She's never done that before, and I asked her if she wanted to go out, and she hopped off the bed then, and waved her left paw at the door as I reached for the doorknob (this is something she's started doing lately, which I find adorable). When we got downstairs, though, she didn't want to go out. And I realized I had a headache. Not a migraine, thankfully, but enough that I took some Aleve, drank some water, and went back to bed for a little while longer, Elka shadowing each of my steps and settling down next to me again.
Migraine.com did a survey earlier in the year for people who have dogs that alert them to impending migraines. This week, they did an update on that, with the article Could You Be Getting a Migraine? Ask Your Dog. I took part in that survey, as I'd learned about it from Dawn Marcus' blog, Fit as Fido. It's interesting to me that many people, as with myself and Elka, find that their dog alerts them before any symptoms of migraine actually begin, and they act on that alert and take pain medication at that point. Really, I just feel like it's the smart thing to do!
It seems to me that I've read that medical alert dogs are frequently trained to "touch" a hand or leg in order to do their alert, so that it is a clear and unique behavior that will not be confused or mistaken. The fact that Elka did this in order to wake me up and alert me is really kind of interesting. She didn't vocalize in her normal way, and obviously, if she was staring at me in a significant way, I wasn't going to see it. She didn't paw at me.
Nearly every day, I'm amazed and pleased with how clearly Elka can communicate. It's pretty rare that I'm confused about she wants, be it food, water, to go out and play, to go outside for potty, to have a place on the couch...whatever. In our time together, we've talked to Elka a lot, and Elka talks back, in her own way. I guess every person who has a dog feels that their dog is, in fact, the very best dog. Every day, I'm frustrated by Elka and amused by Elka and made unbelievably happy. This is dog ownership, or dog partnership.
Very inteResting since mom gets those bad headaches
ReplyDeleteBenny & Lily
That stinks. I'm glad that more research is being done in the field. I hear that some doctors still seem to think that migraines don't exist.
DeleteThose doctors probably graduated LAT in their class from medical school! Having suffered with migraines since I was 14 (and that was long ago!) I am so grateful to my dog Zues who was my first migraine alert dog. Before he passed on he shared that skill with y newest Dobergirl who look up right where he left off! I
DeleteShared with your new girl? That's freaking great!
DeleteDogs are incredible, aren't they? I think they communicate more than we know how to listen for, but all the new research should help us better understand what they're trying to tell us! Hope you're feeling better!
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that this research is finally being done, I'd love to learn more about the mechanic of how this all works! We know that dogs have tremendous senses, but I wonder what it is that changes even before a migraineur becomes aware. Pain hormones? Serotonin? It's a mystery.
DeleteI am, thank you!
Wow. That's pretty cool Jen. I knew dogs were amazing, but migraines? I never knew they could sense one coming on. Yes. The dog-human partnership is all of those things. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll tell you, I was really happy to discover that such an ability existed, especially in Elka! It is truly fantastic, the way that we've evolved together.
DeleteIt shows how strong your bond with Elka really is. She's working hard to talk to you just like you talk to her. It's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteShe's funny sometimes, because she' obviously feels that she's been very clear with whatever she's just "said", be it vocally or with body language, and sometimes we humans just have to say "I'm sorry, what?"
DeleteShe is wonderful!
I agree that it is important to talk to our dogs. While part of it is probably a jumble of senseless noise to them, I do believe that they get a lot of our meaning when we hold conversations with them. Remarkable Elka to be so in touch with you.
ReplyDeleteI do think they get a lot of our meaning! I have heard Dobermans referred to as "the dogs with the human brains", so that might be some of it, and since she's my first dog, she's the only dog I've been truly this close with. I know communication is more than words, but she knows words!
DeleteFascinating. I knew of the seizure sensing dogs but had never heard of it related to migraines. I'm going to have to pay more attention to Bella. (If that's possible. ;)
ReplyDeleteGood girl, Elka, good girl.
My understanding is that seizures and migraines are active in similar areas of the brain, so maybe that's why they're able to do both? Or dogs are just magical. Which we knew already!
DeleteThat is so cool. It is amazing what dogs are tuned into. I have a friend with a benign brain tumor but it causes him a lot of issues. He owns an untrained mutt but that dog has saved his life on a couple of occasions.
ReplyDeleteHey, even untrained mutts have their own doggie magic!
DeleteIt's amazing what dogs can do. Elka is one special girl and it's obvious you two share a unique bond!
ReplyDeleteSome days she's so special she's nearly human, and other times, I still get reminded that she's "only" a dog! It's the way it goes, truly. In spite of this, or maybe because of this, dogs are just so amazing!
DeleteVery interesting. Elka is a good girl.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm very happy with her (as you might imagine!)
Deletethats amazing
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty rocking, what dogs can do! I never knew, until I had Elka.
DeleteBelly rubs to Elka and kudos to her mom for participating in this research and spreading the word. It's truly amazing what our dogs can tell us -- if we're only open enough to listen.
ReplyDeleteShe appreciates the belly rubs!
DeleteI think that's something important to reminds ourselves of: to listen. It helps reduce stress, too, which I'm sure helps allay headaches as well!