subject: Rusty the Narcoleptic Dog – How Narcolepsy Affects His Life [print this page] Rusty the Narcoleptic Dog How Narcolepsy Affects His Life
Rusty the narcoleptic dog is a dachshund with a rare sleep disorder. He is afflicted with narcolepsy, a condition that causes him to suddenly fall asleep or collapse in the middle of doing something.
Although narcolepsy has been affecting quite a fair amount of people now, only a few are aware that the disorder can affect animals too. Like dogs, for instance. Narcolepsy in dogs manifests symptoms that are the same with humans. Rusty the narcoleptic dog is a classic example. He falls asleep when he is running around and playing with other creatures. When he gets excited over seeing a food or his master coming home, he collapses and experiences muscle weakening. If he attempts to rise, he will not be able to do so. Even when he looks unconscious, he is still aware of what is going on in his surroundings. Other people find humor in his predicament. So much so that a video of Rusty has been circulating on the internet, providing entertainment to a lot of people.
But what others find so funny is certainly not for Rusty and the other narcoleptic people who have to suffer with the disorder everyday. Rusty is unable to do the things that he wants to do as a dog. He can't run and play normally. He can't stand long enough to bond with his masters. The muscle weakening episodes, called cataplexy, along with attacks of sudden sleep, happen several times during the day. It definitely affected Rusty's quality of life in a tremendous way. It is even life-threatening if the attacks occur at potentially dangerous times.
So the next time you see a video of Rusty or any other narcoleptic dogs for that matter, try to see it with compassion. Imagine the dog as a being who feels suffering too. If it were a child in Rusty's situation, would it have been easy for you to laugh?
