Dog warns owner she’s about to have an epileptic fits - then saves her life

Dog warns owner she’s about to have an epileptic fits - then saves her life

Mangalore Today News Network

Aug 29, 2015: This is the unbelievable moment a dog warns it’s owner she is about to have an epileptic fit - and then saves her life.

Labrador Poppy can sense when her owner, Shannon Locke, is about to have a dangerous epileptic seizure.

And when she does suffer a fit, Poppy is on hand to clear her airwaves and prevent her choking.

The two-year-old pooch’s sixth-sense has baffled scientists - and made Poppy a global star.

Shannon, 23 and from Co Down, filmed her best pal in action last week, with the clip viewed more than three million times to date.

Shannon told Belfast Live: "I have seizures a couple of times a week and they can be very serious. They can be fatal.

"They began when I was about 17 and they were getting horrendous at one stage, when I was having them four or five times a day.

"I couldn’t leave the house and couldn’t work.

"Then Poppy came along and has been a real lifeline.

"One day she just started to act strange, I’d no idea why.

"She just kept coming up to me and was panting.

Poppy the life saving dog with owner Shannon Locke

"I didn’t think much of it to begin with, but then I realised she was picking up that something wasn’t right."

Shannon said Poppy becomes agitated about 15 to 20 minutes before a seizure sets in.

And when it does, Poppy springs into lifesaving action.

"If I’m on my back she makes sure my airways are clear," Shannon said.

"Nobody knows how she spots it.

"She’s not only my best friend, she’s a lifesaver.

"She has given me the confidence to get out and about and enjoy my life again."

She added: "The response to the video has been incredible

Best pals: Poppy the life saving dog with owner Shannon Locke

"I decided to film Poppy to show what she can do and raise awareness of the Disability Association Dogs charity.

"She is amazing."

Poppy’s abilities are now being studied by experts at Queen’s University in Belfast as part of a ground-breaking study into how dogs could be used to help epilepsy sufferers throughout the world.