Last night my female nearly 15 year old British Shorthair came in from the garden, seemed well and normal. A few minutes later we noticed her go wobbly as if her legs wouldn’t hold her up, then head and body sank down, she keeled over to the right, panting and breathing rapidly and shallowly, gums white. I honestly thought she was going to pass away.
I phoned the vets immediately as I thought perhaps poison, and we were there within 15-20 minutes. She had started to recover on the way and by the time we were there she was absolutely fine, acting completely normal, not a trace of being unwell.
Obviously described what happened in detail and the vet gave her a thorough check and said she appeared very well, she has always been in robust good health. Vet thought either, licked or ate a small amount of something toxic and had a temporary reaction, or had a horrible shock outside from something and reacted badly. We live next to a farm, but have an enclosed garden and she’s not a wanderer, so not sure on those but obviously had no clue myself.
Watched her overnight, kept her in today, all fine. A while ago she came through from another room and did the same again. Sank to the floor on her tummy, head hanging, tongue out, shallow rapid breathing. This for about 5 minutes, then gradual recovery, just subdued, listless over 15 - 20 mins or so and then back to normal.
So vet’s theories out of the window? The vet said to film it if it happens again, because obviously by the time I get her there she’s recovered and there’s nothing to see. She didn’t suggest a blood test.
She hasn’t had any medications or e.g., flea treatment very recently, nothing I can think of that could cause a reaction.
I wondered if the symptoms are something someone might recognise that the vet and I might be missing. Any ideas?