Question about older dog, stroke symptoms?.... (causes, disease)
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My old Lab/Golden mix had a few episodes like that, took her to the vet and she was having seizures. I would suggest not to guess but get her in to have your vet take a look.
In Cassy's case we think she was having the seizures from her heart worm meds and there are several types of doggie "treats" that have been known to cause seizures. We took her off the heart worm med and switched her to another type and also took away ordinary treats, instead we bought her organic USA treats, her blood work was okay for a 13 year old but we began feeding her small meals three times a day also.
Our GSD Heidi is almost 14 yrs old and recently had a stroke. this is the second time this has happened. She had 3 in 3 days almost a yr to the day before. She recovered from those alot faster and they were not as severe. She had this stroke and it was alot worse and took her a couple weeks to get back on her feet. We had to do physical therapy to help her gain her feet back. She has changed since then and it was kinda scarey she started acting like a puppy again at times. yesterday though she got up and is unable to use her right front leg properlyand her toes turn under and her whole leg appears stiff. She does not appear to be in any pain but she is a GSD and she has been known to hide pain before. Could this be a different sign of stroke?
Our GSD Heidi is almost 14 yrs old and recently had a stroke. this is the second time this has happened. She had 3 in 3 days almost a yr to the day before. She recovered from those alot faster and they were not as severe. She had this stroke and it was alot worse and took her a couple weeks to get back on her feet. We had to do physical therapy to help her gain her feet back. She has changed since then and it was kinda scarey she started acting like a puppy again at times. yesterday though she got up and is unable to use her right front leg properlyand her toes turn under and her whole leg appears stiff. She does not appear to be in any pain but she is a GSD and she has been known to hide pain before. Could this be a different sign of stroke?
My last dog to pass away at the age of 14 had your dog's symptoms. I let her out as usual in the morning and she was normal, and five minutes later she was back at the door, but her toes curled under and she couldn't straighten them out, and when she tried to stand, her legs splayed out like a puppy's. She couldn't get her feet under her.
Her eyes looked straight through me as though she couldn't see me, and she kept tilting to one side as in canine vestibular syndrome. She also didn't know how to lap water and would lap at water offered her the way a new puppy does. It was a very frightening thing to witness.
I can't remember the name of what my vet said she had right now but it wasn't CVS. What I did was spend a lot of time with her, right her so that she didn't panic, feed her by hand, carry her out to do her business, and two weeks later she began walking on her own. So they can recover. My dog even went hunting for mice in the fields.
However, six weeks after her stroke, she passed away - very peacefully and naturally in my arms.
The onset of stroke is sudden. The signs depend on the location and extent of the bleeding or brain infarction (death of tissue.) they include behavioral changes, disorientation, seizures, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, stupor and coma. Large strokes are often accompanied by cardiac arrhythmias and collapse.
If you your dog has suffered a stroke, take it to the vet IMMEDIATELY. They can treat your dog and the prognosis can be very good. Please do not wait.
Best wishes for you and your friend!
Luv-A-Bull.Denver
"From wet noses to wiggley butts, our dogs are family!"
What dreamofmonteray is describing is something called insulinoma - or at least I believe it is, as those are classic symptoms. Insulinoma is when cancerous cells in the pancreas cause an overproduction of insulin, which in turn causes low blood sugar. The hind leg weakness, glazed "drunk" demeanor, and the fact that eating turned it around - all those are the result of low blood sugar.
Insulinoma is not curable, but it can be treated. Surgery to remove the insulinoma or as much of it as possible can be very effective and increase longevity and prolong quality of life. There are also drugs like prednisone which stabilize glucose levels. It can also be managed to some degree with diet e.g. it is important to feed frequent small meals to maintain the glucose levels, feed high protein/high fat/ low carb diet - also to avoid stress and keep exercise to a minimum.
While dreamofmonteray left his post a couple of years ago, there may be others reading this who will benefit from this information. Insulinoma is relatively uncommon and there are many vets who have never seen it or are not familiar with it. A paired blood glucose/insulin test (testing insulin level when blood glucose is low after fasting) is the best way to diagnose it. If you think your dog has insulinoma, take him to your vet or an internal specialist immediately. Episodes of low blood sugar (as described above) can eventually lead to full blown seizures. The earlier you get help for your dog, the better the outcome. I would also HIGHLY recommend checking out this yahoo group for people whose dogs have insulinoma: insulinomadogs : Dogs with Insulinoma There is a wealth of information and support there.
