4am and dog dying?

[crosstalk]

fit healthy 10 year old - small breed - ate as usual today and went for a walk and a swim (dried off and sat in front of fire). Woke me up at 2.30 asking to go outside for a pee (unusual). Since then has been shivering, teeth chattering, eyes staring, not comfortable in any position. Doesn't want to sit in front of fire. No emergency vet though will take her in at 0830. Any ideas if anyone's awake out there?

[ABC1234DEF]

Sounds like a possible pain or neurological episode. Phone your regular vet, there will be instructions on how to speak to the 24 hour on call vet for advice.

[tinstar]

Have you rung your vet? Ours has a message when closed telling you how to access emergency help. Sounds like you may have tried that though?

Assuming you're in the uk, about trying this pet-gp.co.uk/

For future reference, if you join the Dogs Trust (£25 a year) membership includes free access to a 24 hour advice line.

Fingers crossed for you. Elderly unwell dog here so I really do sympathise.

[ABC1234DEF]

All vets in the UK will have an emergency service provider, it's a legal requirement.

[Veterinari]

If you’re in the UK, Vets have a legal requirement to provide 24hour services so there must be an emergency vet

Difficult to narrow down problems online but would suggest taking her to be examined ASAP

[Lilsquish]

possible torsion?

hope your dog is ok x

[Veterinari]

Also strange that you equate needing to wee and not wanting to sit by the fire as ‘dying’ - seems rather extreme. Is she conscious? Responsive?

[tinstar]

I don't think the op is equating wanting a wee and to sit by the fire with dying is she? She's describing what her dog was doing before the shivering, teeth chattering etc started.

[BiteyShark]

OP as others have said have you phoned your vets because in the uk they list a number for emergency vets that cover a particular area.

The not being comfortable in any position is what my dog is like when he is in pain.

[Veterinari]

I @tinstar shivering and the other signs she’s described don’t equate to dying either. So i’n Wondering why the OP has described the dog as dying.

I’m trying To ascertain if there is real cause for concern or just an overly dramatic thread title

[NotANotMan]

I imagine the poor woman is panicking with her beloved pet clearly ill in the middle of the night? We wouldn't all be completely rational at those moments!

[Parly]

@Veterinari @tinstarshivering and the other signs she’s described don’t equate to dying either. So i’n Wondering why the OP has described the dog as dying.

I’m trying To ascertain if there is real cause for concern or just an overly dramatic thread title

Wow. I'm gonna take a guess and say maybe OP is in a current panic and alone with a dog that may not literally dying but sadly when you're a mere norm and not trained and able grasp all this stuff you do tend to quick-fire.

That last comment about trying to ascertain if there's real concern or just an overly dramatic title does not do you must justice at all. Honestly

I understand what you mean but you're not talking to a colleague and want bullet point info cos there are phones ringing off the hook.

Hope it I just a bit of panic and the dog is OK

[Parly]

NotANotMan

[ABC1234DEF]

How is she this morning?

[Veterinari]

That last comment about trying to ascertain if there's real concern or just an overly dramatic title does not do you must justice at all. Honestly shock

Thanks yes I understand shock. But as the OP was in need of advice, it’s a bit tricky to give that without a more accurate description of the problem.

Serves me right for trying to offer professional support at 4am. Shan’t bother again.

Hope it all worked out ok OP

[crosstalk]

Sorry chaps.

Just to explain - elderly dog was fine until 2am. Then she did some very unusual stuff after I let her out to pee including massive shaking and audible teeth chattering, eyes staring, uncomfortable, unable to sleep, not liking being touched. I phoned the emergency vet at 3.30am but as she explained at 630am she'd unaccountably slept through it. i didn't think to call again having never previously had to call a vet or doc out in the middle of the night. Googled everything I could and then posted on Mumsnet. As dog finally settled to sleep at 6am with me, her and several hot water bottles on the sitting room floor, I wasn't competent to get to surgery safely for 0700 .

When I did take her in they diagnosed TIA. Neurologically they said she now seems sound but it was too late to take bloods to confirm.. She slept all that day. She is now almost back to strength. She has been given brain pills which I may share with her.

I'm sorry to have posted so hastily with such a title. But after 2 hours with a beloved dog clearly evincing distressing symptoms I'd never seen before and no vet response at the time - and little I could find from google (will save the link the kind poster has put above) - I was desperate - and hoping there was someone awake in Oz.

Apologies to all. She is my only companion. I don't usually panic.

[Nesssie]

Reading your op, my first thought was some sort of fit or stroke. And they are terrifying to witness as they don't usually have the presumed fitting symptoms of jerky movement etc so its really hard to know what is wrong.
Awful of your vet not to have rung you back, a severe stroke could have been fatal tbh and the dog should have been seen asap.

However, TIAs can be treated with tablets and dogs can go on and lead normal lives after.

to you and your pup!

[crosstalk]

thanks Nesssie. the only reason I tried Mumsnet was the hope someone would be up and might respond from Oz or wherever - given I hadn't heard from the vet (who was apologetic, but I could have tried calling again) I don't blame the vet - its a large/small animal surgery covering miles, and a farmer with a valuable animal in pain/giving birth badly would know to keep phoning the on-duty vet and have several vets on speed dial. People did respond almost immediately so bless Mumsnet.