Posted on 07/03/2009 9:27:35 PM PDT by BigBlueJon
Sorry for the vanity, but....I have a doggie concern, and I need some advice for caring for the situation. My vet is out of town and I have a sick dog. This has been ongoing all day with no relief. My dog is unable to stand any longer. He was able to walk earlier, but with difficulty and with leaning to the right. His eyes are also darting from left to right.
I was able to get through to the vet's assistant and they advised to keep watching my dog and that the earliest I could get in would be Monday to see the vet. The assistant said that strokes in dogs are rare. I checked online and found a couple possibilities, but no immediate treatment or care options.
Are there any vets out there or people of canine knowledge that could offer any help?
Prayers and advice is welcome. Thanks....
She also says the average lifespan for Labs is 12 to 14 years so your suspicion of a stroke may be correct.
Ping
Mrs. Eagle says if he did have a stroke, the vet can give him anti-seizure medication.
Do not hesitate to take your dog in right now. Hope all goes well.
your dog shows the same symptoms that my 14 year old dog showed a few months ago. She was unable to walk and had nysagmus.(darting back and forth of the eyes) She would also tilt her head to the side and hold it downward and when she could walk would walk in large circles. My vet diagnosed her with Geriatric vestibular disease.
http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/vestibular.html
It is NOT fatal and will clear on it’s own within several days to a week. The vet had me give her benadryl for the dizzyness she was experiencing from the nystagmus and to also control her nausea that comes with it. It did help and she recovered fine.
Even rural areas, especially rural areas, have vets around that will make house calls at all hours, so I’m not sure why you don’t have access to one.
Is he tilting his head pronouncedly to one side? That’s another symptom of vestibular syndrome.
If it’s vestibular syndrome, he’ll have trouble being coordinated enough to eat or drink until the inflammation in the nerves connecting his inner ear with the brain is resolved, you’ll need to hand feed him and bring him water. There’s also an effect akin to sea sickness, so don’t be surprised if he vomits.
As I mentioned, this is often misdiagnosed and good dogs end up being put down for no good reason, when this will resolve itself even without treatment in a few weeks. The head tilt sometimes persists, but the dog won’t mind it much.
If it were my dog, I’d be looking hard for qualified help, though. If he’s eaten something toxic, time could be short.
We have a 110-pound black lab. He often has symptoms exactly like you’ve described. They come and go - most often if he manages to get into something chocolate. Our vet in Naples told us that epilepsy in not uncommon in labs. His symptoms are usually ver short-lived, we’ve never managed to get him to a vet before they pass. Usually we have to carry him outside and help him stand until he can poop. Once he poops he seems to get better. He’s never had one of his seizures last more than a few minutes though. We even rushed him to a vet emergency room once but by the time we got there he was fine so we have no definitive answer. A vet is the best choice, somehow, somewhere. My heart goes out to you because when our dog is going through this it is a pathetic thing and he runs to me expecting that I’ll help him and I’m unable to do much for him.
i’m not a vet but do you give meds to your for heartworm?
ask your vet about this if you haven’t given your pup the heartworm pills
Thanks all....and others.....I appreciate the thoughts, advice and prayers.
I’ve been reading about the Vestibular Syndrome and Nystagmus, and the information has been very helpful. I will be sure to watch him until I can get him to the vet and will make sure that he is comfortable and hydrated.
I hope you are going to be ok. When dogs stop eating and drinking it’s not a good sign. Keep your pup comfy .I remember my old girl Sabrina, black lab back in 1999.
For no apparent reason she stopped eating and drinking and went into our old big bathroom where the tile on the floor was cool. She refused to get up for 2 days . She also developed a body odor and stopped drinking water completely.
During that time I gave her a bubble bath with bubble wash and sang to her but her prognosis was not good. I put her on a blanket and dragged her into the hallway, sat down in the hallway and put her head on my lap. I stayed up with her singing softly to her and praying. She wasn’t much better by early mid-morning having stayed up with all night long. She was right outside my doorway. I lay down to catch a few z’s and drifted off and dreamed she passed. At 11am
I awoke suddenly and she was gone.
My prayers to you and your pup.
By the way, what is your dog's name?
Prayers up. Keep him hydrated, something with electrolytes. (I’ve worked with dogs for over 30 years) A vet asap.
That is what it sounds like to me — possibly mushrooms in the yard? If so, time is of the essence to save the pet.
