I have a 2 year old chihuahua mix, she's about 6 lbs. In the last week she's begun to be very clingy, follows either myself or my boyfriend around and stays wherever we are, and has been very shaky. She doesn't usually shake. Today while at work my boyfriend said she stumbled and started rubbing her ear on the carpet, was unsure of her step, etc. She usually has a lot of energy. Tonight when I got home she was happy to see me, then just kind of clung to me. After dinner she was getting her belly rubbed and the she jumped down, put her top feet on the couch, acted like she was stretching and started to shake. She looks miserable and I'm really unsure what to do. I'm super broke right now and can't really afford them to run a while bunch of tests.

Suggestions? Please and thank you.

The only suggestion we can offer is to go to a vet. If you can't afford a vet than your best course of action is giving the dog up to someone that can afford to care for her properly.

Part of having a pet is ensuring that it gets the proper treatment when it's ill. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it is what it is.

We can guess what's going on with your dog, but guesses are just that, guesses. They're not a diagnosis, because no one can diagnose online. To get a diagnosis you'll need a vet. Even if we could diagnose, your dog will likely need medication, which we can't offer on the internet. There's really no other course of action other than a vet.

Good luck.

Normally I can take care of my animals. I was unemployed for over 2 years, worked temp jobs and everything to keep a roof over our heads. I support a dog, 2 cats and a boyfriend and I work very very hard. Don't be so rude and so quick to tell someone to get rid of their animal. Sorry I'm not privileged like you.

Normally I can take care of my animals. I was unemployed for over 2 years, worked temp jobs and everything to keep a roof over our heads. I support a dog, 2 cats and a bf and I work very very hard. Don't be so rude and so quick to tell someone to get rid of their animal. Sorry I'm not privileged like you.

Privileged? Ha, ha, ha, ha. We live paycheck to paycheck, and still end up having to get a pay day loan most weeks. I have 2 dogs, 4 rabbits, a bird, two fish and two kids. If my pets need vet care, they get it. If I have to borrow money, sell something, work an extra job, whatever, I do it.

If I couldn't get the money, I'd rather give up one my pets, all of which I love like they're my children, rather than watch them suffer. That's called love.

You can call me rude, and really I wasn't, not at all, but the fact is, you're on the internet (how much do you pay for internet) on a computer (that wasn't free), telling me you have no options. Shut off the internet, sell the computer, sell your car if you have one, ask your family for money. If you love your pet you'll either find a way to get it the help it needs or you'll give him to someone that will. That's not rude, that's life.

Alty, sorry for calling you rude. I'm just stressed. I work 45 hrs a week to keep everybody happy and this just came at a really bad time. I just got this job and I'm catching up on all the bills.

I'm not a vet.. but the dog does sound like she is having seizures. The "rubbing" of the ear on the carpet sounds like a seizure to me.

Her being clingy and following you around and just not acting herself, says seizures to me as well.

If you're lucky to see her seize (sometimes you dont), time it and see how long she is having her seizure.

I don't think the test to determine epilepsy is expensive. It's a blood test typically shipped to an outside lab to test. The medications can get pricey.. the vet I work for usually scripts these drugs out through a human pharmacy to cut down cost.

Sometimes, if this pet has never had a seizure before, the vet will just have you keep an eye on her and if the seizures increase and become more often, than she'll have to go on meds.

I think what you do need to do, is plan for a vet bill in your near future. In the meantime, keep her calm and don't let her jump around.. I would even say keep her home and only let her out for potty breaks.. no walks.. if you have kids, don't let them play with her. Keep her brain as inactive as much as possible.

Please get her to the vet as soon as you possibly can. There really is no other alternative to a dog that is a possible epileptic. If you wait too long, and the seizures progress, you could fry her little brain.

Alty, sorry for calling you rude. I'm just stressed. I work 45 hrs a week to keep everybody happy and this just came at a really bad time. I just got this job and I'm catching up on all the bills.

Apology accepted.

I do understand. It's hard when you're catching up on bills, and vets aren't cheap. Really, I understand more than you could possible know.

I'm really not trying to be mean, or heartless. If I had to make the decision to re-home one of my pets because I couldn't afford the vet, it would break my heart. It would crush me. But I'd rather re-home a pet knowing it has a chance, than keeping it knowing I can't afford to give it a chance.

I'm going to suggest something, but I want you to know that this is by no means a diagnosis. I can't give you one. I really can't. This is a guess, and only a guess, and I'm only guessing this because I had a dog that had seizures. I want you to realize that there are many things that can cause seizures, some of them easily maintained with medication, and others not at all treatable, and possible fatal. I'm not saying this to scare you, I'm telling you this so that you know that my guess, and you deciding not to go to the vet, could be fatal if my guess is wrong, and it very well could be.

So here's my guess, a very shot in the dark guess. It could be epilepsy. If it is, try green beans. It sounds crazy, but it works, if it's epilepsy. If it's not, it won't help at all, and whatever is causing the seizures will still need to be looked after. Even if the green beans do help I would still highly suggest a visit to the vet.

