3 year old cocker - brief seizure/collapse

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We took our three year old cocker to the beach today in the car. He always gets excited and whiney in the car, and was perhaps even more so today as he hasnt been out in the car for some time because of the snow.

When we arrived and let him off the lead, he tried to get down some steps to the beach and had some sort of funny turn. It seemed like his back legs didnt work, and he was very wobbly/uncontrolled.He did not lose consciousness, and recovered very quickly - within about 20 seconds. He seems to have no ill effects from this, but it was alarming.

Our dog walker told us something similar happened when she was walking him last week - again he recovered immediately and was completely normal aferwards.

I will book an appointment with the vet for next week, but would be grateful if anyone has any advice or idea what this could be. He is generally in good health, on no mediaction and eating well.

Anyone?

It is such a worry when our pets are poorly.

You need Bella to help you with this one but I do know that epilepsy is quite common in cockers along with other breeds.

I would pop along to the vet for a check up.

But I have no medical knowledge so a call out for Bella or BeautifulGirls is needed as I could be going up the wrong path completely

Your poor dog!

I'm in no way an expert, but one of our dogs has had irregular seizures for most of his life, starting when he was around 2 years old. Like yours, they don't seem to be triggered by anything, don't last long, affect the hindquarters, and he recovers fairly quickly.

Our lovely vets haven't really investigated, there isn't a point really as we wouldn't want the dog medicated for the sake of prevention of a harmless episode every few weeks.

The only effect it has had is that the vets give the dog a slightly different drug for any GA needed for surgery, as the more usual one can trigger episodes. And we tell anyone who has care of the dog, like kennels and dogwalkers, so they don't panic if something happens.

Really, just wanted to say that it doesn't have to be the end of the world, and please try not to worry too much.

Our dog did this just once several years ago. I took him to vet who could find nothing wrong apart from some tenderness on his back. (He was and is a leaping around after sticks and balls type dog) She concluded that it was most likely to do with some sort of back sprain. He had anti-inflammatories and we made him take it easy for a week and then he was fine. He is now still going strong and perfectly fit and healthy at 9yo....

Onlyaphase, I am suprised you vet hasn't recomended investigation. Seizures can actually progress and become very dangerous for the dog, ending in permenant brain damage. At best, they are not pleasant for the dog. One of the most common causes of siezures is a buil dup of bile, caused by a congenital defect whereby the bile duct bypasses the liver and doesn't work correctly. One seizure every few weeks would fit with this. It is 'cured' by a one off surgery and no more fits should occur. A simple blood test is all that is needed initially to diagnose.

Unavailable, I have heard of similar to what you describe previously and I am sure I remember in that case it was put down to a trapped nerve or similar. Seizures do usually result in some loss of consciousness from the dog, and the dog will actually move during the seizure, almost like it is layng down and running. Urinating is common (uncontrolled) and so is foaming at the mouth. The dog usually has some loss of co-ordination when it 'comes round' and it's not uncommon for them to be aggressive in the first minutes after a seizure as they are disorientated.

Thank you all for your replies.
We will get him checked out by the vet, but hearing about your experiences has been helpful.

Definitely get him checked out. Seizures come in all shapes and sizes and do not always result in a loss of consciousness.

Best of luck & keep us posted. If you do suspect any more episodes before you get to the vet then leave him undisturbed in a totally quiet dark room. Very important to keep all stimuli to an absolute minimum during and after any seizure.

All the best x

Yes, please get him checked out. If it is epilepsy (could be, amongst a host of other things), as Bella said, quiet and darkness is important. It's also vital to identlfy and eliminate as far as possible any stimuli - in this case excitement seems to be a possible cause, as it often was in my own, late, epi boy (also swimming).

I hope it doesn't turn out to be epilepsy but if it is, you would be wise to give a completely additive free diet too. Please come back and tell us what your vet says, as I may have some recommendations for help if this is your vet's diagnosis.

Fingers crossed I'm wrong though.