I haven’t read other posts so others may tell you the same thing ... but remember you are NOT limited to your usual vet. If you were having a heart attack, would you try to get through to your own doc, or go straight to the emergency room??? Your dog’s symptoms sound serious. Look in your phone book for Veterinarian, Emergency, and take them there. They will charge you about twice the usual rate (say, 75 or 80 bucks instead of 35 or 40) just to see him, but after that, the rates are usually pretty comparable. And they are open all night. There should be at least one emergency vet in your phone book and maybe more than one.
Do it NOW — your wife will not be happy if she comes home to a dead or dying dog when you could have taken him to the all night vet. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GREENVILLE VETERINARY HOSPITAL. I got it from google..
Search Clinic Website for:
July 4, 2009
1532 East 14th Street
Greenville, North Carolina
27858
Ph: 252-752-1890
Home Pet Health Articles Dogs Vestibular Disease in Dogs Printable Version
Vestibular Disease in Dogs
Vestibular Disease in Dogs
Author: Ernest Ward, DVM
What is vestibular disease?
The vestibular system is responsible for maintaining normal balance. The vestibular system has central components located in the brain, and peripheral components located in the inner and middle ear.
“Vestibular disease refers to a sudden, non-progressive disturbance of balance.”
Vestibular disease refers to a sudden, non-progressive disturbance of balance. It is more common in older dogs. It is also referred to as old dog vestibular syndrome and canine idiopathic vestibular syndrome.
What are the clinical signs of vestibular disease?
Most dogs present with the sudden onset of loss of balance, disorientation, head tilt and irregular jerking eye movements called nystagmus. Many dogs will become reluctant to stand or walk. Most dogs will lean or fall in the direction of their head tilt.
What causes vestibular disease?
Causes of vestibular disease include middle or inner ear infections, drugs that are toxic to the ear, trauma or injury, tumors and hypothyroidism. When no specific diagnosis is found, the condition will be called idiopathic vestibular syndrome. These cases are distinguished by the sudden onset of clinical signs and the subsequent rapid improvement with little, if any, medical intervention.
How is vestibular disease diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on medical history, clinical signs, and the results of blood and urine tests. In some cases, diagnostic testing will include radiographs of the head to assess the appearance of the middle and inner ears and the tympanic bullae. Occasionally, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans will be performed to look for tumors or other abnormalities. Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing may also be performed in some patients.
The criteria for diagnosing canine idiopathic vestibular syndrome are:
1. Older dog
2. Sudden onset of peripheral vestibular signs
3. No detectable cause - no signs of outer- or middle-ear infection, ototoxicity, trauma, hypothyroidism, rickettsial disease, etc.
4. Signs resolve over several weeks
How is vestibular disease treated?
Treatment is directed at the underlying cause, if one can be identified. In severe cases, supportive therapy such as intravenous fluids and hospitalization may be required until the pet can eat and walk on its own. If the pet is seriously disoriented or ataxic (stumbling, unable to stand or walk), it may be given sedatives to help it relax. Drugs that help combat nausea or motion sickness such as dimenhydrinate may be beneficial. Antibiotics may be used in cases suspected of having middle or inner ear infections. Although corticosteroids have been used in the past, there is little scientific evidence to support their use in this condition.
What is the prognosis for a dog diagnosed with vestibular disease?
“The clinical signs associated with vestibular disease are often most severe during the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”
The clinical signs associated with vestibular disease are often most severe during the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Many pets begin to improve within seventy-two hours. The head tilt and stumbling often improve over a seven to ten day period. Most patients are completely recovered within two to three weeks although some will have residual symptoms such as a head tilt or mild “wobbling” for life. If the patient fails to improve or worsens, then a more severe underlying disorder should be suspected and advanced diagnostic testing should be pursued.
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My best buddy was a Chocolate Lab, who passed away in October, 2007. He was being treated for cancer, but died because his stomach torqued. He was happy as a clam and comfortable right up until his last day, and lived to be 14 1/2. So, don’t give in to the average lifespan talk. If he’s happy, he’s loving life. Preserve it for him as best you can. I know I’ll miss mine for the rest of my days.
You don’t have a vet who will meet you at the hospital in emergencies? Several years ago our vet met us late one night, worked on the dog for over an hour and then took her home with him for the night.
Just read the other posts ... I don’t understand why you can’t take him to an emergency vet — you must be in an extremely remote area, not to have one around. You might look in your phone book to be certain. Sometimes businesses open up and we just don’t notice them.
In any case, good luck with your pup. I hope he feels better soon.
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