Help Our Family Dog!

[Guest Anonymous]

My doberman has some weird symptoms that the vet cannot figure out. Please help. The dog was completly normal today and then it happened. Around 3:00 PM my dog started acting almost catatonic. She was stiff and would not move. I picked her up and laid her down, she stayed in the same position for more than 10 min. During this time the dog was drooling, her eyes became very glazed and her mouth was clamped shut. I was able to look at her gums which had become very pale almost white. I asked the vet about a stroke and he said that dogs don't really have strokes. It has been about 8 hrs since and she still looks like she is not all the way back. She is moving around now but very slow and careful. Does anyone have any ideas?

[Guest roo]

Correct me if i am wrong but i was told that
it is only possible to tell if a dog has had a stroke
during the stroke happening.
Dogs can and do have strokes.

I would go to see another vet asap get a second opinion

It could have been a fit of some sort too.
How old is dobie?
Any medication given or jabs recently?
Has the dog been bitten or stung or eaten anything odd?

If you can answer these questions, often a clearer picure will
emerge.
Roo

[Guest Anonymous]

Roo I think they have strokes..but they are a little different from what humans have. However I did find a site where a lady had MRI pics of her dogs stroke!

Here is some info on Dog "strokes" and their symptoms:

Technically a stroke will not occur in the dog due to a complex system of filtration at the base of the brain which will filter out any blood clots that originate in the heart. We do see however something we call acute vestibular disturbances which can look similar and have similar effects in dogs as a mild stroke would in people. These are classified in many ways but the majority are called idiopathic (no cause on pathology).

A vestibular disturbance can be central in the brain or peripheral in the middle or inner ear. The main symptoms of a vestibular attack will be nystagmus (flickering of the eyes), unco-ordination, weakness on one side, head tilt to the opposite side and in the first stages you often see vomiting, circling, paddling, rolling over and often loss of bowel and urinary continence.

Dogs don't have strokes in quite the same way as people, but there is a syndrome that is quite commonly seen that is similar. The dog will suddenly have a head tilt, walk in circles and his eyes will flick from side to side. Occasionally there is vomiting because of the imbalance. In most cases with time rest and appropriate treatment there is a near complete recovery though some can be very severe.

[Guest Anonymous]

This is what came to my mind...but you all know me! I think you should go to another vet.. But first make a list:

*What were her activites for that day?
*What did she eat? Anything like treats, food off the table, a plant, a leaf, a toy, anything!
*Has she had any kind of medication recently? Heartworm, shots, flea treatment?
*Has she been in any kind of accident? Fallen of a deck or porch, hit by a car, anything!
*Changes in her food or home?

Things that would appear okay to us are different to dogs bodies. Have this list when you go to the vet. It will help alot more than you know!

Mei-Mei is correct in saying that a seizure is possible. There are many kind of seizures. I would ask if it was a possible seizure.

[Hobbit]

The thing that bothers me is the white gums. This indicates she is losing, or has lost blood -- is severly anemic. The first thing I thought about was an infestation of hook worms, causing her to be hypoglycemic. If she is hypoglycemic, then she will have seizures.

Has she been checked for parasites?? Anemia? Hypoglycemic?

[Hobbit]

If you give her syrup or honey, and she snaps out of it....then she is hypoglycemic --- low blood sugar, caused by the anemia.

[mouseatthebusstop]

[quote="Gmo I asked the vet about a stroke and he said that dogs don't really have strokes.
yes they do. Poppy had one a year last July, hers were a number of small ones, she kept falling down going onto her side going dazed, she has also walked around in circles dazed again the vet said her heart rhythm was not right. she went on medication and was alot better at the next check-up her heart was normal. She is still on the tablets and always will be

[Guest Anonymous]

Dobes are prone to Cardiomyopathy (Heart problem not detectable by an EKG or stethoscope). Many time, the dog will appear to have a seizure and comes out of it in a few minutes. This is a possibility, but since she's not back to normal, probably not but should be vet checked.

It also sounds similar to dogs that have been exposed to chemical used in lawn spraying (weed killer), especially that used by commercial lawn companies. It affects the nervous system.

I'm not say that any of the above is what your dog is suffering from, but I thought I would mention them. Has your vet done a complete CBC (blood count), complete neurological testing? If he has not, I would suggest that you take your dog immediately to a neurologist. Good luck, and I wish you both well.

[Guest Anonymous]

I forgot, one more thing. Has your dog recently had an application of flea, tick or heartworm preventative? There have been some very serious complication with some dogs days after an application. Try to make and keep a journal of everything that you can think of that took place with your dog for the past week or two.

[Ickle]

So sorry to hear about your pet.
I have just remembered reading something about a dog licking up some spilt tea tree Oil it made the dog have similar symptoms to the ones you mentioned It was written by the American Collie club and relayed to the international sheltie list. Might be worth looking into if you use this substance.
Ickle

[yellowlabsrule]

I don't know anything :oops: , but it almost sounds like the dog ate some kind of poison??? Don't know though.

[Guest roo]

GMO,
Any news ??????????