Neurological Disorders in Dogs Can Be Confusing

Apr 10, 2009 12:39 PM

Guest :

Our 11 yr. old female terrier-cross had received a checkup and blood tests as she was to get her teeth cleaned and the vet wanted to ensure she was healthy. Before the cleaning date, she woke up in the morning, could not get up, front left leg appeared paralyzed, took 2.5 hrs to reach a vet hospital, within that travelling time hind legs weaken then paralyzed and while at the vet office right front leg paralyzed. Blood tests showed no infections, heatbeat normal, blood pressure normal, body temp normal. She could eat, raise her head. Two vets examined her and thought it must be a neurological problem but didn't know what and had no CT scanner at hospital. Put dog down but left wondering whatever went wrong with our pet. Anyone seen this sudden happening in a dog before?

Apr 23, 2009 5:21 PM

Guest :

My 9 yr. old dog woke up with her left side paralyzed, her head tilted, left side of her mouth droopie, walks in circles,cannot stand well and falls often, did several kinds of blood work, visited 2 vets, one of them is a neurologist, at the end all they told me is that it was either a stroke or a brain tumor, they gave her prednisol and is not making any difference at all, I don't want to put her down, we love so much, but we don't want to see her suffering.

Apr 24, 2009 5:40 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

You do not say how long your 9yr old has been like this but if it has only been a day or two it is worth giving it a little more time. If there is no improvement in a few days then you may have to think about making a difficult decision but in the meantime supportive care (help her to get up when she needs to go out, help her to eat and give her soft foods to make it easy and lots of tlc) will help her recover if she is going to.
Good luck

May 6, 2009 11:23 AM

Guest :

I just rescued a five year old poodle that has his head tilted to one side, is blind and walks in circles. He stands upright when I give him a bath but walks in circles. He lifts his head when he hears my voice and understands everything,a nd eats like a little pig! The vet said it was some kind of neurological issue but nothing for certain. He is alert and responsive. He was going to be euthenized when we rescued him from the shelter in hope he would be ok. He seems ok other than he walks in circles!!!!

May 6, 2009 12:09 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

The little rescue poodle may have suffered a head trauma or there may be nutritional deficiencies which have affected vision and balance (or even both).Since you have decided to take this on, be sure you are feeding good quality balanced foods and include some fresh vegetables (dark green leafy ones are good for vitamins and minerals). Give him regular walks for steady exercise (playing in the yard is fun but isn't as good at building muscle and improving coordination)to strengthen him up.
As with all neurological problems, short of lots of very expensive tests, time is your friend. As the dog gets stronger and healthier the symptoms may improve. Good luck!

May 25, 2009 7:56 AM

Guest :

i have a 10 year old corgi who was diagnosed with IVDD. Shes been paralysed in the hind legs for about 5 weeks We'd go for walks on her K9 cart and she was doing just fine. She is incontinent so i help her with expressing her bladder several times a day. Just yesterday she seemed unable to sit in an upright position. I rushed her to the vet last night and she is still there. The blood test showed no abnormality though there was an elevated lipase component. Pancreatitis has been ruled out by the vet as she says there has been no vomiting. Is this correct? My dog now seems to stiffen up when i lift her head adn appears to be in pain. She continually lies on her side. Turning her head to the right seems ok but not to the left. The Vets are only making educated guesses and i'm told is neurological, that she may have malignancy in her somewhere. She has lost 3 kgs in 1 month and is rather thin. Her eyes are dim but she still eats and drinks well. She's been having diarrhoea as well..I really don't know what to do... Please help us, i want to understand what is wrong. I'm told the untra sound revealed an abnormal liver... what can i do please? Thank you... Michelle (singapore)

May 26, 2009 5:31 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Hi Michelle,
If i were in your place I would have the ultrasound. If the liver is enlarged it would explain much of what you have described. The pain on moving the head to one side would seem to be something else entirely and certainly, if there is a neurologist near you I would consider having her looked at. I am sorry you are having this difficult time. Good luck.

May 26, 2009 8:40 AM

Guest :

My 12 yr. old pit woke up froma nice long nap with wobbly legs, drooling and eyes moving back and forth. He seems just like his energetic self, but with a lot of falling. He doesn't seem able to see me further than ten feet, but will follow my voice when I call him. His head is slightly tilted and the same side eye seems slightly closed. He does not seem to be in any pain or discomfort or notice any difference in himself. I am beside myself and vet appt. isn't til later this p.m. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Sue

May 26, 2009 8:53 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Sue, The two most likely possibilities are canine vestibular syndrome of canine stroke but your vet will be able to tell you more when (s)he does the exam today. The thing to keep in mind (I know this is a distressing thing for dog owners) is that either of those conditions will often resolve, if not completely, at least enough for the dog to enjoy a good quality of life.
Fingers crossed for your appointment this afternoon.

Jun 4, 2009 5:10 PM

Guest :

Hi. About three weeks ago I rescued a week old puppy. I had her in a box about 10-12 inches off the ground. She managed to squiggle her way out (I have since bought a crate) and hit her head. The vet monitored her for two days (I live in Costa Rica so we don't have MRI machines) and eventually sent her home with me. So, now five days after her fall she is doing much better. She eats, she wants to play, she knows where to relieve herself, she barked this morning for the first time. But, she still has this pretty severe head tilt. I was told when the swelling goes down, the tilt may go away. Any thoughts on this? From her symptoms, do you think it could go away? How much time does an injury like this take to fully recover? How long do concussions last in dogs? Any help would be more than appreciated.

Thank you.

Jun 4, 2009 5:25 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

The head injury to your puppy may take several weeks to completely heal. Because the brain in is such an enclosed place (the skull, which protects it) any swelling is going to take a while to resolve. If you think about bruises you get, it may take weeks before they are completely gone. In this case until the bruising has gone down significantly there is likely to be pressure on the brain from the swelling. The fact that you are seeing progress on a regular basis is a very good sign. And puppies can heal quickly. Be sure she is getting the best quality of food as she needs it to help with the healing.

Jun 9, 2009 9:36 AM

Guest :

My 4 yr old female maltese was unable to get up yesterday afternoon 6/8/9. My husband went over to see her and she couldn't move her hind end. We took her to the vet this am and he states that there is nothing broken and it looks like a neurological problem. She is overweight which will not help her. She cannot move her hind legs or her tail. She also seems like she is not responding to our voices looking like she doesn't understand. She is eating and drinking water, but cannot go potty on her own. They have made an appointment for her to see a neurological specialist in McAllen, Texas. Do we go through all of the testing and expenses to find out that she will not be able to walk again? What kind of a future does my Brittany have?
Pam

Jun 9, 2009 10:06 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

The neurologist will be better able to give you a prognosis once he has seen Brittany and done an exam. If he suggests expensive tests be sure to question him as to what the tests will tell and, if the cost is out of your range, ask him for options. Often the vet will start with the ideal diagnostic series, then work with you on how to manage costs and get the most information possible. Remember, often in the early stages of a neurological problem is it difficult to know how much progress an individual animal will make. Good luck.

