Guest Greensleeves Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Well, it was almost fated to happen. Today would have been Nelly's 9th birthday, DH's 38th birthday (well, it still was that ), and the anniversary of the day we found our Mamadog on the highway. It's been pretty low key around here--DH's first birthday since losing his girl. ...And, of course, we spent the evening at the e-vet. Gracie Pigeon (almost 8) had some nystagmus and maybe some dizziness tonight (I didn't see this happen--DH was here with her), which we have heard about but never seen before. After a workup at the e-vet, they diagnosed a "vestibular episode," and said it could be a one-time thing. They saw no signs of an ear infection, or any other problems (they did the full exam--palpated the abdomen, moved all her limbs around, listened to her heart/lungs, took her temp, etc). She's never had any problems like this before, and nothing unusual happened today that would seem to "cause" something like this. Has anyone had experience with this before? We plan to get her in tomorrow or Friday for bloodwork at our regular vet (her last bloodwork was in October), but until then she's just resting and we're kind of staring obsessively at her. I'd appreciate any information or experience anyone has to share. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytlady Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 My 11 yr old gal had an episode, probably 5 or 6 years ago. Was fine in the morning before I went to work, when I came home for lunch she was leaning against the wall, unable to stand on her own. Her eyes were revolving like she was super dizzy and if I got her away from the wall, she needed assistance to stand or she would stagger over. Took her to the vets and they could find nothing wrong with labwork, ect. Seems they put her on steriods and she was much better in 24 hours and completely better within days. The vet warned she could have a repeat episode but she never has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kikibean Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Mimi had a vestibular episode about a year, year and a half ago. She's 14.5 now so was probably around 13 then. She was fine one minute and the next couldn't get up, had a stiff neck, eyes were wonky, etc. Rushed her to our vet and he gave her antibiotics and steroids and said to watch her and bring her back the next day. She was minimally better the next day, but there was a tiny bit of improvement. It took her probably a month to fully recover and lose the slight head tilt. VERY scary when it happened. I thought for sure she'd had a stroke or something. It's never happened again, and she's fairly healthy at 14.5. Quote Wingnut (DC Wingnut), Voo Doo (Voo Doo von Bonz), Barb (Myokie Barb) & Romey (Nose Stradamus)at the bridge Molly (CM Blondie) 9/8/14, Maddy (Reuniting) 10/17/13, Rocky (Ranco Popeye) 1/7/12, Mimi (Flying Ringneck) 8/13/09 and RJ (RJ What For) 5/3/05 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RooCroo Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 One of our fosters had this. The vet said it will usually clear up with steroids, and never return. Hoping for no more recurrences! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 My Lynch has had two of the episodes, about 9-12 months apart. The first one was over and done with in about 2 weeks. The second one took months for him to get over and was much worse. It was hard with Lynch because he is blind and you feel bad enough because he can't see and then when he's trying to walk and staggering around (kind of like a bull in a china shop) and can't see what he's about to crash into. He's probably 90-95% at this point. Frasier (bridge kid) had two episodes and then shortly after the second one started having seizures and vet figures the three issues for Frasier were related. And no, none of these issues are why he passed. Blood work for dogs was fine in both instances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Did they check her blood pressure? What I thought was a vestibular episode with Pearl in Jan turned out to be TIA (mini stroke). Her BP was 280. Nothing else was wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 We had an episode with Grandpa once...it scared the crap outta me!! He was better within a few days and never had an episode after that. The vet gave us something for the nausea, but that's about it. Hope your girl is feeling better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Oh, I had a cat go through that. It was terribly frightening, but the vet diagnosed a deep, inner ear infection, and within a couple of days she was right as rain. I was SURE she had a stroke and that I was going to be coming home from the vet minus one cat, but it turned out to be a-OK! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greensleeves Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Thanks, everyone! Gracie Pigeon seems absolutely fine now (and it doesn't sound like her episode was anywhere near as severe as what your guys went through), but she's got an appointment with Dr. Linda at 4 this afternoon, just to make sure! (Thanks to Mama Nelly's kidney disease, our regular vets now have a blood pressure machine--Nell was very special --so we'll be sure to have them check that, too. Assuming Gracie Pigeon's tail stops wagging long enough for them to get the cuff on her....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Sending my prayers. Quote Patti-Mommy of Lady Sophia 7-28-92 - 8-3-04... LaceyLaine 8-2-94-12-5-07... Flash Gordon 7-14-99 - 8-29-09... BrookLynne...Pavé Maria... and 18 Bridge Kids. WATCHING OVER US~SOPHIA~QUEENIE~LACEY LAINE~ CODY ANGELO~FLASH GORDON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustysMom Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 My then 13-year-old bichon had this also. She could only walk in circles, had the spinning eyes, etc. She recovered completely and in the 2 1/2 years since, has not had another episode. Good wishes for Gracie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MonsterMomma Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 My lab has recurrent episodes of idiopathic vestibular syndrome. They last for 5-7 days, and she gradually returns to normal over a week or two. She had a really nasty episode about a month ago, and hasn't lost the head tilt yet. Then again, she's nearly 14, deaf and half blind...but still quite happy and not in any discomfort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhndz Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Hoping for a fast and full recovery for your pup! My sweet Robyn had an acute vestibular episode at age 14. As you've found out, it's frightening to watch, but even more frightening for them to experience. Within a week, Robbie was back to normal without a residual head tilt. My 11 year old iggy, Lexi, had an episode last year, which I mistook for a seizure because of her flailing and inability to move. She'd improved dramatically within 1-2 days, and completely recovered a few days later. this was lexi the day after... her head tilt was gone before the end of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 It's happened to Poodle twice. First time vet said it was an ear infection. Second time the exact thing happened (eyes going rapidly back and forth, unable to stand or walk) another vet said it was a stroke. He recovered nicely both times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandimom Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 Hopefully it is a one time thing. One of my old greys had a vestibular episode and it scared the be jesus out of me. Rushed him to the vet. He never had another episode. My thoughts and prayers are with you and hopefully it is just a one time episode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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