The vet I went to in Elizabethton, Tennessee said he had hip dysplasia and a heart murmur. He was 13
We had to put him down in Dec/Christmas 2008 as he couldnt eat, could barely walk to get water. It was heartbreaking. Sunny was my best pei ever.
That said, I was not happy with the vet I went to (the ex insisted on going the next County over as they are "cheaper") Its very sad, you get what you pay for when it comes to veterinary advice.
Sometimes I wish I lived in the U.K. where they give pet insurance. This dog was like my child, if I had tens of thousands Id have spent it to get him surgery
The vet I went to in Elizabethton, Tennessee said he had hip dysplasia and a heart murmur. He was 13
We had to put him down in Dec/Christmas 2008 as he couldnt eat, could barely walk to get water. It was heartbreaking. Sunny was my best pei ever.
That said, I was not happy with the vet I went to (the ex insisted on going the next County over as they are "cheaper") Its very sad, you get what you pay for when it comes to veterinary advice.
Sometimes I wish I lived in the U.K. where they give pet insurance. This dog was like my child, if I had tens of thousands Id have spent it to get him surgery
I'm crying reading this. We have to put our baby foxy down today. This is the day. Can no longer see this dog our baby suffer, and i am balling my eyes out right now. A little while ago, he was screaming, and crying, i believe he knows, and does not want to leave us.
My heart is breaking and my daughters.
He has a heart condition and murmur that has gotten bad, a mass in his spleen, and kidney failure.
But when the day comes, you are nor prepared, i love him so much and do not want to see him go, and love him with all that i have, and cannot stand to see him suffer.
He also started with the legs, and not being able to stand up. He had his first seizure last week, which anemic dogs can have. Today was the most heartbreaking day for my daughter and myself, the dog was literally screaming and crying. WHEN he wakes up, it will be time, he knows we tried everything in our power, to help him, please pray, i am so weak right now, and the crying has made me ill. Thank you to all animal lovers.
Update, it was time, i am balling my eyes out, i'm sorry but i loved foxy so much, he has been such a companion, a little champ, our little baby. I already miss him. My eyes are swollen, my head is aching, and my heart is breaking. Please pray for foxy, to be in peace.
Dream of Monteray and California Jewel, I am so sorry about the loss of your dogs. I know we all have to go through it eventually and so I too will be where you are, and it seems just unbearable. So my heart goes out to you and I hope you will be comforted by all your happy memories and knowing you did right by your beloved dogs.
I still urge anyone whose dogs have hind leg weakness/trembling or episodes where they seem out of it (see my post above for better description) to look into insulinoma. As I said, many vets are not familiar with this but a simple blood test (paired insulin/blood glucose test) will help diagnose it. (My own vet originally was leaning towards brain tumor and kind of poo-poohed me when I suggested insulinoma; it turned out I was right.) Insulinoma is not curable but is treatable, so please look into it if you have any doubts.
My sweet Carly is approximately 14 and is mix she is border collie/terrier I believe, we adopted her after being hit by a car about 13 years ago. Last night her back legs as well as what appeared to be mainly her right side was not "working"-she also had a tilted head that lasted about 3-5 minutes, and also threw up a few times walking was and is difficult for her, she also had deviatating eyes and lip smacking that lasted about 2 minutes and would come and go throughout the rest of the morning. She has been laying with me the majority of the day. I carried her outside to go to the restroom, she can walk almost normal for a few steps but then when she goes to lay down, her head goes down first and her body collapse. If she had a stroke this morning and it was really noticeable symptoms but then hours later, she seemed like she improved slightly, now tonight i am seeing similar symptoms, weak, tired, can't keep her balance and deviatating eyes..-can you advice me on if a stroke occurs, do you see improvement and then symptoms? She has not made one noise, I don't know if she is in any pain or how to do this. Please comment on the most likely cause. Thank you
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Not a vet...
