Help needed, dog unable to walk/episode

[SPARKLYSTARSHINESBRIGHT]

We have a 1 year old King Charles/Poodle dog and today whilst in the park after running around chasing her ball she started spinning round and then was unable to walk. We picked her up and she was panting a lot which isn't normal for her, then tried to put her down and she was unable to stand and rolled over onto her back. She was shaking and panting and we carried her straight home.

She had a long drink (pinched her skin and she didn't seem dehydrated) then put her in her bed and left her to rest. Picked her up after 20 minutes and she was back to normal running around. This is the second time this has happened but the first time I put it down to over dosing her with anti-inflamatories (my fault I know, gave her double the dose by mistake)

Both times it seemed to be her nervous system or can dogs get cramp? She is a real wuss and worrier, has anyone any ideas what this may be? I'm so worried as she is a young dog and the 50% Cavalier King Charles problems is a worry.

Sounds like she is having some sort of fit ,I'd take her to the vets and let them take a look .

I think it sounds like a fit too

Call your vet now and there should be a number for the out of hours service they use. I'd at least get their advice over the phone.

Thanks for your advice, she's fine and normal now, but this episode went on for 20/30 minutes, I managed to record her trying to stand at the end so at least I can show this to the vet.

This happened, only once so far, to one of mine. Vet said likely ear infecting. It didn't make sense to me as she recovered quickly. But she did have a diagnosable ear infection which we treated. Vet said to watch out for d&v.

20-30 minutes seems a ling time for a fit. I would take her to the vet for a check up although I'd wait until tomorrow as you don't need to pay ooh fees. in this area that is provided by a separate vet and you also better seeing your own vet. my dog had a similar episode but it was after the doughnut jumped off a high wall. by the time i rushed him to the vets there was nthing wrong with him

what are the anti inflammatoties fir? is she still taking them?

Could it have been this?

basc.org.uk/gundogs/gundog-advice/collapsing-gundogs/

My Labrador used to do this too. I couldn't exercise him too much as he would collapse and he would occasionally have fits at home too. Took him to vet who said it was possibly epilepsy but they wouldn't medicate unless he was fitting everyday.
This went on for a few years and got worse as he got older. Took him back to vet a few times, he had blood tests and results were clear.
Different vet ruled out epilepsy and said it could be a muscle issue where the muscles don't get enough blood after exercise.
He got quickly worse when he turned 9 and one Sunday he refused to go for a walk. Took him to the vet the next day and she suspected he had a brain tumour. He died that day and I never really knew what was wrong with him in the end.

I would video your dog if she does it again and show the vet.

Our working cocker used to have fits. Usually happened when we were out on a shoot and we put it down to overexcitement but he then did it out on a walk. He would fall over, shake, scream his head off and then two minutes later be up and about like nothing had happened. We tried all the stuff mentioned in the link but we never got to the bottom of it either. We just stopped working him all day and it gradually stopped.

Thanks for your replies, after researching epileptic fits, I don't think she had one of those, she could still alert and could turn her head and look at us when we called her name, it was just more her legs wouldn't work. I did manage to stand her up and her legs were splayed. The anti-inflamatories she took 3 months ago, for 1 week, when she sprained her foot, she held her paw up for 3 hours and then when I distracted her she jumped off the sofa and ran around!!

The previous episode fitted in with poisoning when I realised I had double dosed her with the anti-inflamatories. She is only small and weighs 8lbs, I'm wondering if she picked something up in the park. Also, does anyone know can dogs get cramp?

had to look up a cavapoo and the cavalier KC side of the mating should have been checked for CKCS (episodic falling syndrome)

EFS is an 'exercise-induced hypertonicity disorder' meaning that there is increased muscle tone and the muscles are unable to relax. Episodes will be in response to excitement, exercise, or frustration, except in severe cases. Then symptoms may be chronic or happen with no apparent cause.

sounds as if that is what happened to your dog even though he is only 50% CKC
sorry if you have already found that out and I am going over old ground.

thanks mollie123, looked up EFS and that is exactly what it looked like sadly. Will take her to the vets and get her tested now I think I know what it is. Many thanks for your replies.

I know a little cocker poo that has to be very carefully watched during excercise as he does something similar if he gets over excited. Vet said to try not to let him get too excited and calm him down if he did but not too worry too much! Balls have now been banned and no more incidents have been seen!

Dogs can get cramp but with her been half Cav then EFS is a possibility.

I had a greyhound who had an episode similar to what you describe. Was running and then suddenly her back legs didn't seem to work, she was staggering and falling down but alert. Shaking and trembling.

I was hysterical and raced her to the vet. She must have been like it for more than ten mins, getting on for 20 mins as I had to wait for Dh to come and get us in the car. He had to pick her up into the car as she still couldn't walk. By the time we got to the vet 3 miles away she was 99% better.

Vet said greyhounds are prone to it after running as they get too much lactic acid. Dunno if it happens to non sight hounds.

Hey Sparkly, any news?

It sounds a bit like azatouria in horses, which, if I remember properly, is a build up of acid from exercise that causes a a big cramp type reaction. I wonder if dogs can get it?

Hope your vet came up with some ideas.

Hi, I havent taken her to the vet yet, I'm considering waiting and seeing if it happens again and I will record better footage to show the vet otherwise the vet won't have much to go on and she is right as rain now. If it is EFS hopefully it will be a mild form as the 2 episodes she has had have been 3 months apart and she will be 2 in Nov where it states most Cavs get it between 4-7 months old. Thanks for all your advice, I;m keeping a diary and am contacting the breeder to see if they can shed any light.

My old JRT had three similar sounding attacks, 6 months apart. After the first two he was back to normal, well actually, rejuvenated, hurtling about and jumping into the Land Rover (which he hadn't been able to do for some time, due to old age). After the third fit, he was unable to walk as he never regained the use of his back legs. That was when he was PTS, at the age of 13.
About 18 months ago, my (3 legged) lurcher had a "fit", she was staggering and flipping onto her sides. As this was on a concrete yard she was quite cut up and bruised. The vet said it was a type of mini stroke, and that it was either a one off, or she'd continue having them. So far it hasn't been repeated.