So he isn't a golden... I think of him as a honorary golden I mean goldens come from flat coats anyway so I think that should count.

However that is not the point... the point is that Cuinn is 11 today... he started with focal seizures at a year old.. moved to grand mal clusters at age 2.... has had all the associated injuries connected with being wobbly on his feet and hurting himself... lots of bumps and bruises and vet visits and stitches... He is 11 in a breed that usually only lives to be 7 ... who woulda thunk it... of all the dogs to beat the breed average Cuinn... my silly wobbly drunken sailor stoner of a flat coat...

So today he is 11, he has lived longer than most... he is a still a silly happy boy as as long as he is happy and feels ok then we will keep chugging along... So I hope you will join me in wishing this boy a happy happy day, week and coming year... and for all of your just beginning your epi journey I hope he gives you hope.... that our epi dogs can live wonderful long happy lives, we might have bumps along the way ... but we can navigate them... we can go over and around and in the end they can continue to live long and happy lives and teach us a lot about resilience and life along the way....

So here is Cuinn... Am. Can. Champion Wabana's American Spirit ... a very good name for him I think

here is the link for his facebook picture set...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=2c4e38d90f

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Shalva and the Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhound
Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhounds

Well soecial happy birthday to you sweet guy. I had seen a think on animal planet and knew flatties were hit with all kinds of problems and usually didn't live to ripe old ages. This guy has to be speical--probably all the love you showered on him certainly helped. They are beautiful dogs

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HONEY-- 1ST BIRTHDAY, GOTCHA DAY 12-7-2002
AND
MY GOLDEN BABIES AT THE BRIDGE, BUT FOREVER IN MY HEART
SCOOTER--6-14- 1994 -- 8-22-1999
BUCK 2-8-1995 ------5-15-2007
HUNTER 8-19-1999--10-16-2003
KAYCEE 8-19-1999---5-25-2008

Goldens bring light into the world.

That is absolutely terrific Happy Birthday big guy and many more

♫ Happy Birthday Cuinn ♫ and I wish for you many, many more!

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Whoa that's amazing What's your secret?

HAPPY birthday!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy! I love your awesome irish name Cuinn. May all your wishes come true. He is a beautiful dog.

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my secret .... never give up... give it time when you think you are at the end, give it a few more days... we have been there ... often with him... on more than a few occasions we were told that it was time... and here we are ... with a little TLC he is stronger than I am.

always have a medicine in your back pocket or up your sleeve, in other words.. do your research and always know what medicine you can move to next when the one your on stops working or causes side effects... always have a plan... don't add medicines until you have no choice... the more medicines you move to quickly the fewer you have to choose from as the time goes by. This is probably my greatest piece of advice... know that the seizures themselves are no big deal as long as they stop quickly and aren't having to many hold off upping meds or adding meds until you really have no choice... and do so in small amounts cautiously... you never know when the pheno or whatever is going to stop controlling the seizures and you want somewhere to move to medicine wise

did I say ... never give up ... take a breath and realize that epilepsy is not the end of the world... they don't realize what is happening and all they need is you to love them... keep them safe during the seizures and appreciate every day that they are with you...

Cuinn says thank you for the birthday wishes.... I am taking him out to Wendys for a burger later and maybe an ice cream... we shall see

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Shalva and the Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhound
Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhounds

Happy Birthday Cuinn. This story really gives us with epi pets, hope that just maybe ours too could carry on a few more years. So many have sadly passed on recently that you are inclined to forget that sometimes our furry friends can and do live normal life spans. I also think you are right about the medication -being prepared for the time when a particular med no longer works, but also balancing that with not being too eager to add or increase.

Thanks for posting this message of hope and long may he carry on.

I think that is the key, Cuinn has lived a relatively normal life... he swims, he plays out in the yard... he chases the ball and yes he falls over but he chases... he eats his food, he steals the laundry, he loves to go for rides... he goes for walks up and down the driveway...

this saturday he will go to the NEFCRC supported entry and get alot of birthday lovin by all the flat coat people. he is happy and he lives a normal life and we adapt things to his needs and thats ok.... we do what we need to do and until he tells us he is tired we will continue to do that cause we love him.

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Shalva and the Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhound
Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhounds

That is GREAT advice!
I think that you both definitely deserve that icecream