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J_9 · Nov 4, 2009, 07:23 AM

Recently my 8 year old lab/aussie mix has had problems walking. It's all in her back legs. When she stands up they are crossed, she is having a hard time walking and falls frequently. This happened all of the sudden with no warning whatsoever.

She shakes as if she has the chills.

Could this be a stroke? Seizure activity? Recommendations on putting her down? I hate to see her like this.

Just Dahlia · Nov 4, 2009, 09:41 AM

I came home from work one day and my 12 year old mix was walking around like he was drunk and sometimes fell. We thought he had a stroke and his eyes were also a little funny and moving back and forth.

I looked on the internet with his symptoms and decided that he might have the old dogs disease (forgot the name) took him to the vet thinking that he wasn't going to make it much longer and it ended up being a slightly damaged eardrum possibly due to an ear infection.

He lived for another 5 years.:)

energyze · Nov 4, 2009, 01:52 PM

Hi,
I would highly recommend that you take her to the vet. It could be a number of things from a blocked ear to a degenerative nerve problem. Only your vet will be able to tell you afetr a full examination.
Good luck, keep us posted. I hope she'll be OK.

shazamataz · Nov 4, 2009, 03:03 PM

I know you say it happened suddenly but did you notice her perhaps walking a little slower or wobbling at all before this big turn around?

The first thing that popped into my head was hip displaysia, unfortunately very common in labs but it is fixable with surgery.
Only thing with that is symptoms usually present over time, not just go bang and appear although I guess anything is possible.

It could also so a stroke or a nerve problem like Dahlia and energyze said, both of those can be managed just as you would with a human.
There was a thread I saw about a cat that had a stroke and they gave it a series of steroid injections which improved its condition, I'll see if I can find that thread again...

And of coarse just so it's said get him to the vets but that is a given ;)

shazamataz · Nov 4, 2009, 03:05 PM

Ok found it, this one is about people cats constantly walking in circles but as you know the results of a stroke can vary greatly...

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/zoolog...on-188739.html

J_9 · Nov 4, 2009, 04:16 PM

We have an appointment with the vet on Friday. My daughter's 16th birthday is tomorrow and I don't want to go to the vet on her birthday to find out that they may have to put the dog down.

Shazzy, you know me... my pets are my children as well, and I treat them as such.

She has been a little wobbly and slow for the past year or so... I thought she just may be sore when she gets up in the morning.

As for a stroke, I have prednisone already, so I am giving that to her right now in case it is a stroke and there is some swelling on the brain. The prednisone is the steroid that gets rid of inflammation (my nursing coming out).

I was jut hoping for a little good news. More of just getting it off my chest really rather than looking for a cure.

shazamataz · Nov 4, 2009, 06:18 PM

I hope it's good news at the vets, please let us know how it goes.

It might be something that is perfectly treatable or at least manageable but you do have to prepare yourself for bad news just in case.

You would know more about the medical side of strokes than me but we are always here for support :)

And give your daughter a birthday hug from me ;)

J_9 · Nov 4, 2009, 06:38 PM

Thanks Shaz... As I said, this was more to unload than anything else. She seems to have gotten weaker through the day and doesn't want to eat... Mama's homemade chicken soup was gobbled down though.

Catsmine · Nov 4, 2009, 07:37 PM

Here's where we hope for an ear infection. At 8 arthritis is possible and treatable.

J_9 · Nov 4, 2009, 07:53 PM

Looking at her back legs... the way she crosses them when she is trying to walk, I doubt it's an ear infection. I'm trying the prednisone in case it's a stroke or seizures. Will pick up some glucosamine in the morning.

I don't want to prolong her agony, but I don't want to put her down if it's not necessary. In all honesty, we are prepared for the worst. She's been a wonderful member of the family, she's done her job as a Momma Dog and all the others are trained because of her (the Aussie in her). She sleeps at the foot of my bed on a pallet made of blankets with our smell on them.

Right now she is breathing hard, she's lost weight although she is eating.

I just can't watch her like this anymore. If it were me... put me down. I don't want to suffer, nor do I want my family to suffer watching me in pain.

Catsmine · Nov 4, 2009, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by J_9

Looking at her back legs...the way she crosses them when she is trying to walk, I doubt it's an ear infection. I'm trying the prednisone in case it's a stroke or seizures. Will pick up some glucosamine in the morning.

I don't want to prolong her agony, but I don't want to put her down if it's not necessary. In all honesty, we are prepared for the worst. She's been a wonderful member of the family, she's done her job as a Momma Dog and all the others are trained because of her (the Aussie in her). She sleeps at the foot of my bed on a pallet made of blankets with our smell on them.

Right now she is breathing hard, she's lost weight although she is eating.

I just can't watch her like this anymore. If it were me...put me down. I don't want to suffer, nor do I want my family to suffer watching me in pain.

How do we come up with a living will for dogs? You need a hug. C'mere.

J_9 · Nov 4, 2009, 08:04 PM

Oh, Cats... Thanks for the hug. *tears again*

This is just as bad as watching my child go through this. It's almost harder because she can't "talk" to me and tell me where it hurts.

Just Dahlia · Nov 4, 2009, 09:26 PM

I'm so sorry for your pain:(