So, buy some green beans. They don't have to be fresh, you can get canned green beans. Put around 1/4 of a can on the dogs food every meal. Mix it in really well otherwise he'll eat around it. Green beans made my dogs life liveable. He had over 20 seizures a day for over a year, medication, you name it, none of it worked. I finally went to a hollistic vet who told me to try green beans. My dog went from over 20 seizures a day to seizure free for 10 years. Not one seizure after the green beans, not a single one.

I can't stress enough that this is a guess, and it's not even a guess based on anything you wrote, it's really really really a shot in the dark. A huge shot in the dark.

I can't stress enough that a vet is really the only option here. Can you borrow the money from family or friends? Money mart, my nemesis?

My only issue with the green beans is that this is a small dog and they are notorious for having low blood sugar.. Low blood sugar can trigger seizures.

I think instead of feeding green beans, this dog needs to be seen by a vet. I know your dog did great on green beans, Alty, but you also consulted a vet before you fed him the green beans..

This dog needs to be seen by a vet.. there really is no other options.. or alternatives...

My only issue with the green beans is that this is a small dog and they are notorious for having low blood sugar.. Low blood sugar can trigger seizures.

I think instead of feeding green beans, this dog needs to be seen by a vet. I know your dog did great on green beans, Alty, but you also consulted a vet before you fed him the green beans..

This dog needs to be seen by a vet.. there really is no other options.. or alternatives...

I agree Lucky, I agree 200%. The thing is, the OP has said that the vet isn't an option.

Sometimes you have to suggest something, and hope for the best if that's the only option. I'd hate for a guess and green beans to be the only option, I'd much rather a vet see this dog. That would be the best course. But if the OP can't, or won't, or whatever, the dog is the first priority always. So guessing, and hoping for the best, is really all I can offer, other than begging that the dog gets to a vet and making sure that the OP knows that my suggestion is not a diagnosis, not even close to one. It's just the best I have to offer.

Well I can see a vet, just means getting behind on more bills. I do want to try the green beans as well, and I do think she has low blood sugar. I gave her a treat and she seemed to perk up and be normal for awhile. So I'll try both. Really do appreciate the help.

I know...

Since this is a small breed dog and they do have low blood sugar.. how about rubbing Karo syrup on her gums..

The "natural" alternatives such as green beans and Karo syrup can't do any damage.. It'll either change her issue, or she'll continue to have seizures.

Like I said.. I think the OP needs to plan for a vet visit, and soon. It may not be able to happen today or tomorrow, but I think she needs to plan to make a visit within the month.. unless of course the seizures become more frequent.

The thing is, Rockstar... the longer you wait on health problems, the more money you're going to end up spending. Instead of taking her in with "acting weird" as your complaint, you're going to end up rushing to an after hours ER with a seizing dog. You're going to spend MORE money at the ER than at your vet. And trust me.. Animal Emergency Clinics like to spend money you don't have.

An office call is not much. I've seen office calls as high as $50. I know I can find $50 and I am as broke as they come. Talk to the vet.. get your vets opinion.. Talk to them about what you can do on a fixed budget.

I work at a vet clinic. People who love their pets aren't always flush with money.. and their pets are healthy.. if they are sick, they get treatment. You can do it, too. Just make a mental note that your dog needs to see a vet even if she is acting herself.

I agree with Lucky. Call your vet.

My vet won't let us do payment plans for things like vaccinations, or neutering, but an illness, they're fine with payment plans. Call your vet and ask, see if they can arrange something that you can afford, and than get the pup to the vet.

Really, I do know how hard it is. I think we all do. Times are tough for everyone, and the vet, well ouch. I told my daughter the other day to forget about becoming a doctor, if she wants to be rich she should become a vet.

But they are there for a reason and when your dog is sick that's really the only option. We can give you our best guesses, but Lucky has a point. If our guesses are wrong than you could end up spending even more in the long run, if your dog goes downhill fast because she didn't get the proper treatment, or worse, your dog could die (that's the worst case scenario and I don't say it to scare you, but it is something you have to consider).

It won't hurt to call the vet and see if they're willing to work with you payment wise.

There is also a healthcare credit card. It's called care credit. Human physicians accept them too. It'd be a good quick fix, but another bill to worry about.

Here is their site.

CareCredit® Healthcare Finance - Payment Plans and Financing for Cosmetic Surgery, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Veterinary & Other Medical Procedures (http://Www.carecredit.com)

Got denied for care credit, my credit sucks thanks to being unemployed for so long and student loans. I will take her to the vet, this is day one of her really acting strangely, she was fine all weekend. I will take her in if not this week, next week when I get paid for sure. In the mean time I'll see if I can't work on the blood sugar issues to see if that's causing it. She feels better after eating get marshmallows. Thanks again for all your advice!

Got denied for care credit, my credit sucks thanks to being unemployed for so long and student loans. I will take her to the vet, this is day one of her really acting strangely, she was fine all weekend. I will take her in if not this week, next week when I get paid for sure. In the mean time I'll see if I can't work on the blood sugar issues to see if thats causing it. She feels better after eating get marshmallows. Thanks again for all your advice!

Please keep us posted on how she's doing.

I wish you the best of luck. I'd also love to see pictures of the little fur baby. :)