Yogi the French Bulldog was saved by his boxer buddy Reggie, according to their owner Sarah McArdle.
In a video shared on her Facebook page, McArdle explained that Reggie alerted her to something being wrong with Yogi. “It was so bizarre, he was showing textbook warning signs of a grand mal seizure,” she said.
The footage clearly shows Reggie pawing at Yogi and trying to nudge him awake as he lay motionless on the floor. McArdle rushed home and immediately took Yogi to the vet, where he was diagnosed with epilepsy.
“It’s a truly heartwarming moment that showcases the power of companionship and instinct,” she said about the video. “They’re just inseparable.”
McArdle says she left home around noon to head to work May 5. Just 15 minutes later, Yogi started having seizures.
“Within the first hour, he had at least 10 grand mal [seizures], but Reggie’s instincts kicked in,” she said.
Those instincts? To nudge and pull Yogi upright so he didn’t aspirate on his spit while seizing.
Reggie’s quick thinking and instinctual reaction in recognizing a medical emergency truly saved Yogi’s life that day. Dogs have an incredible ability to sense changes in behavior and physical conditions, making them invaluable companions in many situations.
During episodes, sometimes the person or animal experiencing the seizure can aspirate, or inhale, something like spit, vomit or other fluids.
It’s something Yogi has been dealing with since he turned one, McArdle says.
“Your whole life stops,” she said, adding that they call his seizures “the monster” and were optimistic his medication was steady after not having a seizure for a year and a half until December last year.
“Reggie has only ever seen Yogi seize once before this. He just jumped into action, he’s just a puppy,” she said. “The love they have for each other is just an amazing bond, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
McArdle says Reggie spent the next six hours until she got home beside Yogi, rolling him over despite not being taught to.
Unfortunately, Yogi did inhale some spit and contracted pneumonia, which he’s now on medication for. Even then, McArdle credits Reggie’s quick thinking with keeping his bulldog buddy alive.
“If it wasn’t for Reggie flipping him around though he would have aspirated to death,” she said.
She said Reggie was treated with a steak dinner for his handiwork and Yogi is recovering at home from the episode.
“(Yogi) is back to his crazy fun loving self,” she said. “He’s currently running around in the backyard with Reggie.”
She was hesitant to share the troubling video at first, but did in hopes their story will educate others on canine epilepsy.
What to do if your dog is having a seizure
Epilepsy is most commonly an inherited disorder with an unknown exact cause, but there are many other reasons an animal may experience seizures, according to the VCA Animal Hospital. Here’s what to do in case your animal has a seizure:
- Remain calm, speak softly to your animal
- Avoid the dog’s mouth and head to prevent yourself from being hurt. Despite common belief, dogs to not swallow or choke on their tongues while seizing, so keep things out of their mouth.
- Move the dog away from any sharp furniture or stairs where they could hurt themselves while seizing
- Watch your dog to make sure they recover from the seizure, which may take minutes to hours
- Comfort them by letting them hear your voice and feel your touch. “When dogs wake from a seizure, they need reassurance,” according to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation.
- Record when the seizure occurred, how long it lasted and what it looked like
- Contact your veterinarian for further advice and possible treatment
