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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Hand hold.. nearing the end with my little dog I think

5 replies

imamearcat · 23/04/2021 20:48

My little border x has had a stroke. He's 15 and apart from being deaf and having bad teeth he's been pretty good until a few days ago.

His bloods and urine have come back really healthy so the vet is hopeful. I just want to do the best by him and unsure when the right time is?

He can still walk about but wobbly on his feet, tilting head and flickering eyes. Eating, drinking and toileting ok. He's finding it stressful at home with kids and younger dog so gone to my mums (who he adores) for some R and R.

Just feeling sad.

OP posts:
CheerfulBunny · 23/04/2021 21:03

I'm so sorry. It's really hard. I've lost two dogs and I still think about them every day. I spoke to a vet nurse and she said, with regard to time left, it's quality of life you need to consider. Not sure if that helps?
It sounds like he's had a lovely long life with you and your family and no dog could ask for more than that x

Thesnakeminder · 23/04/2021 21:12

So sorry. Such a hard call. I said goodbye to my lovely rescue Saluki last week. Only in my care for a year but still left a hole in my heart. I generally go by ‘if they are eating they’re ok’ but if there is obvious stress you’ve done the right thing sending away for some r&r.

PermanentlyDizzy · 23/04/2021 22:32

Is the vet sure it was a stroke? Tilted head, wobbly and flicking eyes sounds very like Vestibular Disorder, sometimes called Old Dog Vestibular Disorder. Do have a read up and see if that seems to fit, because if it does, there’s a good chance that with rest, quiet and tlc he could make a good recovery.

My dog is 15.5 and a large breed. He started having vestibular episodes exactly as you describe last year. Each time it took a couple of weeks, but he recovered. His bloods have all been normal as well.

He hasn’t had a vestibular episode since last October, although has recently started having some other issues, which seem to be neurological, but he’s happy, enjoying his food and enrichment toys, loving his walks and being spoiled rotten by the family and the vet is happy he has a good quality of life. Obviously we monitor him very closely and he sees the vet every 4 weeks but, for now, he’s doing ok.

My other dog did have a stroke, caused by a combination of his illness and the meds he was on and while there were similarities in terms of wobbliness and an initial head tilt, his eyes didn’t flick, one of them turned and the third eyelid became stuck over it. He was a very poorly dog already at the time, but still recovered enough to enjoy a quiet month at home lying in the sun and being spoiled, before we lost him to his underlying condition.

With my boy’s vestibular episodes, we found it helped him to have a pillow to rest his chin on to sleep, as lying on his side made it worse. One of us would sit with him so he could lie propped against us and rest his chin on the pillow and then he could get a decent sleep and we found the more rest/sleep he got the more he improved. That said, they do need to get up and move about, as their brain has to learn to compensate for the imbalance.

I do hope he recovers, but it sounds like he’s a very lucky boy to have had a long, happy life with you and he will know how loved he is. Flowers

peanutbutterdog · 23/04/2021 23:49

Agree with PermanentlyDizzy. Our 13 yo whippetxstaff had vestibular disease last summer. One of the telltale signs is the constantly moving eyes which causes vomiting and dizziness. It took her about 3 or 4 weeks to recover. Almost a year on, she hasn't had any repeat episodes yet (fingers crossed) and has recovered really, really well after lots of, and continuing, TLC. Her balance is still a little affected and she has the odd wobble or loses her balance if lying still for a while. She also has a slightly tilted head but generally has improved really well to have a pretty good standard of life.

I'd ask your vet again as anti-nausea meds can help, as well as quite and relaxation. Vestibular disease doesn't mean the end at all, unless there are other complications so be sure you have the right diagnosis!!

imamearcat · 25/04/2021 23:46

Thanks guys that's really interesting. Will mention to the vet.

He is doing ok, a little better. Eating and relaxed.

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