Jun 10, 2009 7:42 AM

Guest :

My Madison an 11 year old chow mix recently underwent surgery for a tumor on her from left paw. Upon being sedated for that surgery they found a massive tumor on her tongue which turned out to be malignant melamona. Both were successfully removed. 10 days after her first surgery her tail went down and she could not sit. Upon taking her to the vet they said she probably had hip dysplasia no test were conducted so I sought out a second opinion as I did not want to needlessly medicate my dog. She needed a second surgery as the first one on her tongue did not have clean lines. She was ok for a while after that surgery again but is now not able to sit on her right side at all and her tail has never come back up. She had blood work and xrays taken that show that she has no tumors nor has it entered her blood stream. I don't understand how I take my dog in for tumor removal and she was fine prior to the surgeries and I now have a dog that can barely walk cannot squat to relieve herself and refuses to eat dog food of any kind so I am feeding her whatever she will eat which I believe may be causing diarrhea. She was 45lbs before the surgeries and is now 37lbs at last weigh in. Her xrays show she has arthritis of the spine and hip dysplasia but I am struggling to accept that this just came on all of a sudden when she was fine inspite of her cancer before surgeries and at 11yrs old still gave my puppy pit mix a run for his money. The doctors tell me that she has cancer and I understand that but she was fine before. I'm just trying to figure out what could have happened to her with a clear understanding that I did what I thought was best by having the tumors removed and that given her current condition I will have to make a very difficult decision as she continues to deteriorate. She is on tramadol twice a day and glucosime pills once a day.

Jun 10, 2009 8:03 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

I am so sorry to hear about Madison's troubles. It is impossible to know from a distance what is going on. You certainly did what would seem to be the right thing and that makes it doubly difficult when problems arise. Malignant melanoma is often a highly invasive type of cancer but whether the cancer and the neurological problems are related would be very hard to say. If she has been diagnosed with spinal arthritis and hip dysplasia that may be where the neurological difficulty comes. It might be that in the time she was recovering from her surgery and less active the arthritic issues came to light. It is not uncommon for dogs with very severe hip dysplasia or arthritis to appear to be asymptomatic (not showing signs) until a sudden change (twisting to catch a ball or frisbee, a few days of inactivity for some other reason) brings the problem to light.
Please do not be hard on yourself. We all try to do the best we can for our animals and sometimes what we do triggers other problems. It may also be that, even if she had not had the surgeries the hip/leg/back problems would have surfaced suddenly.
It is probably worth talking to the vet who gave the second opinion to see if they can help you find more answers to your questions. But when you talk to them, let them know you are just looking for answers and possible ways to help your dog so they do not become defensive. Although you have a right to feel upset, an angry approach will not get you as far.

Jun 14, 2009 5:50 AM

Guest :

I have a 16 year old golden retriever/ chow mix. She has arthritis in her lower back and we have been giving her tramadol (the other meds were too strong). Lately she has been hiding her head in different corners of the house and even getting stuck trying to hide under chair legs and coffee tables. She won't drink water any more, I have to give it mixed with broth in her food. Could this be from the medicine or do you think she has some sort of neurological disorder? We are really afraid she is going to get hurt. Any ideas?

Jun 15, 2009 12:59 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

It is difficult to say what is causing your dog's symptoms. If they started within a few days of starting the tramadol it would be important to discuss this with your vet. It is difficult to say whether the behavior is related to the back pain, the medication or a separate neurological condition. Perhaps your vet will have some ideas.

Jun 22, 2009 2:53 AM

Guest :

I have taken on the care of a blind/deaf rescued Shih Tzu. Don't know any of his history. Eye vet says he has cateracts and probably detatched retinas behind them. He can hear noises but can't find the direction of the noise. He walks in circles and bounces away from anything he touches, even tiny weeds in the yard. Any advice on how to help this little guy or am I being unkind by not having him put down? He really enjoys his dinner and knows when it is dinner time and will bark until he gets it. I feel like Annie Sullivan with Helen Keller.

Jun 24, 2009 8:39 AM

Guest :

Good morning, picked up a stray about 4 years ago in Santiago , Chile, living now in Santa Cruz, Bolivia ( 2 years ) and since we moved here my dog has suffered 3 times where his hind quarters drop , his front legs get all wobbly and starts shaking. I pick him up and hold him until the symptoms cease ( about 5 min. ) after that he seems fine. I read about wobblers syndrome and it seems like that. Dog is about 5 years , about 11 pounds with all his cares up to date, 3 walks a day and lots of love. What could it be ? He is alone most of the day since my wife and I both work , but he has the entire house and patio to his disposal.Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Jun 24, 2009 8:58 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Wobbler's syndrome would be unlikely in this case as it is a smaller dog and the symptoms have not progressed. There could be some neurological situation where he moves just wrong, triggering the episode. But it would be unusual to have no lingering problem if a neurological disorder is at fault.
One possibility would be an epileptic seizure. Not all seizures involve the full blown symptoms and the animals generally recover from the event with no residual side effects. If it is epilepsy,I would not think he would need medication as the events are few and mild.
One thing to be aware of when these instances occur= whether he seems disoriented or "out of it" during the incident. If that is the case, epilepsy moves higher on the list.
Also he is probably fine left at home while you work but if you have concerns, check with your local veterinarian.

Jun 24, 2009 6:39 PM

Guest :

few month ago our five year old miniature schnauzer started having intermittent problems negotiating the 3 steps in our split level home.
it started with a bare wood set of steps so i taped some material on and the dog was fine for a few weeks. since then he started having the same problem there and other places with 3, even carpeted, steps. intermittent again - one moment rushing straight thru and next stuck by the first step seemingly frozen or crying in desperation. no problem on the main staircase at all at any time! any ideas?

Jun 25, 2009 5:34 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

If the two sets of 3 stairs are a different height than the main staircase, it may be that the angle he needs to take to negotiate these stairs is a problem. If you have not taken him for a thorough physical-especially to check for back problems, that would be the first thing to do.
If there is nothing obvious physically, there can be a psychological issue(in other words if he hurt himself going up the steps he may now be afraid he will be hurt again and thus hesitate) but the fact that he does it sometimes suggests intermittent pain/discomfort may be the problem.
Good luck.

Jul 12, 2009 8:03 AM

Guest :

my 7 yr old lad cross has recently had her boosters (we rescued her from someone) and since then has gradually become worse, she is very unstable on her legs, looks drunk or like shes falling asleep on her legs, swaying and she crys and backs away and looses bowel control as if something is scaring the life out of her, do you have any suggestions. she has had xrays of her spine and that is clear so are her bloods and organs ok. it is very upsetting even though we have only had her since april she is part of the family

Jul 12, 2009 4:00 PM

Guest :

Hi. My 15 month old maltese/yorkie was attacked last night by a pitbull. He doesn't have any cuts or bite wounds. He went into a shock state and didn't move. He was breathing and heart was still beating. I took him to the emergency vet and took some x-rays. no broken bones or internal bleeding that's what the vet said. We took him home and he is still stiff from the time the pitbull attacked him. Vet was not very helpful. We took him to another vet whom we trust and they said he has a neurological damage. The doctor said he has a 25 percent chance of recovering. What should we expect. any info would be great. thank you

Jul 13, 2009 5:38 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

For the lab cross-has your vet considered epilepsy? Or is the dog constantly unstable? If the problem occurs as distinct episodes, epilepsy (which can be controlled with medication in most cases) would be a possibility.
If it is constant and there is a veterinary neurologist nearby it would make sense to have a workup done to figure out why this is happening.

For the maltese/yorkie- it is hard to know what to expect. A lot will depend on where the damage is and how bad. Because he is so young he has a better chance of recovery than an older dog-the body is still developing at his age so nerves that are damaged may heal somewhat. Give him lots of supportive care and hope for the best. You may also want to consider alternative medicine such as acupuncture/acupressure to help spped things along.

