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The doghouse

What could be wrong?

16 replies

OhThisIsJustGrape · 20/02/2013 11:12

My black lab is 9 and, apart from having a mast cell tumour removed before Christmas, is in good health.

This morning, MIL came to walk him (it gives her something to do :) ) and he was outside waiting for her. When she came in the gate she saw that the dog was walking round in circles, she thought it strange but put his lead on and took him anyway. They didn't get very far as the dog kept laying down, MIL said he seemed bewildered and almost frightened. She brought him back and I went out to see him and he kept leaning over to one side, as though he was drunk. He then got in his bed and has made no real attempt to get up, but wags his tail.

He has eaten fine this morning (although, as a Lab I would suspect his appetite would be the very last thing to go :) ) and I have got him an appt at the vets for 5pm - I can't get him there myself so need to wait for DH to get back.

I'm thinking stroke maybe? Or hopefully an ear infection and his balance is off?

One thing that has concerned me recently is one day last week he got very aggressive with me. He was in our utility room and he saw me walk past the closed door and started barking. I opened the door to show him it was only me (as he will behave like that if a stranger is in the house) but he continued to bark, growl, bare his teeth etc - he actually frightened me to the point where I thought hang on, he's going to go for me. I shut the door and walked away. He has been absolutely fine ever since but it was so out of character for him, he has never been like that with me before.

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Floralnomad · 20/02/2013 11:22

Sorry no ideas but I hope it's nothing too serious .

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ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 20/02/2013 11:24

I couldn't begin to guess, but I hope you get some answers from the vet x

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ClaireandGeorge · 20/02/2013 11:33

I was also thinking Stroke or ear infection.

Could he have eaten something he shouldn't that may be toxic?

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OhThisIsJustGrape · 20/02/2013 11:42

Don't think he's eaten anything toxic, he eats plenty of things he shouldn't really but he's not had anything recently.

He has just got off his bed but definitely leaning over to the right and after a couple of steps just laid down again.

Feel bad that he can't get to vets until later, he doesn't appear to be suffering or in pain though. Just looks very Sad

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ClaireandGeorge · 20/02/2013 11:50

Could you not get a lift or taxi? Have you spoken to the vet and described the symptoms?

My dog did this when I was about 37 weeks pregnant. OH was working away, phoned my parents in floods of tears. They came round and agreed I should call the Vet. This was on a Sunday so out of hours. Phoned the Vet arranged to meet at the Surgery. By the time we got there (about 4 hours after the symptoms started) she was fine! They said probably a stroke, gave her a shot of something and nothing else since! She does have a heart murmer though although they said this hadn't got any worse.

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BeerTricksPotter · 20/02/2013 11:51

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OhThisIsJustGrape · 20/02/2013 11:57

I can't take him myself as kids are ill and no one to leave them with.

Eyes don't seem to be flickering but they're very stare-y, they seem quite fixed iykwim?

If he gets any worse then I will request a home visit, I won't leave him to suffer.

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TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 20/02/2013 12:02

Poor dog. And poor you too, OP - heartbreaking. I hope he gets better soon.

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GoSuckEggs · 20/02/2013 12:11

poor little bugger, i hope it is nothing serious.

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Whippoorwhill · 20/02/2013 15:13

Oh poor thing. That sounds very worrying.

My Mum and Dad's dachshund has a few episodes of sudden aggression and then was very disorientated. In her case it was a brain tumour. Fingers crossed it is a lot less serious for your lad.

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OhThisIsJustGrape · 20/02/2013 15:20

Brain tumour has crossed my mind too, he had a mast cell tumour last year but we don't know whether it was malignant it not (vet removed it all and was confident it was clear margins so didn't feel there was any need for further testing), however I can't help wondering if it has spread elsewhere.

He is just sleeping atm but his body keeps trembling periodically. He is settled now and DH will be home in just over an hour to take him to vets.

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OhThisIsJustGrape · 20/02/2013 19:31

He's back from the vets and its all a bit inconclusive really.

It's not a stroke as his head isn't held on one side, not an ear infection. Vet checked him over thoroughly and he doesn't appear to be in any obvious pain - limbs fine, abdomen fine etc.

When she looked in his eyes, one eye didn't respond as she would expect it to. That said, she realised that he actually has cataracts in both eyes which we weren't aware of, so could possibly be down to that.

The walking in circles does concern her and also the way he behaved with me last week. We have an appt to go back in a week and its a case of watching and waiting until then really. If he continues to behave strangely than they will test the fluid around his brain but she also said he may be just fine by then and that we may never know what caused it. He definitely isn't himself though, he didn't even bark at the other dogs at the vets!

I don't have a good feeling about it really, I'm not sure why I say that but he's just so not himself and I do wonder if its the beginning of something brain-related Sad

Thanks for the hand holding today though Thanks

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BeerTricksPotter · 20/02/2013 19:37

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OhThisIsJustGrape · 20/02/2013 19:57

Well that's exactly what I asked DH, it seems a simple enough way to me of finding out if there is anything going on with his brain. He said the vet was very thorough but a bit baffled really, and then said about testing the fluid next time - how would they do that? Lumbar puncture?

We are fully insured (despite DH's constant threats to cancel whenever he sees a bank statement - £60/month!!) so happy for him to have any necessary diagnostics.

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BeerTricksPotter · 20/02/2013 20:09

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TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 21/02/2013 10:14

I'm so sorry you have to wait another week. Poor dog. Sad

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