does your dog ever lose its balance for no reason?

by **HappyPuppy** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:07 pm

Ruby just freaked me out... she has never done this before > We were just playing fetch (it is moderate to coolish today). Several times when she brought the ball back, she appeared to kind of start to tip over and lean to one side enough to need to catch her balance and readjust her feet. And then when she went for water, she twice tipped forward enough to bump into and move the plastic table I have over the bowl (bowl is centered under a little outdoor table). She kept wanting to play and seemed to run in a straight line and catch the ball properly but I have never witnessed her lose balance like that ever.... She did not act distressed or like she was concerned/confused in the least. We were playing less than 10 minutes, too..... She tried to make out with me when we came in and she seems otherwise fine but I'd like to know if anyone has seen this as a random event...???

by **Ilovethepits** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:28 pm

No I've never seen that. It sounds scary.

by **mtlu** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:30 pm

Hmm, that would worry me

The only times Molly has been wobbly like that is coming out of sedation (with reversal drug). Ruby isn't on any meds is she - even something like Benadryl?

by **Madeleinemom** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:36 pm

That would worry me ... hope she gets better soon. I would check with your vet or bring her in; I suppose it could be something minor like an inner ear issue, or something more serious like a neurological issue.

by **HappyPuppy** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:43 pm

Thanks for your quick replies!! I TRY not to run to the vet for every 'little' thing... (and, no, she's not on any meds) If it happens again (when we play again after work), I'll take her in - everything else about her seemed normal, so it wasn't acutely alarming except for the fact that it is not normal....

by **AllisonPibbleLvr** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 6:08 pm

Any signs of lameness?
Back pain?
A dog who is compensating for a painful joint can appear off-balance, clumsy.

I'd keep a very close eye and if it happens again, a vet visit is warranted.

by **Team Peanut** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:28 pm

has she been tested for Ataxia?

by **HappyPuppy** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:41 pm

No lameness or pain that I have noted recently or today. She does have diagnosed HD but is currently asymptomatic.

Whoa - Ataxia is scary to read about! Ruby was basically stopped each time this happened, not moving or turning. It's like she was dizzy. But interestingly, I haven't been able to purposefully make her dizzy in the past (like when you spin them around and around). I did look at her eyes at the time and they seemed clear and normal.... She has not been specifically tested for this unless it is included in any general panel.

by **Red** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:45 pm

A dog loosing balance out of nowhere is always a concern to me, personally. I would want to take her to the vet as soon as possible.Have her hips been giving her trouble lately?

by **Misskiwi67** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:08 pm

Vet visit - asap.

I would be worried about her heart, liver, nerve function and pain.

by **Leslie H** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:36 pm

I'm sure Misskiwi could speak better to this, but Vestibular syndrome, which typically goes away, can involve balance.
http://www.vestibular.org/images/pdf/VestibularDiseaseInDogsAndCats.pdf

by **AllisonPibbleLvr** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:41 pm

Team Peanut wrote:has she been tested for Ataxia?

Ataxia is a symptom, not a disease, just to clarify. :-)

by **Leslie H** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:03 pm

http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/ataxia/

I'm pretty sure ataxia is also used to refer to several specific genetic disorders. They can DNA test for it now. A number of amstaff lines were found to carry it, and there's plenty of amstaff blood in many APBT's.

by **AllisonPibbleLvr** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:04 pm

Leslie H wrote:http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/ataxia/

I'm pretty sure ataxia is also used to refer to several specific genetic disorders. They can DNA test for it now. A number of amstaff lines were found to carry it, and there's plenty of amstaff blood in many APBT's.

[remove foot from mouth]

Huh. I had no idea.
Thanks Leslie!

by **Leslie H** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:06 pm

No prob, I'm well acquainted w/the delicious flavor of shoe leather.