Jul 14, 2009 5:28 PM

Guest :

My 6 year old shih tzu Cocoa began showing symptoms of an arched back and stiffness about 3 months ago. The first vet diagnossed arthitis. Symptoms became worse now the front paw is turned in and there seems to be weeakness on the left side. He walks like is drunk and moves much slower. The second vet said neurological issues. We are trying prednisol first and may have to see a specialist for MRI and CT scan which can be very costly. It's hard to see my once very active dog in pain and laying down most of the day. Should I invest in the test not truly knowing the outcome? Most of what I have read on similar cases doesn't look good.

Jul 16, 2009 6:56 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

The advantage of the MRI and/or CT scan is that you may have a better idea of what is going on with Cocoa, unless cost is a serious concern for you. The down side is that they may not find a clear answer, just eliminate some possibilities. If you have not already had a series of spinal xrays to be sure and eliminate the possibility of arthritis/bone spurs impinging on the spinal cord, that should be the first step.
You may also want to consider seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, as they sometimes can be more effective in conditions that western medicine has few good treatments for.
Good luck!

Jul 16, 2009 8:01 PM

Guest :

I recently had to put my dog down, He was gradually getting a little worse on the second day my dog fido was almost 18 years old and he lived a very healthy and happy life. He had the head tilt rapid eye movement staggering and falling he drank lots of water but could not eat. It made me cry to see him like this, but I cannot afford those costly vet bills so we came to an agreement that we did not want to see our beloved Fido like this so we had him uthenized but now I feel so guilty should we have waited a few days? But we also thought with all of us working he might injure himself falling down the staires or just falling period and breaking a hip or something Did we do the right thing if so why do I feel so guilty?

Jul 17, 2009 5:19 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Please don't feel guilty about Fido. As you said, he lived a long and healthy life. 18 is certainly a respectable age for a dog. And remember not every case of vestibular syndrome or stroke gets better. Or he might have made a mild improvement but never got back to his old self (which happens more often in the very elderly dogs).
And yes, the risk of him injuring himself or getting stuck somewhere in the house, unable to figure out what to do because of the disorientation, is very real.
You made the best decision you could. Fido is at peace now. Be happy for the time you had together.

Jul 20, 2009 5:10 PM

yorahkote :

My 14 month old Alaskan Malamute suddenly went blind one morning.He was recovering from elbow dysplasia surgery and doing quite well.My Vet is baffled and sent me to a neurologist.I had the tests done that I could afford but she had no answers without a MRI.His blood work and urine are normal.They put him on anibiotics just in case of underlying infection but they make him horribly sick.He now passes and cries when he lies down.He's not sleeping now for more then 30 minutes at a time. He has since developed congestion in his nose and has jaw pain. He stopped eating on his own but I am syringe feeding him successfully. I have spent $16,000 dollars on vet bills in the last 16 months and I'm broke! I can't yet come up with the money for the MRI but I need to save my puppy! I don't think I can handle another loss just yet.Please Help ! Thank you.

Jul 21, 2009 10:05 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Unfortunately for you and your malamute, the situation you are describing does not sound good. The reason for wanting to do an MRI is that it would seem the problem might be in the brain. And the fact that it is worsening rapidly in a young animal is not a good sign.
But you might want to talk to the neurologist (or your regular vet) about the situation and see whether there is anything else they can do without the information an MRI would give. They might be able to try a different antibiotic in case the problem is infection based.

Jul 23, 2009 1:43 AM

Guest :

My King Charles Spaniel is coming up to six years old and just yesterday pm we went to let her out and she fell over by the door, got back up but was walking side ways. Her mouths drowling at one side she has been going around in circles. So i took her to the vets at once and got told it could be a ear infection, but they could not see enough in her ears. So i took her back home and we were to keep a close eye on her and within an hour she did the same again, So again i took her back to the vets and they gave her a anti inflamerty injection and a anti biotics injection and i have tablets to give her each evening that are anti biotics. My worry is this morning it looks like there is no improvement and she is not eating!

Jul 23, 2009 5:41 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

For the King Charles- possible causes include canine stroke or canine vestibular syndrome. Inner or middle ear infections, epilepsy and other less common neurological disorders should also be considered. Because there has been no improvement and she has had a second episode, you should talk further with your vet about more diagnostic work.
In the meantime ensure that she is getting food and water by handfeeding, offering her some of her favorite foods or treats and hold the waterbowl for her or use a syringe (from the vet) or something similar to drip water into her mouth. Some dogs will drink clear meat soups when they won't drink water so you might try that.
Good Luck

Jul 25, 2009 5:52 PM

Guest :

My 13 year old Shih tzu suffered a stroke over a week ago and had another siezure 2 days later. He has been at the vet since then and has shown no signs of improvement. He is paralazed on the left side and cannot open his left eye. He also has not had a bm since then. The vet says to establish a time line for stages of improvement. We are obviously concerned about his prognosis and would like to know what we can realistically expect.

Jul 27, 2009 5:29 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

The prognosis for your shih tzu gets poorer as each day passes. If you are able to visit daily, it would be worthwhile so that you can see how he responds to your presence.Sometimes having their family around will help the animal. Talk to your vet about what (s)he thinks is a reasonable timeline and what types of improvements to be looking for.

Jul 28, 2009 9:44 PM

Guest :

Last week my 13 yr old golden retriever started walking into walls and doors and when he would go outside he walked in circles alot. He also keeps his head tilted to the left side and walks close to the walls. I thought maybe because of his age he might be going blind or had cataracts. Took him to his doctor and he diagnoised him with either west nile or rocky mtn. since he had a low grade fever. Also said there was no signs of cataracts but that it could also be a neurological disorder. He put him on antibiotics and after a few days seemed to be doing better. But today I noticed that he was starting to do the same things all over again. What could be going on with him?

Jul 29, 2009 8:17 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Canine vestibular syndrome would be a possibility for your golden beyond the possible West Nile Virus or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. If he was better when on the antibiotics the West Nile or RMSP would be more likely. Talk to your vet about a longer course of antibiotics and see what he thinks about vestibular syndrome as a possibility.

Jul 30, 2009 10:14 PM

Guest :

The other day my dog, who was sleeping at my feet, suddenly started scrambling with his legs and chomping his jaws. I immediately got down to hold him down, and he stopped in about 10 seconds and quickly stood up. He exibited loss of control of his left legs for about 30 seconds, then ran outside to potty and was completely normal. 2 days later he woke me up, this time he was standing, but the mouth was chomping again. It also quickly ended, but he was very uncoordinated in his walking for a few moments, then again went outside and looked and acted perfectly normal. Both times I checked his pulse(strong, rhythmic) and gums(pink, quick capillary refill), as I wondered if he were having a heart attack. He never lost consciousness, nor did he pee/poop/vomit. Before the 1st episode, he had been rubbing his head on my leg and the couch, as if something were irritating him. Otherwise, he has been acting completely normal immediately before and after each episode. I am puzzled.

Jul 31, 2009 4:48 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

What you describe sounds like they might have been seizures. Talk to your vet about what happened and possible causes (epilepsy is not the only cause of seizures). A medical workup may be wise at this time.

Jul 31, 2009 1:09 PM

Guest :

My 3-yr old 7-pound Chihuahua was grabbed and shaken by our German Sheppard leaving only a small wound about 1 1/2" down his neck from his ear which took 1 staple to treat. He immediately displayed symptoms of inability to stand, eyes twitching from side to side, and incessant circling toward the wound. It has been 3 days and there is not much improvement. We are feeding him chicken and nutritional paste since he will not eat his food and giving water by syringe. He is responsive to people and wags his tail when he hears someone he recognizes, but more ofter than not cannot turn to look at them. Occasionally he will briefly stand a few seconds in a crooked fashion. Neurologists and MRIs are cost prohibitive. We are administering steroids twice daily and 6mg diphenhydromine every 4 hours. Is it possible that his world is going to never stop spinning? I want to give him a chance to recover, but at the same time his world just keeps spinning and spinning like he just got off the merry-go-round and I don't know how long I could take that. I would like to know what the chances for even a partial recovery is and what is a reasonable amount before having to make a difficult decision regarding the suffering dog's fate.

