterinary internal medicine* 28.2 (2014): 510-514.
BERENDT, M., GREDAL, H., ERSBOLL, A. K. & ALVING, J. 2007. Premature death, risk factors, and life patterns in dogs with epilepsy. *J Vet Intern Med,* 21**,** 754-9.
Packer, R. M. A., H. A. Volk, and R. C. Fowkes. "Physiological reactivity to spontaneously occurring seizure activity in dogs with epilepsy and their carers." *Physiology & Behavior* 177 (2017): 27-33.
Pergande, Amy E., et al. "“We have a ticking time bomb”: a qualitative exploration of the impact of canine epilepsy on dog owners living in England." *BMC veterinary research* 16 (2020): 1-9.
Cockerell OC, Johnson AL,Sander JWAS ,et al. Remission of epilepsy: results from the National General Practice Study of Epilepsy. Lancet 1994;346:140–144.
Berendt M, Gredal H, Gam Pedersen L, et al. A cross- sectional study of epilepsy in Danish Labrador Retrievers: Prevalence and selected risk factors. J Vet Int Med 2002;16: 262–268.
Proschowsky HF, Rugbjerg H, Ersbøll AK. Mortality of purebred and mixed-breed dogs in Denmark. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2003;58:63–74.
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