How much is a seizure response dog? Simple and Effective Tips

What Are These Animals Trained to Do?

Seizure alert dogs can be life-saving animals because they help their owner detect when a seizure is going to occur. There is nothing worse than living with epilepsy and never knowing when your disaster might strike. What is really cool about these animals is that they are able to detect the onset of seizure sometimes even hours before it is going to occur. The way they do this is by noticing a change in the owner’s behavior or scent. It is amazing that an animal is able to detect something that even humans aren’t able to quite identify.

You can consider a service dog as a type of life-alert. They may not always be able to detect the onset of a seizure, but they can always be there to immediately respond when one does occur. The seizure alert dog can help retrieve a phone or stimulate the individual when having a seizure, or even go get someone for help. As the person is recovering from their seizure the animal can help retrieve medication or food, offer comfort, or be used as assistance to help the individual get back up.

Is “seizure dog” the official name?

It is the name that is most often used. Some people distinguish between dogs that respond to someone who is having a seizure (seizure response dog) and dogs that appear to know when a seizure is going to occur (seizure predicting dog).

Some dogs have been trained to bark or otherwise alert families when a child has a seizure while playing outside or in another room.

Some dogs learn to lie next to someone having a seizure to prevent injury.

Some dogs learn to put their body between the seizing individual and the floor to break the fall at the start of a seizure.

Some dogs are trained to activate some kind of pre-programmed device, such as a pedal that rings an alarm.

Seizure dogs do not take the place of medical advice for night time supervision or other physician directed monitoring. There is no evidence that seizure dogs reduce the risk of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy).

Public interest in seizure assistance dogs has fueled demand for dogs with these skills.

Do I qualify for a service dog?

Only dogs are legally considered service animals. … To qualify for a service animal, all you need to do is get written documentation from your healthcare provider that you have and are being treated for an emotional or psychiatric disorder or disability and require the assistance of an animal because of it.

Seizure Response Dog Guides

Costs. For the most part, seizure dogs are not covered by insurance, but there are certain exceptions, and some states cover part or all of the cost of obtaining a seizure dog, which can run in the tens of thousands of dollars.