Jul 31, 2009 1:25 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

You might want to talk to your vet about giving a mild tranquilizer to help calm your chihuahua a little more so he can rest and recover. If you are seeing even slight improvement I would give it a little more time. Brain trauma can take time to heal.
See if your vet can give you some guidelines on what to look for and a rough timeline for making decisions as he has seen the dog and will have a better feel for the situation.

Aug 2, 2009 4:44 AM

Guest :

hi, my dog(a whippet) has suddenly started becoming very agitated from Thursday onwards and bumps into everything on his right side, it seems as if he has no feeling on that side. The vet seems to think it is neurological problems but is at a loss as to what it could be exactly, but his condition is very intermittent with one minute him being fine and then another minute he's not so good, do you have any idea of what it could be?

Aug 2, 2009 5:54 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Things to consider for the whippet would be vestibular syndrome, epilepsy or possibly exposure to some sort of toxin. The fact that it is intermittent makes canine vestibular syndrome less likely.
Talk to your vet about these possibilities and he may be able to rule some out as he has seen the dog.

Aug 3, 2009 10:56 AM

Guest :

I have an 11 year old Chihuahua, Brutus. He has had no prior neurological issues but his mother past away a few years back as a result of what we believed was a brain tumor and many severe seizures. She also had congestive heart failure. Brutus has no history of a heart murmur/heart problems and is checked yearly for heart/lung issues and gets a complete blood workup yearly as well. He has had no issues in the past as a result of all the tests. This morning he laid on his tummy perfectly still and his head bobbed back and forth. He was very disoriented for about 20-30 seconds and then seemed to be fine. He was a little quiet afterwards but immediately accepted treats and had no problem eating them. After living with his sick mother for a few years this was very scary, even though it seemed relatively minor. Is this something to be concerned about? Should we wait a few days and see how it goes before proceeding with tests? His mother had her first seizure when she was very young and they were re-occurring every few months, and this is the first time we've ever seen Brutus show any signs of a possible stroke or neurological disorder.

Aug 3, 2009 11:21 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

What you are describing could very well have been a seizure and, given Brutus' mother's history I understand your concern. But many dogs have the occasional 'seizure' just as you describe. Not every seizure case is related to brain tumors either. I would consult with your vet just to be sure but if Brutus has had regular checkups and the vet feels he is healthy it may be fine to wait and see if any more problems develop.
Good luck

Aug 9, 2009 5:48 PM

Guest :

My 13.5 yo male Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier had been diagnosed with arthritis in his lower back, treated with steroids along with pain relief. Initial symptoms of difficulty using hind legs improved, vet noted improvement likely due to reduced inflammation at 2 week check-up. Next morning, he had a seizure which I observed, and from the foaming at the mouth I witnessed, I believe he had already had a seizure during the night as there was fluid on the floor by his bed. Checked immediately by vet, observed circling always to the right, resisted attempts to move him to the left, head tilt, paw did not return to natural position after being turned under. She drew blood, advised to call if another event. 2 hours later, another seizure. Back to vet, shot of phenobarb along with script for same to give every 12 hours. During the day, had another 3 seizures. Left him disoriented, drunken stumble, walking in circles, unaware of boundaries previously known, walked into tight spots and didn't know how to get out. Personality gone, just seemed driven to walk in circles or aimlessly with frequent stumbles. Next morning, no more seizures, but completely unable to stand, cannot bear weight on any of his four legs. All 4 paws easily turn under with no attempt to correct. I straddle him and help him "walk" when needing to urinate/defecate, I have to hold his full weight, his legs move but frequently turn under and cross. He seemed very hungry, but unable to get food from a bowl, needed to be fed one piece at a time. Drinks water from a bowl. Today, still unable to stand or bear weight. Seems sleepier than yesterday. Seems more connected to his people again, but still seems confused and can be restless. Vet said blood work came back normal, suspects brain tumor. Didn't say stroke, but noted neurological signs. Vet says any further testing (ie: MRI, CT) would need to be done at a center about 2.5 hours away at a considerable cost. I don't know what to do. I wonder if there is any chance his motor ability will improve, or if I should be considering the dreaded decision. I hate that he is suffering, but don't want to react too quickly if he might have some spontaneous recovery. I'd appreciate any insight! Thanks.

Aug 10, 2009 6:26 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Several things may be involved with your wheaten terrier. Certainly a brain tumor can't be ruled out without testing but seizures often cause diorentation and it can take time for the body to adjust to phenobarb, adding to the coordination/awareness issues. If you can hang on for a couple of days to see how much recovery you get that might be best. If after that your dog is still struggling and barely responsive/not really himself then it is time to have a serious talk with your vet about the chances of further improvement.

Aug 22, 2009 8:09 PM

Guest :

Hi, I have a pomeranian that is about 2-3 years old it's a female. She was all fine until recently she woke up and couldn't walk or get up for the whole day. I was so worried that I took her to the vet and they see she has a neurological problem and is producing too much fluid in her brain. He gave me some medicine for her and I immidietly gave her the medicine when I got home, as told from the vet. When the night came, she was worse and kept falling as she was trying to get up, also she would bang her head as she would fall. I ended up carrying her all for the rest of the night. She is also vomiting, drualing, and she has liqiud coming out of her nose as if she has a runny nose. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO , I love this dog to death and I don't want to put her to sleep. I have an appointment with the vet in two weeks but I work during the week, I also need suggestions for what I can do while i'm not home. PLZZ I would gladly appriciate any comments or suggestions

Aug 23, 2009 4:03 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

I would talk to your vet about the possibility of exposure to some type of poison as well as looking at various neurological disorders. This seems a bit too serious to wait 2 weeks for another check up. If you have to leave her- put her in a playpen or other soft, enclosed area so she won't be able to hurt herself.
Good Luck

Aug 26, 2009 4:08 AM

Guest :

I have a 9 yr. old pug. I rescued her at the age of one. Several years ago she began to have seizures.However they were not often..2 or 3 a year within a day or two of each other. She would let out this scream at the onset. I have been told she also has a problem with her hind leg kneecaps. They slide off which causes her to drop down on her hind legs on occasion. About 10 days ago she had 4 or 5 seizures, but they were different.The first one she just fell over on her side and convulsed. The rest were similar.She even had them in her sleep.But this time all the seizures were silent.Ever since the first seizure she is unable to walk for more than a few seconds. She sways and makes wide circles and falls over on her side. She has been panting a lot more... then her body will have tremors.She is constantly tucking her right paw under...like she cannot control it.She is unable to put her head down to drink or eat. I put the dish up to her lips.She is unable to hold her bone with her front paws.She now sometimes refuses food.And the last bit of information I can think of is...when she sits up (for a short time) she holds her head in a peculiar manner, her neck outstretched and erect...but her body trembles.These symptoms have been ongoing for about 10 days. Sometimes it appears she is improving for a day then they return.I have an appointment with the Vet this week but I am really interested to hear your take on this.I'd be thankful for any advice you may have.

