A migraine alert dog is trained to pick up the signals that
a migraine is headed your way. By alerting you to this oncoming migraine, this
medical alert dog will help you to be prepared to deal with it before the
crippling pain starts. Fitted with a small service dog vest, a migraine service
dog can accompany you in public to make sure that you're always prepared.
How a Migraine Alert Dog Can Help You
Although a migraine alert dog can't prevent a migraine, it
can help you to prepare for it and recover. By warning you before a migraine
strikes, you could be able to:
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reach a safe location if driving
-
find your medication
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relax in a migraine-ready room with no light or sound.
Migraines are more than just severe headaches and migraine
service dogs can help you cope with the other symptoms as well. If you
experience vertigo with your migraines, a medical service dog could help
support and stabilize you while guiding you to safety.
Training and Specifics for Migraine Alert Dogs
Service dogs for migraine alert require a different kind of
training from other medical alert dogs. Migraine alert dogs learn your body's
specific signals, which means that the more time you spend with your dog, the
better that it will be able to assist you. As the dog begins to learn more
about your body from daily interaction with you, it will be able to sense a
change and offer a warning.
Migraine alert dogs can tell that a migraine is on the way
by sniffing your breath and sensing your aura. While any size dog can be a
medical alert dog, small dogs are often better as they have an easier time
getting close to you.
Becoming an Official Migraine Alert Dog
Although not required by ADA, certain
types of service dog certifications can provide your dog with service dog
status, saying that it can accompany you
anywhere that a service dog is allowed in public. As long as your symptoms
qualify under the ADA, a migraine alert dog can accompany
the handler in public.
If you are training your service
dog to be a migraine alert dog, be sure to fit your medical alert dog
with a service dog in training vest to alert the public to your working dog.
