On July 19, we quietly marked one year since Forrest’s first seizure. A year ago, our world flipped upside down. If you’ve ever experienced your dog having a seizure, you know—it’s terrifying, and it changes you. But here we are, one year later, and while epilepsy is still part of our life, things have shifted in some very encouraging ways.
Lately, Forrest is going longer between seizures, and I believe that’s thanks to several key changes we’ve made together:
- A higher dose of Phenobarbital (per his neurologist’s guidance)
- Not getting up in the night for potty breaks like we used to (we used to both drink a lot of water at night!)
- Acupuncture—he’s had 3 treatments now
- Removing Plaque Off from his routine
- Adding Purina NeuroCare back into his diet
I want to take a moment to talk about NeuroCare, because there are a lot of misconceptions about it. Some people think it’s just overpriced kibble with MCT oil tossed in. Yes, it’s expensive. But it’s formulated to support dogs with neurological conditions—especially epilepsy—and it’s much more than a regular kibble with a MCT oil added.
The reason I chose to bring it back into Forrest’s diet is because I started worrying that feeding only Dr. Harvey’s with chicken might not be covering all his nutritional needs. And unless you’re working with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, there’s no way to know for sure. Nutrition gaps can open the door to bigger issues, including dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). After speaking with our holistic vet, she strongly recommended I add kibble back in.
And honestly? We’re both happier now. His evening meal is still Dr. Harvey’s with chicken, but having a solid base like NeuroCare in the morning brings me peace of mind and frees up some of my time—time I can spend with him instead of prepping food for him. A year ago, I never would’ve thought I’d be thankful for kibble, but here we are.
Plus, kibble is super handy for one of Forrest’s favorite activities: scent work! We do indoor “Easter egg” hunts year-round (especially when the weather keeps us indoors), and let’s be real—you just can’t stuff bits of chicken into plastic eggs. He lights up during these games, and I love watching him follow his nose with such joy.
Another big change? I’m not living in fear of every little thing triggering a seizure anymore like I was in those early months. Thankfully, Forrest doesn’t seem to be as sensitive as I once feared. Fireworks and us being apart are still tough, but otherwise? He’s steady. That has allowed both of us to breathe a little easier.
We even went on our first real location photoshoot since Christmas—a sunflower field not far from home. It rained on us (of course), but we made memories, got soaked, and saw two rainbows on the way home. I’ve always loved photographing him, and being behind the camera again—seeing him on the other side of the lens—felt like a little piece of me was coming back to life.
I’ve learned so much in this last year watching my boy become an epilepsy warrior. No, I don’t have all the answers. I know everything can change with just one seizure. But I want to encourage anyone who’s at the beginning of this journey: Hold onto hope.
Watching your dog have seizures will never be easy—and it doesn’t necessarily get easier. But being prepared, educated, and deeply in tune with your dog makes a world of difference. It takes a long time to get medications and routines dialed in. Some dogs never fully stabilize, and I don’t want to offer false hope. I’m not God—He’s the only one who knows what the future holds. But I do believe we’re not meant to walk through this alone.
Please don’t give up.
Please keep advocating for your dog.
Please don’t believe every piece of advice you hear online.
Your dog’s life depends on it.
And while I’m here—I highly recommend using ChatGPT. I use it on a regular basis to better understand epilepsy, seizure meds, supplements, bloodwork, and how to spot patterns in Forrest’s seizure log. (Yes, you can even upload a log and have it help you spot trends.) It’s not a substitute for medical advice—but it is an amazing tool for education and empowerment.
Please don’t trust dangerous advice like “smelling vanilla ice cream stops seizures.”
That’s not how seizures work. They can become life-threatening in an instant. The only thing that stops an active seizure is a rescue medication like intranasal Midazolam. Ice cream and essential oils won’t do it. Please don’t risk your dog’s life on myths.
Now, how about something a little lighter?
Yesterday, Forrest helped himself to the end of a stick of butter that fell out of the fridge. Yep. It was gone before I knew what hit the floor. Unsurprisingly, his tummy was a bit off overnight. Luckily, I had just made a new pupsicle recipe with the perfect ingredients to soothe his stomach.
And now I get to share it with you!
Healthy Tummy Pupsicles
These are great for upset tummies or just as a healthy summer treat!
Ingredients:
- 1 can pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 1 ripe banana
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- Optional: 1–2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (no xylitol!)
Instructions:
- Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.
- Pour into silicone bone molds or your favorite ice cube tray.
- Freeze until solid.
This recipe made enough to fill one full tray of large bone molds (15 count, but he’s eaten a few) and 2 lick mats. Great for hot days, tummy upsets, or just because.
To anyone out there with an epi dog: I see you. I know how hard it is. I know how much you love them and how scary this road can be. You’re not alone.
And to Forrest—my brave, butter-snatching, sunflower-field-exploring, Easter-egg-hunting, epilepsy warrior—thank you for being the light in every season and the reason I keep going, no matter what we face.
From our lavender world of grace — we’re holding onto hope and walking by faith. 💜
The Epi Dog Mom Blog 
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