What are Seizure Assistance Dogs and can the NDIS help?

What are seizure assistance dogs and what do they do?

Seizure assistance dogs, sometimes called simply seizure dogs, are assistance dogs that support people with epilepsy. In general, there are two types of seizure dogs: 

• Seizure alerts dogs - these dogs have a fascinating ability to predict an impending seizure and alert the owner in time for them to take necessary precautions, for example, by lying down on the floor to prevent injury. Interestingly, the ability to detect an impending seizure cannot be trained, it's an instinct that some dogs are already born with.
  
• Seizure response dogs - these dogs have been trained to perform tasks in response to an owner having a seizure, for example, pressing an emergency button, barking loudly to alert others or lying in a certain position to protect the owner during an epileptic episode. As the owner recovers from the seizure, the seizure response dog can also perform other tasks, for example, fetching medication or providing comfort.

How do seizure assistance dogs get trained?

There are many organisations in Australia that train assistance dogs, but not that many specialise in training seizure dogs. Training a seizure dog is a complex, costly and long process - it takes approximately two years until a seizure dog is fully trained and ready to assist a human.

Ken Innes, Instructor at Assistance Dogs Australia, says “They would generally train on visual or environmental cues so if the procedure has a visual cue, which seizures do, then the trainer instructor will replicate that and then teach the dogs.” 

He also added that studies are needed to understand exactly what seizure visual cues dogs are noticing. “I say tricky because we need to catch up with the science to know exactly what it is that the dogs are identifying. This will be [done using] double blind studies...so that we are 100% confident that the dogs can do it.”

What are the benefits of seizure assistance dogs? 

The benefits of owning a seizure dog can be life changing for people suffering from severe and/or frequent epileptic episodes. The comfort of knowing you are cared for by a specially trained dog can give people with epilepsy confidence to become more involved in activities outside of home, meaning greater independence, opportunities for social interactions and community inclusion.

What is more, it has been widely documented that the benefits of owning a seizure dog go beyond epilepsy-related care. The company of the canine can do wonders for the owner's mental health too by reducing stress, anxiety or feelings of loneliness, and by increasing a person's self-esteem and quality of life.

Overall, the combined positive effects of owning a seizure assistance dog can also result in fewer seizures and improved life satisfaction.

Does the NDIS fund seizure assistance dogs?

Seizure assistance dogs are a big expense. In Australia, the average cost of such a canine comes in at around $40,000. Covering such a huge expense on your own can be tricky, but the good news is that it’s possible to receive NDIS funding to support you with the costs of purchasing the seizure dog as well as with the dog’s ongoing care. Assistance animals are covered in the Capital - Assistive technology part of your NDIS budget.

As with all NDIS funded supports, assistance dogs must meet the reasonable and necessary criteria, meaning the seizure dog will have to:

• Support you in pursuing your goals
• Help you with social and work activities
• Provide value for money
• Provide support that is both effective and beneficial
• Not replace the support of the family, carers or community

For information on how to include an assistance dog in your NDIS plan you can contact your NDIS support coordinator or reach out to your local NDIS office directly using this directory.

If you or someone you care for lives with epilepsy, you can also find more helpful information on the Hireup website:

• Epilepsy management plan: What you need to know
• “This isn’t the journey we chose, but it’s a hell of a journey to take.” A mother on navigating the unknowns of epilepsy

You can also contact us if you require help from a support worker experienced in working with people with epilepsy. You can send us an email at hello@hireup.com.au or call us on (02) 9113 5933.