Aug 26, 2009 1:42 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

The little pug will need a workup to determine what is going on. The history of seizures suggests a worsening of epilepsy but can be other problems with the brain or exposure to some type of toxin. Your vet can help you determine what may be going on.

Aug 28, 2009 10:06 AM

Guest :

My 11 year old golden retriever woke up 2 weeks ago and couldn't get his hind end up. I helped him up and he was limping on his front leg as well. I had to help him (89 lbs.) down 6 steps. I thought it might just be arthritis as we had just been to the vet for his yearly shots. I started him on arthritis medication given by my vet and put him on glucosomine pills and other glucosomine vitamins from the pet store. A week later he still wasn't any better and after getting him up to go out, he fell out the back door. I took him to the emergency vet in our area and they thought it was vestibular disease as he had the head tilt, his eyes were not focusing clearly and was some what lathargic. He was dehydrated as he wasn't getting up as much. After the internal medicine doctor and the neurologist checked him out they feel he may have a tumor growing on the brain or the nerves stems 6 & 8. I chose not to do the MRI or the spinal tap to confirm the diagnosis because I don't want to put him through all of that. Don't get me wrong, I would do anything to help my boy out, but they can't garantee that taking these steps will help improve anything. He is currently on 20 mg prednisone and 1 gr sucralfate tablets. The first 2 days he seemed to be doing ok, but last night and this morning he just didn't want to get up at all. I have a harness to help his hind up and I have to help him in the right direction. He doesn't appear to be in pain, however I don't know how long I should test out this treatment. I don't want him to be in any pain but I am not ready to let him go either. He still wags his tail and has a good appetite it is just difficult for him to get around on his own. I am his mom and will do whatever it takes to help because that is what I signed on to do when I bought him!! Any thoughts????

Aug 28, 2009 10:12 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

You might want to talk to the neurologist about this development with your golden. It may help confirm/refute his tentative diagnosis. There may be further medication that could be helpful or increasing the dose of the prednisone may be be indicated.

Aug 29, 2009 9:08 AM

Guest :

I have a three year old pure-bred female Yorkie that is unspayed. About 3 weeks ago, I came home from a night away and found her sleeping in a pile of clothes in my roommates bedroom. She had absolutely no desire to get up and move, and did not even greet me at the door which was highly unlike her. She puked a number of times so I took food and water away. She was extremely lethargic, and wouldn't even touch her tennis ball which is probably the biggest red flag, as she was glued to it at all times. I took her to the vet the next day... we ran blood work & everything came back normal. We did a tick-test: negative. They gave me meds to alleviate the vomiting. Then, she started having diarrhea. Went back to the vet and got meds for that. Then she became very aggressive. She needed to be muzzled at the vet because she would lash out... and she has never done that before. She is the sweetest dog, really.

As the weeks have progressed, I have been to 3 different vet clinics and nobody has a clear answer. I have already forked over $1200 on tests and overnights and what not. Her belly became very bloated one day and I was told to take her to the emergency vet. X-Rays and an ultrasound showed nothing of concern. Just a full belly. She walks in circles to the right... and does not know how to play fetch anymore. She eats and drinks just fine. Won't go outside, won't let anyone pick her up UNLESS you spend the time to rub her and pet her a ton first. And they only way to properly approach her to avoid the aggressive behavior is to touch her under the chin and then work your way to her head, her back, and finally her belly. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes it takes forever. She is now on Prednisone every 12 hours. Her symptoms have remained the same except no vomiting or diarrhea.

The neighbors recently fertilized their lawn, could she have ingested some that would have caused this?
She swims in our lake - ALL the time - which I know is unusual for a Yorkie. Could it have been something in the water? She doesn't get into garbage or other household things so I am really at a loss here. I love my dog, she is my baby, but I can not afford any more testing. We have reached our limit. She eats, drink, releives herself just fine and follows us around the house constantly now. Any ideas? Have you seen anything similar to this... and if so, what was the outcome? I am thinking about her quality of life... which is poor now.

-Sad owner.

Aug 29, 2009 9:29 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

There are a couple of things to think about with the Yorkie-have they eliminated a 'closed pyometra'? That would be a reproductive tract infection but without the discharge you normally see with pyometra. Some of the behavioral changes might be linked to something like that. Also did the agressive behavior start before or after she was put on prednisone? Some animals (like some of us) have negative emotional/behavioral reactions when taking pred.
Certainly chemicals from lawn care or bacteria/virus infection from the lake might be an issue but if there has been no improvement and she has not had accees to these things in 3 weeks they are a less likely cause.
I hope you are able to find some answers.

Aug 31, 2009 7:56 PM

Guest :

Our 11 yr old Yorkie has had a stroke and has all the problems associated with a stroke. Daytime she is active and does very well. Nights are terrible. She runs through the house and pants very hard for 3 t 4 hours. She will settle before dawn and sleep well during the day. Any ideas?

Aug 31, 2009 11:30 PM

Guest :

Our 11 year old female Lab was experiencing major mobility problem with her hips and back legs back in May. Our vet attributed it to her having arthritis and prescribed Deramaxx. Incidentally, she also had her heart worm testing done at the same time, and it came back positive for Lyme disease. He prescribed antibiotics for that as well and we started giving the medications that same day. The next day, the dog was noticibly improved and within a few days was perfectly mobile. This past week, we went for 4 days before we were able to refill her prescription for the Deramaxx. After two days of missing her medication, the dog started going downhill very quickly. Refilling the Deramaxx made no impact this time. Our vet thinks that the issue this time could be anything such as strokes, neurological problems etc, and does not see much hope for her to improve. Could her symptoms be caused by a recurrence of the Lyme disease? She was treated for it, three months ago, but now I am wondering if her symptoms could have been originally caused by the inflammation of the joints associated with Lyme's and not solely from the arthritis. We assumed that her improvements were because of the arthritis medication, but is it possible that the antibiotics caused the inflammation to go away so quickly back in May? Could the Deramaxx have kept the inflammation from returning while she still harbored a little of the Lyme's bacteria, and while it multiplied, the swelling was kept at bay until we ran out of the Deramaxx? Is it possible that she has has a reinfection of Lyme's, and the swelling and inflammation that it could be causing is compressing her spinal nerves in such a way as to render her rear half immobile? As well, could they be compressing the nerves that allow her to control her bladder and bowels? With the immobility this time, she is totally unable to control either. I don't want to prolong this situation if there is no hope, but I don't want to give up on her either. She had been a great companion to our family over the years. Our vet has told us that testing for Lyme's disease so soon after treating it would not give an accurate result. She is not responding to the Dexasone that she has been taking for the last couple of days and Tramadol is keeping her pain free. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, M.O.

Sep 1, 2009 1:06 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Often older dogs have problems with restlessness at night which may or may not be related to the stroke. You may want to speak to your vet about some of the newer medications for elderly dogs that help with cognitive problems and this nighttime restlessness.There may also be some alternative or herbal treatments to consider.

Sep 1, 2009 1:11 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Often older dogs have problems with restlessness at night which may or may not be related to the stroke. You may want to speak to your vet about some of the newer medications for elderly dogs that help with cognitive problems and this nighttime restlessness.There may also be some alternative or herbal treatments to consider.

Sep 1, 2009 1:16 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

It would certainly be worth trying another round of antibiotics for Lyme disease for the lab with mobility problems. If you see significant improvement on the antibiotics that would suggest that Lyme is a part of the problem. Loss of bowel and bladder control is less common in early Lymes so it is important to consider other neurological disorders as well. If she is also suffering from canine vestibular syndrome or has had a stroke you should see some improvement over time with or without medication.
You should discuss these possibilities with your vet and determine a course of action/time frame for deciding whether there is a chance for significant improvement. Good Luck

Sep 3, 2009 2:44 PM

Guest :

Our yorkie is on selegiline 2.5 per day . One of her problems is mainly at night. She lists to the right,goes in circles, Pants real hard, runs thru the house bumping into things. This lasts for 3 to 4 hrs then she sleeps soundly. In the day time she is a lot more comfortable. Should we discontinue med?

