does your dog ever lose its balance for no reason?

[HappyPuppy]

Ok - here we go again. I had a very bad camera angle will still try for a clearer shot. Didn't even look at eyes this time.... Sorry - I say the 'S' word twice...

You'll see her lead with her head as she tips forward and a couple of times you can see her right front foot sort of stumbling.

Imbalance happens @ .08 sec and again @ .31 sec


Happens again @.07 and again @ .28

[Shearaha1]

Looks a lot like what happened with Flip (my previous dog) but his was MUCH worse. Towards the end he needed to lean on me just to stay upright

I really hope that it's just some swelling or a deep ear infection. I did a ton of research on IVD when Flip got it. Some dogs have intermittent episodes and then are fine for years. Some just get worse and worse (these are usually the ones with tumors) and some will have an episode and nothing for weeks and then another. Supportive care in all cases appear to be key.

[Murfins]

In the first video at 8 seconds the way her front foot doesn't land properly but rather is curled ... I've seen that on vet shows when they are doing neuro exams and I know it's one of those signs they look for with a neuro problem (more specific then that, I don't know though). I think it's something to show the vet right away though.

Continued positive thoughts coming your way!

[Red]

Jenna, the Animal Specialty Group in Glendale, where you came to see Tigger, has a neurology department that is very well equipped.Dr.Sullivan that is the Neurology specialist.I'd do a consult with them. They are also open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

http://www.asgvets.com/our-specialties/neurology/

[suzanne]

Hmmm wow! Does she seem to do it more to one side? In the first video she stumbles to the right, in the second video she stumbles to the left and the right.

She is such a character, one minute she's nearly falling over and then the next she's racing back to the yard to go play some more.

Still sending good thoughts!

[AmstaffMommy]

In the first video at 8 seconds the way her front foot doesn't land properly but rather is curled ... I've seen that on vet shows when they are doing neuro exams and I know it's one of those signs they look for with a neuro problem (more specific then that, I don't know though). I think it's something to show the vet right away though.

Continued positive thoughts coming your way!

I noticed that too, it is like the test vets do for nerve/spinal issues when they tuck the foot under and see how long it takes for the dog to right it.

Poor girl, I hope you get some answers soon. My thoughts are with you guys.

[Murfins]

How is Ruby?

[HappyPuppy]

She doesn't seem to know that anything might be going on with her.... We play fetch every day and and this doesn't happen every time (< I guess that is a good thing). I haven't talked with our vet yet since I sent those vids over....
With that right front foot - I want to see that repeated.... in this case, I think/hope it is mostly because she placed her foot crooked off of the brick there and it went into a 'hole' at the base of the brick.

[Murfins]

Hopefully soon you get some answers. Continuing to send positive thoughts.

[Leslie H]

I know w/Xanny, who sustained some lasting minor neurological effects from her long ago illness, the vet looks to see how quickly she notices her toes are turned under and corrects them.

[HappyPuppy]

So, we have finished the week on Rimadyl and there has not been a repeat of the balance episode. Obviously it will be what(ever) it is - but wouldn't it be nice if we got lucky and it was just that inner ear nerve inflammation that has now subsided!! I've printed out the neurologist that Red posted earlier and I have it at the ready. Dunno what more to do (realistically) at this point except watch and wait since Roobs is not presenting repeatably with any symptoms - (and the only symptoms were 'dizziness'). It's sure scary to see such a worrisome behavior out of the blue like that! Thank you for all of your kind thoughts.

[Leslie H]

That would be terrific if you'd seen the last of it. I've been wondering how Ruby is.

[Murfins]

Great news and YES that would/WILL be incredible for this to be nothing more than the inner ear thing.

[HappyPuppy]

My video email got lost at the Vet for a week - grrr- but here is her reply that just came in:

''On the video, my first thought is that it doesn't really look neurologic - there is no intention tremor or nystagmus (eyes going back and forth like a pendulum) which would make her stumble be localized to the cerebellum or inner ear. To me, she looks more exhausted and stumbling on the front/crossing over - first thing to do at home is to check her temperature and rule out that she isn't overheating during exercise - some dogs have a metabolic process that will cause them to really spike a temp with exercise - normal is 99-102.7. If she is spiking up to 105..that's not and would explain what's going on. The other concern I would have is her heart and I certainly think the first thing to do..if this is continuing is to have her come in and we can play ball with her in the back and then take a listen to her heart during exercise..kind of like a cheap cardiac stress test...easy enough to do.''

(I don't really think it is overheating since it just started and that first day was coolish and we only played about 5 mins when it happened - but we'll see...)

[Leslie H]

Well that's kind of disconcerting, but it seems like she's trying to help you out. Wouldn't the overheating have been a problem earlier in her life? I'd definitely get the cardiac checked out if you can, and I would take her temp just to see.