# I've heard of seizure-alert dogs, but this is ridiculous **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 25, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459 "2009-09-25T02:10:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/1 "2009-09-25T02:10:27Z")
I was searching on Google news for a link to the story about the snake with a foot. Instead I found… [this](http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/1249523.html). :eek: As a certified insane herpophile who went to [Narcisse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcisse_Snake_Pits) as a birthday present, I want to say: there is no freakin’ way I would wear a large constrictor around my neck, even if it prevented swine flu and emitted happy rays at all passersby. This man is clearly asking for an accident, or possibly a Darwin Award. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/2 "2009-09-25T03:11:09Z")
I’ve cuddled boas lots of times, but I sure wouldn’t wear one around my neck! Especially if I was prone to seizures. That’s flat-out dangerous. I’m sure his snake is very nice and all, of course, but snakes…are _dumb_. And _strong_. I have a few doubts about this story, and a whole lot more about the snake with a foot. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/3 "2009-09-25T04:13:09Z")
Screw the seizure snake, I want to hear more about the foot snake! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/4 "2009-09-25T04:20:36Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Screw the seizure snake, I want to hear more about the foot snake! [OK](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=533417). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/5 "2009-09-25T07:52:22Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > herpophile Google has failed me! I can’t find a definition for that word. From context I’d assume it meant snake lover, but Google says the word for that is ophiophile. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/6 "2009-09-25T07:59:26Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Google has failed me! I can’t find a definition for that word. Try searching for “herpephile” instead. Apparently it means someone who likes reptiles. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/7 "2009-09-25T13:04:00Z")
On the topic of “herp” root words, years ago in my very first job I worked with legal discovery documents and was exposed to the wonderful government-scientist phrase “depauperate herpetofauna.” Scientifically, it means lower species diversity of reptiles in a given environment than in similar environments elsewhere. At the time, I decided it was the world’s fanciest way of saying “not enough snakes.” ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/8 "2009-09-25T13:11:39Z")
Snakes aren’t very bright! And not at all loyal, which is what I think is more important in dogs than brightness; they can be trained to protect the pack leader, etc. Snakes are unto themselves. And I like snakes, too (though not the big ones as much). ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/9 "2009-09-25T13:51:11Z")
The article went on to talk about how two headedness is a more common mutation, and that the heads often attack each other! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/10 "2009-09-25T14:05:22Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Snakes aren’t very bright! And not at all loyal, which is what I think is more important in dogs than brightness; they can be trained to protect the pack leader, etc. Snakes are unto themselves. And I like snakes, too (though not the big ones as much). Exactly! Dogs can actually like and respect you. Reptiles? Not so much. They either view you as: An enemy, to be attacked and killed as efficiently as possible Food, to be killed and nommed, as quickly as possible Neither of the above, to be totally ignored I don’t like snakes, but my hubby and our 9YO daughter do, and my 9YO has three of them. When hubby was growing up, his father kept upwards of 40 snakes (some venomous, some not) at any given time, so I know whereof I speak. (Just for those who may be questioning, none of my daughter’s snakes are venomous; she’s not ready for that). ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/11 "2009-09-25T14:54:32Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Try searching for “herpephile” instead. Apparently it means someone who likes reptiles. I spel gud, don’t I? Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/12 "2009-09-26T00:23:51Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Try searching for “herpephile” instead. Apparently it means someone who likes reptiles. Huh, here I was thinking that a herpephile loves herpes.. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/13 "2009-09-26T00:30:06Z")
> [@mecaenas](#): > > Huh, here I was thinking that a herpephile loves herpes.. Same root, I think. I believe they both come the Greek word for “to creep” but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/14 "2009-09-26T00:52:46Z")
If I understand correctly, seizures are disruptions in the electrical impulses of the central nervous system. If that’s correct, it doesn’t surprise me that snakes could sense the change in a coming seizure, since the sense of smell is related to the electrochemical sensitivity of the one doing the smelling. I don’t have the knowledge to describe it in greater detail. Perhaps someone can come along and flesh out the idea (or tell me I’m full of it.) Four feet is not all that long for a boa. When I was working at the zoo we were instructed to hold the snake around our waist. I wouldn’t sleep with one but a snake that size is unlikely to regard a full grown adult as prey especially if its well-fed. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-seizure-alert-dogs-but-this-is-ridiculous/511459/15 "2009-09-26T04:18:35Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Same root, I think. I believe they both come the Greek word for “to creep” but I could be wrong. According to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com), you’re close. By their reckoning, it’s from the late 14th century Middle English for “to creep/slither”.