Sep 4, 2009 5:39 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

For the little yorkie-it is important that you discuss the situation with your vet. If the nighttime agitation started after being put on the seligiline, either the dose may need to be adjusted or the drug may need to be discontinued. There may also be a different medication that will help your dog without the side effects.
Do not just simply discontinue a medication without discussing it with your vet. Some medications need to be tapered off slowly to prevent a reaction.

Sep 5, 2009 12:46 PM

Guest :

My 13 year old Shihtzu woke up one day completely blind and started bumping into things and walking frantically around, sometimes in circles. She also started wetting on the floor. She was diagnosed with Cushings disease and started medication to treat it. In the next two weeks, she became very lethargic at times and wouldn't eat on some days, but other days she seemed okay other than bumping into things and wetting on the floor. I am sure she had this Cushings disease for at least a year-I just thought her drinking and getting fat was old age. But she went downhill so quickly after taking that medicine. In the end, she found her way outside and my daughter found her after I don't know how long not able to get herself up, her head was tilting upward and she was moving her head from side to side. I assume she had a stroke both times, with the last incident being the worst. The vet said she probably had the adrenal gland cushings, but I think the medicine made her worse. After the last "stroke", I put her to sleep immediately. Now I wonder if she would have been able to heal from that stroke and also if the hot weather contributed to her having that stroke, and if the medicine was a completely bad idea.

Sep 6, 2009 11:33 AM

Guest :

Dawn,
I am a former Vet-Tech but as you know It can be hard to diagnose your own dog. My Alex is a 12 year old German Shephard mix. Shots are up to date and health was good. Fine yesterday morning and then as I returned home I notices her eyes flciking at a rapid rate back and forth and she had dificulty controlling her realy legs. Seemed a bit liek heat stroke at first but she is in a shade pen with plenty of water..last night the flicking reduced but is still occurring and she has difficulty in controling rear legs..could use your help

Sep 6, 2009 11:34 AM

Guest :

Dawn,
I am a former Vet-Tech but as you know It can be hard to diagnose your own dog. My Alex is a 12 year old German Shephard mix. Shots are up to date and health was good. Fine yesterday morning and then as I returned home I notices her eyes flciking at a rapid rate back and forth and she had dificulty controlling her realy legs. Seemed a bit liek heat stroke at first but she is in a shade pen with plenty of water..last night the flicking reduced but is still occurring and she has difficulty in controling rear legs..could use your help

Sep 6, 2009 5:24 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

For the ShihTzu, we often try to second guess ourselves when an animal goes downhill quickly, please don't be too hard on yourself. If she had Cushings syndrome for a long time it is possible that the medicine was too little too late rather than the cause of her decline-or it could be that she needed her dosage adjusted. It could also be that in addition to the Cushings she had other health problems that resulted in a stroke.

Sep 6, 2009 5:29 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

for Alex-consider canine vestibular syndrome (see the link above) as a strong possibility. The eye flicking would send me in that direction as opposed to many of the other things that can cause shepherds to have rear leg weakness. CVS and stroke often show very similar symptoms so you may want to consider a workup if there is no improvement.
good luck

Sep 10, 2009 11:06 AM

Guest :

Our eleven year old Border Collie Cross has been acting very strange over the last couple of months. He gets very distressed for no apparent reason he keeps lifting his head and then constantly sniffs the air he then runs and hides behind the sofa or under the duvet, table etc.,or follows us around the house, he doesn't seem to know what to do with himself when this happens to him. They don't happen all the time - these attacks probably happen at least once a week and can last for a couple of hours or sometimes longer, it will then take him a few hours to settle down again but he is always lifting his head and constantly sniffs the air all the time when he is awake. We have taken him to the vet, he seems to think that its old age! and has prescribed him a tablet called Activate this has made no difference to his behavour. Has anyone seen this before, please help as we are getting very worried about him, the vet seems to think he is fine and in good health. Do you think it is a neurological disorder. Hope you can help.

Sep 10, 2009 2:40 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

Your vet was thinking that the new behavior might be related to canine senility or some thing along that line. The sniffing behavior is common in various breeds but, as far as I know, no one really knows what triggers it. Whether there is some type of hypersensitivity that is triggered or whether it is senility and the dog is 'imagining' he smells things is unclear. Since he seems to get agitated during these episodes you might want to consider something to calm him as the prescribed medication did not help. You might also want to consider alternative medicine as there are some treatments that have been helpful for older animals.

Sep 13, 2009 12:16 AM

Guest :

My 7 year old male malamute has lost control of his right side. It happed right away. One minute he was fine the next he was crying and could not stand up. Took him to the emergency vet and the blood work came back fine. His left side is fine but his right side is almost on a delay and he lost control of his bm's while I was bringing him to the vet's which has never happend before. I can't seem to get an anwser from the vet nor do I have to money to get him to a specialist. What can I do? It hurts to see him like this.

Sep 13, 2009 10:56 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

Consider the possibility of a stroke (see the link above for more information about canine stroke syndrome) for the malamute. If it has just happened you may see some significant improvement in the next day or two. While it is difficult to watch your dog go through this it is important to give it some time to see how much he will recover.

Sep 21, 2009 7:24 PM

Guest :

i recently rescued a 6 1/2 month old english sheepdog. after a couple days of running, jumping and playing with my other dogs, this evening he began having a hard time walking. he had very wobbly legs, was losing his balance, having an extremely difficult time going up and down stairs, didn't want to walk around, would just flop down....i'm very worried seeing as though i am just fostering this dog. he responds to voices, wags his nub, rolls over to have his belly scratched...he eats like a little pig and drinks...it's just that his back legs are so wobbly and unstable i am worried about a possible neurological disorder. i took him to the vet today and had his hips looked at...everything looks good. since i am just fostering this dog, i don't want to spend thousands of dollars at the vet if nothing is even wrong. i am kind of caught between a rock and a hard place. any advice would be extremely helpful. i am really worried about him. thanks a lot!!

Sep 22, 2009 4:04 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

for the young sheepdog see the links above to articles on degenerative myelopathy and wobblers syndrome as possible clues.

Sep 22, 2009 7:49 AM

Guest :

Our 5.5 yr old ShihTzu mix seems to be declining, but no one can tell us what's wrong, her blood tests come back normal, but she just seems to get worse.
She has always been a nervous dog, even as a puppy. Then when she was around 3 she started to get very aggressive she would go after kids. And then she started even trying to bite famlily and friends, then about a year and a half ago when I would walk her, she would drool poop out her rear as we walked it was disgusting. (I no longer take her for walks) in the past 6 months I noticed she shakes most of the time, favors her right leg though nothing is wrong with it, her eyes bug out, sometimes seems to be in her own world, is even more aggressive. But these symptoms go on and off. Sometimes she acts dizzy and throws up when they happen, other times not. I am at a loss. Does anyone have any idea what could be going on with her, and what we should do? Thanks for your time.

Sep 22, 2009 9:12 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

The shih tzu could be suffering from any number of problems-see the link to degenerative myelopathy above and talk to your vet about idiopathic epilepsy as well.

