old dog vestibular disease
Wednesday she was fine - she's old, a little wobblier in the mornings than in years of yore, but lively, greedy, healthy.Yesterday morning very wobbly, fell over climbing over doorstep, and twice on her walk when switching direction to check out a scent. Eating normally, drinking well, adapted to using both back legs together to hop up steps.
Today, unable to walk in a straight line, falling over constantly, she was throwing up clear fluid during the night, and, first time in her entire life, unable to eat this morning. She still wanted her walk but even though it was a short one, she was trailing behind me by the time we got back instead of enthusiastically at point.
Poison? Stroke? Or - looked up the symptoms - vestibular disease?
She hates vets with a passion. I won't subject her to a barrage of tests and I won't leave her there - she is a rescue dog, and can't even be left in kennels without stressing, in my days of travelling I finally had to have a house sitter as she refused food, lost fur, and turned overnight into a basket case, even in the nicest kennels you can imagine. From everything I can find on line, vets will want to do tests and most will want to keep her in. My problem is that my Spanish is exceedingly basic and all I want is - what? anti-inflammatory? antibiotic? If they refuse, then she must be put down.
If anyone here knows anything about this condition, I'd really appreciate feedback. I can't take her anywhere until after my classes today so I have until this afternoon. She finally accepted a little handfeeding, drank some water, weaved off to bed and is sleeping. She's not distressed, just puzzled.
Updated: thanks to all who commented, took her to the vet in the afternoon of the blog, blood test confirmed the middle ear infection (idiopathic canine vestibular syndrome, to give it another of its names) she is taking antibiotics, corticosteroids (for 3 days only), anti-nausea tabs, and improving, she should be back to her cantankerous self within the week and on this morning's wobbly walk tried to hurl herself at a scooter - fell over, but at least she tried, which is a very good sign
Comments (22)
Has she got the wobbly head ?
I wouldn't consider putting her down without at least one vets opinion
Maybe an infection in the war or...needs dexaxing???
Trying a broad spectrum antibiotic first sounds like the simplest and most likely resolution. If the dog doesn't improve after a week of treatment, then the tests are warranted.
Here in the USA, it would require a prescription. I'm not sure what the rules are there.
Home again, and with dog, it was the suspected vestibular thingy although it has another name in Spanish (I definitely heard 'senile' somewhere in all the syllables) and she has enough pills to rattle now when she falls over but should be back to normal in a week. If not, of course, back we go. If she can't keep the pills down, back we go. If she gets worse ...
Mimi, you should have woken him up - my dog vs his sleep, what are your priorities?
Blue, always needs antibiotics but I really appreciate that link, better than the ones I had found. Thanks!
Daniela, she does shake her head but falls over every time. She wasn't pawing at her ears. The vet checked and even sniffed them (vets have a glamorous job) and said they were fine. It was only the blood test that confirmed it was middle-ear.
Jim, yup, that's where vestibular disease lodges. Z's vet did a blood test and we had to wait an hour for the results and treatment but prognosis is cautiously good.
Fay, you have to wonder sometimes why we put ourselves through the heartbreak. When I was looking at options online I did see something about CBD oil having miraculous effects on dogs and certainly one of the most effective uses for humans is for arthritis. Might be something to look into, I think I heard it is now legal across the US? And thank you
First cartload of muti delivered in a chicken sausage, about 20 minutes ago, has stayed down so fingers crossed. And no, you will not get a blow-by-blow update.
For those wishing her well - thanks
Imagine how many bloggers would be left if that decision was in my hands
Hmmm I'm making a list....
Trust #1
She's not what you would call a pretty dog but I'm fond of the old baggage.
She was a problem dog when I got talked into her rescue and an evil old trout who used to trap the window cleaner up his ladder and glower at visitors suspiciously, (and go for them for any excuse whatsoever), but she's much mellowed since the move to Spain and I was surprised at how upset I was when I thought she might be on the way out. I've grown accustomed to her face.
Rodney was a good friend, ready for a walk every morning when I'd come by and sing song, who want's to go for a little walk, and he'd shuffle and jump around excited to get going. In my life I've taken old and failing dogs to be euthanized, so sad all the way to the vet I couldn't watch them die. Rodney's unexpected death was a new experience for me and I think about him every day, particularly on my morning walkabout..
Thanks for letting me say that..
My best buddy... RIP..