No human was around when Yogi, a 7-year-old French bulldog, suddenly started experiencing a seizure at home. However, an unlikely hero came to his aid, which is why he is still alive.
Yogi, who has severe epilepsy, was home in Milford, Connecticut, with his brother Reggie, a 16-month-old boxer, when he started seizing.
With no human in sight, Reggie jumped into action and kept Yogi upright and moving, their owner, Sarah McArdle Strilka, told Storyful.
“My French bulldog, Yogi, has severe epilepsy,” Strilka told Storyful. “As soon as Yogi started seizing when I wasn’t home, Reggie jumped into action.”
Watch Reggie help Yogi during epileptic attack
Watch boxer keep French bulldog alive during seizure while home alone
In Milford, Connecticut, when Yogi the French bulldog had a seizure at home, it was his boxer friend, Reggie, who stepped in to keep him alive.
Security camera footage from the incident shows a worried Reggie fussing over Yogi and moving him around, constantly trying to keep his buddy upright. All the movement and attention saved Yogi from aspirating long enough for Strilka to get home.
Despite having limited experience, Reggie was able to keep Yogi alive for three hours, Strilka said, adding that the boxer had only been present for Yogi’s epilepsy attacks once before.
“If it wasn’t for Reggie, Yogi would not be alive today,” she told Storyful.
Yogi has had epilepsy for most of his life
Strilka told USA TODAY her pet has lived with epilepsy most of his life.
“Yogi first started seizing 3 days after his first birthday,” Strilka said. “He has had 18 nights in the ICU and has very severe epilepsy.”
However, things took a turn for the better when Strilka got Reggie.
“Shockingly, since I got Reggie, he made it a year and a half seizure-free until December,” Strilka said.
In December, Yogi got a major attack again and clustered so badly that he had to be rushed to the hospital, where he spent four nights in the ICU on valium.
During his stay, it was determined his seizures were due to low bromide levels, and Strilka hoped and prayed the issue would be rectified, but that did not happen, and her dog continues to experience seizures.
Yogi and Reggie go with Mom to work
Given his condition, Strilka, who operates a restaurant, Pub 67 in Seymour, said she normally takes her dogs with her to work every day. However, on the day of the incident, she had an appointment before work and could not take her pets.
Fortunately, Reggie was able to save his pal by stepping up and helping Yogi, who would have aspirated to death otherwise, Strilka said. He continued seizing for another three days after the video, but did not need to be hospitalized.
Strilka said Yogi is now off the meds and is back to normal.
“He is behaving as he always does after seizures, which is him acting like nothing even happened,” Strilka said, adding he’s now running around the backyard with his brother.
This story was updated to add more information.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