Sep 25, 2009 1:30 PM

Guest :

I have a small male chihuahua about 8 yrs old who since I've had him for the past 3 years has been on phenolbarb which has been working very well for him. He's had seizures from the time I got him but since he's been on the meds does very well & hasn't had any. Last night while he was getting to sleep (he sleeps under my covers with me) he would yipe very loudly about 5 or 6 times like he was in extreme pain. When I looked at him he was laying on his left side and all four legs were out straight, but not rigid like a seizure. When I would pick him up to comfort his crying, his head would hang down far to the left...but we’ve knicknamed him "Left Turn" because he usually is kindof "off" to the left. He cried in pain off and on all night - about 10 times. He acted like he either was in pain from something or his head was hurting. My question is when they have a neurological problem like this will he feel pain in his head or could this be a sign of something in his brain that is changing? Besides him hurting his neck or back, I just can't imagine why he would cry like that.

Sep 25, 2009 5:09 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

You need to consult with your vet about the chihuahua as (s)he will be more able to integrate the information from this incident with his past history of left sided issues.
Good luck

Sep 29, 2009 5:41 PM

Guest :

I have an 8 month old Rottweiler male. He injured his hind left leg and ever since then has been lethargic as of lately his front two legs are bending under when he eats or does anything really that he is standing still for a few seconds. He has also been sliding and falling a lot. Vet recommend a neurologist and 'im headed there tomorrow... Any advice?

Sep 30, 2009 5:02 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

for the Rottie- in such a young dog the chances of disease related neuorologic problems is higher-consder Lymes, Rocky Mt spotted fever or something like that, especially given the lethargy as a secondary symptom.
good luck at the neurologist.

Oct 5, 2009 8:48 AM

Guest :

i have a 3yr old labrador. i dont know if he has neurological disorder and I am afraid that he might have it. i can see from his head that his brain is beating like a heart and it is really bad. he also experience salivation. he vomitted twice this day. he looks like a healthy dog because he can run and walk well. the problem is his head is shaking uncontrolably. Im so scared for my dog. i dont want to lose him. please help me. is he suffering under neurological disorder?

Oct 5, 2009 9:22 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

You need to get your lab to a vet for a workup-There are a variety of things that could cause the symptoms you describe. Neurological disorder simply means there is something wrong with the nervous system. Neurological problems can be temporary or permanent so you need to work with a vet to see what is going on with your dog.

Oct 5, 2009 3:18 PM

Guest :

Hi went out to my back garden to find my dog trying to get up but he could not move so i phoned the vet and she said it was a fit and to keep him warm and in a dark place ,that was 8.30 this morning ,all day he has been sleeping on and of he can move only his head a little and he finds that hard ,he has had some rice n chicken ,and have been spoon feeding him is this normal after a fit ? and what should i do

Oct 5, 2009 4:28 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

You often see quicker recovery from seizures (fits) but not always. Keep him comfortable overnight and if there is no change, it is time to take him to the vet to be seen.

Oct 9, 2009 6:50 PM

Guest :

i have a 2 yr old german sheppard that has suddenly started an involuntary scratching with his hind legs only when hes asleep. it seems that he does it every 3 to 5 minutes where his hind leg starts like hes scratching but he never scratches himself. what could this be?

Oct 10, 2009 6:48 AM

Guest :

Our four year old chessapeake bay retriever has progressively (over the past year) stopped being able to jump or get into vehicle without help. He knuckles while walking - carving down nails. He has dropped to eating only once a day. He runs in a slow gallup with both rear legs together - rabbit like. I have received a negative degen. myelopathy test (he is a carrier only). Our vet has said he has a mild hip dysplasia on right and something with his lower spine that can progressively worsen but not put a title to it. I don't want long term steroids for him. Feeding him fish oil and vit e with food. In the last few months he has started to have a slow, kind of mildly jerking tremor at rest which made me start thinking something neurological? Any suggestions or answers?

Oct 11, 2009 7:10 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

For the shepherd, this may be nothing more than 'dreaming' but it is probably worthwhile to have a basic neurological exam done as the breed is prone to several neurological disorders
For the Chessie- DM is not the only form of spinal degeneration that can occur. It may be worth doing a neurological work up.

Oct 12, 2009 7:13 AM

Guest :

Oliver is an 11 year old lab/shepard cross. The other day something very strange began to happen to him. He seems to have involuntary movements of his front and back legs and his head. When it first began he would lie there but he could not seem to relax. Then as we observed him we noticed the movements. He seemed to settle down but yesterday it started again and has not abated. He has not slept since yesterday afternoon. He front legs and back legs continue to move in what appears to be an involuntary way. He lies funny, is panting and seems uncomfortable. He does get up every few minutes, walks in a circle and lies back down. It looks like he is trying to find a comfortable way to lay but can't. As soon as he lies down the movements begin. It almost appears to be neurological in nature. It is a holiday here today and our vet is not open. I am not sure what we can do to help him.

Oct 12, 2009 7:44 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

Oliver's problem does sound neurological. Until you can get him to the vet, try to keep him as calm as possible.

Oct 12, 2009 5:50 PM

Guest :

I have a 7 year old terrier/schnauzer mix that is a bundle of energy. Every once in awhile it's as if he's pulled a muscle jumping off a bed, couch, etc. He goes to my boyfriend's house a couple of times a week (we both love him but we don't live together at the moment). When he got home this afternoon he noticed that he didn't feel well, and when he touched his lower back by his right hind leg he yelped. He's done this before and I'm hoping it is just a pulled muscle or soreness. I brought him home, gave him a baby aspirin and he ate all of his dinner. Now he is laying at the end of the couch. He sleeps on the bed with me which is upstairs, so I will carry him up there when it's time to go to bed. I've made an appointment at the vet for 9:30 am tomorrow, but if he shows signs that he's better I might just let it work itself out. He wags his tail when the kids come over to talk to him, his nose is cold, so I think otherwise he feels fine. I'm just worried about arthritis. Do these mixed dogs have arthritis problems at age 7? He's maybe 5 pounds overweight (18 lbs).

Oct 13, 2009 12:21 AM

Guest :

I have a 13 week old goldendoodle that I was told was anemic when I bought her. She was always tired and slept alot but ate and drank well. One week after getting her she became unsteady on her feet and began falling. She arched her head and neck in a circle and I noticed that she developed a hunched back. She's now on predisone and two anti biotics. The vet did bloodwork and a spinal tap. The spinal fluid was cloudy and grey tinged. She is better in that she walks but in a circle mostly and appears like she is "drunk". She still sleeps alot and apprears "dull" with very little puppy like behaviors. Our vet said its neurological but is unsure what caused this and said it may be genetic.

Oct 13, 2009 12:32 PM

Guest :

RE: Sudden onset weakness in both front legs. I have not found these particular symptoms mentioned anywhere. I'm fostering an 8 year old female part pit whom I've known for two years and have been housing for two months. She's always been a very healthy, energetic and happy terrier, until this AM, when she fell on her face going down the two steps leading outside. Now, she can barely use either of her front legs and she keeps them stiff and spreads them wide to walk, which is clearly a strain, and she hunches her spine in the effort. But she does walk in a straight line. They seem to either hurt her or are nearly numb. Eyes are clear and steady, head is level, no difficulty drinking, nose is wet, ears are cool, hindquarters are strong and she's continent. She's alert and her tail wags as always when she looks at me. No serious physical traumas in her background of the past five years. She spent the first three years of her life locked in a filthy cage in a crack house. Just now, she was able to climb the two steps back inside and is now resting comfortably. I had a great placement lined up for her, with delivery tomorrow, but that's obviously now on hold. I don't currently have the financial resources for a vet exam. My gut feeling is that this is neurological. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks!

Oct 13, 2009 1:22 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

RE:sudden onset weakness front legs: it certainly sounds neurological but it is not clear whether the fall caused a neck injury-resulting in front leg weakness -or whether she fell because of a sudden weakness. This makes a difference.In the first case, if there is an injury causing neurological pain, it may heal with rest. If it is the other way around, the situation is more serious.

Oct 13, 2009 2:17 PM

Guest :

RE: Front leg weakness followup. Thanks so much for your quick reply. She showed hesitation prior to going down the steps and the fall was only a few inches. The incident was more of face plant than a trauma, so that doesn't seem the likely source. After I wrote the previous description, I remembered that, yesterday, she dug a small hole under a steel farm gate (with a round bar on the bottom) and wriggled her way through it. She escapes through small openings with gusto when I'm on the other side of a barrier. It seems likely that she could have over-torqued her spine while wriggling down, through and up a short passage, bent like a pretzel. But, she was active for many hours after that with no apparent symptoms until after she stopped moving for the day. She's still resting comfortably and I'll keep her on light activity. Any other, or better, suggestions? Thanks again.

Oct 13, 2009 2:31 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

Like us, the discomfort of a nerve pinch/spinal twist often doesn't hit until it is rested and has time to stiffen. The only concern would be if she doesn't show steady improvement over the next few days.
Good luck

Oct 16, 2009 5:06 PM

Guest :

I recently took my 6 year old Golden to the vet where he received a 3yr Rabies and his DHLPP Booster. I noticed him drooling in the vets office, but chalked it up to nerves. Two days later I noticed his right jowel drooping, his right eye has no reaction to movement toward it, and his right ear is drooping also. Vet did a blood panel 2 1/2 days later, everything was okay with exception of slightly elevated white blood cell count. Vet put him on Cephylaxin (1000 mg) every 12 hours, and most recent Pretazone, 2 tablets every 12 hours for 4 days, and 1 tablet daily after that. About a 2 week supply. I believe vaccinations caused this. Any thoughts? He was perfectly fine when I took him in for shots and checkup. Vet listened to Rusty's heart after receiving vaccinations, and did not pick up anything unusual. At that time we didn't realize he had a reaction. Thomas

Oct 16, 2009 5:20 PM

Dawn M. Smith :

While vaccine reaction is certainly a consideration, talk to your vet about canine strokes. The one-sided aspect may give him some clues.

Oct 18, 2009 6:57 AM

Guest :

Our 3yr old choc lab suddenly lost control of his urine and bowel movements and tail became limp. Our vet didn't know what happened. Xrays and blood tests came back negative. They sent us home and showed us how to express his urine. We were unable to and took him back to the vet and the vet was unable also. He was catheterized for 3 days and cath removed after he began urinating on his own. It's been a week and he seems to urinate a little in the house uncontrollably but does urinate voluntarily outside along with is bowel movements. Tail still not moving. Any insight as to what may be the cause?

Oct 18, 2009 9:17 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

The chocolate lab may have some degeneration of or injury to the spinal cord. See the information above about Degenerative Myelopathy.

Oct 26, 2009 2:34 PM

Guest :

Our 14 year old Boxer/Collie has been healthy until a recent event. He went on regular long walks with no problem. About 6 weeks ago I returned home to find Bandit trying to greet me as usual. Although he was on his feet I knew immediately that something was terribly wrong because his eyes were staring and panicky. I was right. He remained on his feet only briefly before falling and passing completely out. His bladder released and I was sure he was dying. We rushed him to the vet. By the time we got there, his spell was over and he acted normally. Blood tests revealed no abnormalities. He suggested an ultrasound to check his heart. It took about 2 weeks to get the appointment and during that time he continued to experience occasional spells and worrisome weight loss. The doctor said it could be a tumor but he couldn't find one. He reported the heart was not beating as strong as it should be and that there was an increased level of fluids in the membrane surrounding the heart. He prescribed Pemobendam and told us to report back in two weeks about his progress. Bandit's spells continued to increase in frequency and severity. He suffered severe diahrrea and loss of appetite. At the end of two weeks, he could not walk five feet or experience any excitment without having a spell. We finally got our regular vet to prescribe something for the diahrrea and he gave him an antibiotic too. Two days later we celebrated his first normal bowel movement in a manner similar to Tom Hanks celebration of fire. His symptoms have both vets baffled. I noticed him crossing his hind legs. He is wobbly shortly before he goes down. His brown eyes turn black and he goes into a blank stare. His spells last anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. His bladder nearly always releases as he lay helpless even if he has just relieved himself. Afterward he is exhausted and lays quiely for at least an hour. He's fine when seditary. A 20 foot walk will certainly lead to a spell. After watching a tape of one of his spells the vet now says it could be neurological because he someitmes stiffens as he goes down curling his head back and to one side. Vet now wants to keep him for a few days hooked up to probes but he has never been away from home nor has he ever been left alone (he has two brothers). Is there something obvious we are missing? I would really hate to put him through unnecessary stress. And do you have any experience with the heart medicine Pimobendan?

Oct 27, 2009 2:41 AM

Guest :

We have a 13 year old Border Collie/McNabb mix who still acts like a teenager but, recently she's been suffering from seizure like symptoms. Her head starts shaking and then she rocks back onto her hind legs and lays down until her head stops, she seems a little disoriented for a few seconds and then is fine. I'm worried because my husband has seen her do this a few times in as many weeks. Is this something that could be directly related to her age and can't they be harmful to her overall health?

Oct 27, 2009 5:43 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

seizure disorders are common in older dogs-talk to your vet about medications to control the symptoms.

Oct 29, 2009 10:54 AM

Guest :

My 12 year old Yorkie is having some problems with his balance and walking in general.One minute he jumping and playing and the next minute it seems like he doesn't want or can't walk on his front paws.He was eating and drinking fine before.A couple of hours later he seems to be walking ok. Do dogs get arthritis or could it be something else? I felt around his legs and hips and nothing seems to bother him.

Nov 2, 2009 2:58 AM

Guest :

My 5 year old German Pointer had an "episode" last week at the kennels when my family and I were returning from a short holiday. He held his stomach in and and then started walking as if he were drunk, and the kennels took him to the nearest vet. When my parents collected him from the vet, he had blood tests for pretty much everything that could cause symptoms like this as well as two x-rays to his head and chest. An episode similar to this happened exactly a year ago at the same kennel, and we found that he had slipped two discs in his spine. This time, however, the vet believes it may be neurological, and my mum even thinks that he may have a brain tumour. He used to collapse sometimes when he was a puppy and one of his sisters was put down as a puppy due to a neurological disorder. Since coming back home he has picked up a lot and is back to his old self. He's on Tramadol and Metacam (I think), and steroids (this worked during his last episode last year when he slipped his discs). He also has a very slight heart murmur.

Do you think from these symptoms that there is a neurological disorder? We've been told he could be referred to a specialist, but the first consultation will cost £200 and he may need MRI scans, which cost upwards of £1000; and he's not insured. Any advice or comments will be welcome, we're all worrying for him so much.

Thanks.

Nov 2, 2009 5:20 AM

Dawn M. Smith :

For the pointer, the fact that he has improved since coming home is a good sign. Dogs with brain tumors rarely improve, although once he comes off medication you will have a better indication. While having a thorough workup may give you some answers as to why this is happening, it may not. Talk to your vet about other options, or just monitor your dog until he comes off medication and see what happens.