Disoriented, Especially After Running

[Guest Greycrochet63]

i have a 7.5 year old greyhound foster that is exhibiting some strange behavior. She has been with us for about 2 months now and it has been progressing. She often seems disoriented, pacing around the house and yard. Lately if she runs a few laps around the yard she will stumble on the steps coming in, run into the doors and walls inside, sometimes just stare at the wall like she's waiting for it to move.

 

I will be getting her into our vet this week, but wanted to get a "preview" of what this could be. Thoughts?

[macoduck]

Possible vision problems?

[greysmom]

Some sort of heart trouble or stroke? Vision issues. See if they cna check her blood pressure.

[a_daerr]

Is it really hot where you live? This happened once to my Truman, and it was after heavy exercise on a hot day. He ran until exhaustion with a few other greyhounds at a dog park. Afterwards, he started walking with jelly legs and seemed really confused. I chalked it up to borderline/mild heat stroke and got him cooled down ASAP.

[Guest Greycrochet63]

It's not terribly hot here. Low 80s for the high. She usually runs early or late when it's not nearly as warm. I'm guessing possibly vision but when you talk to her to get her attention, she doesn't respond unless you touch her. I know she isn't deaf because she hears when you drop something or when food goes in the bowl. I'm thinkng possibly doggy dementia. Sad.

[Potomacpupsmom]

Ear infection or some type of inner ear problem that is affecting her equilibrium?

[NeylasMom]

This doesn't sound like dementia to me. Something neurological or an ear issue, maybe heart related. See what your vet suspects and consider seriously seeing a specialist.

[JohnF]

Poor dog. This may be acquired Myasthenia Gravis or any of a whole suite of similiar diseases. Heart function and respiration will also need to be very carefully checked by your vet.

 

When Peggy was younger she was very prone to heat exhaustion (possibly why she retired out early) and the symptoms of that were near collapse and about 5 minutes recovery. In the old greyhound days they use to dip the heads of potentially over-heated dogs into a bucket of water which was supposed to help preserve their peripheral vision. You could try an ice pack to see if that helps your dog. It may be that you just need to take things easier in the Summer.

 

I hope your vet can assist you in making your foster's life more enjoyable.

[racindog]

Yeah don't sound like dementia to me either. In fact I would double check that she has not been exposed to any new insecticidal products. I say this from personal experience. Since she is a new foster was she recently switched to a new flea tick preventative? I would not give her anything until this situation is resolved. These are the same symptoms that can be exhibited from a reaction to them. She may be staring at the wall because it looks like it is actually moving to her! Dizzyness, disorientation- yep. Ditch all the poisons-especially if you can't get a good diagnosis-and see if she doesn't improve. Just going from personal experience here and the symptoms just jumped out at me. And all symptoms resolved in around 6 weeks once the preventatives was discontinued.

[greysmom]

It doesn't need to be very warm outside for a dog to experience problems with heat. She may be particularly sensitive to it, or overheat very easily. Or the physical stress of running - even though she enjoys it - could be causing her to have focal seizures, or perhaps the beginnings of heat exhaustion.

 

Have you noticed any blood in her urine after exercise?

[a_daerr]

It doesn't need to be very warm outside for a dog to experience problems with heat. She may be particularly sensitive to it, or overheat very easily. Or the physical stress of running - even though she enjoys it - could be causing her to have focal seizures, or perhaps the beginnings of heat exhaustion.

 

Have you noticed any blood in her urine after exercise?

 

Yeah, I was going to say... the day I noticed it in Truman, it was in the 80's, which is very hot for us in PA.

[NeylasMom]

 

Yeah, I was going to say... the day I noticed it in Truman, it was in the 80's, which is very hot for us in PA.

Agree, especially if humidity is high. Second time Zuri overheated was in the evening, low 80s in a shaded yard, but he overexerted himself and the next thing his demo is skyrocketing and I'm hosing him down.

 

Would be worth taking your foster's temp when these incidents are going on to make sure she's mid overheating.

[3greytjoys]

Welcome to GreyTalk.

 

I'd suspect vestibular, neuromuscular, or heat exhaustion to near heatstroke.

Several symptoms of heatstroke are heavy panting, wobbly or uncoordinated gait, shaking, drooling, changes in mental status, muscle tremors, seizures, possible color changes in tongue/gums (red, purple or blue), collapse, eventual coma. These symptoms are considered an emergency, as they can progress to organ damage or death.

 

Greyhounds are more sensitive to heat and cold than other dogs. Their physiology including larger hearts, and lack of body fat, etc. contribute to higher core body temperature during exercise than other dog breeds. If warm temperatures are coupled with humidity, it becomes a double whammy in their lack of heat tolerance. (Racing Greyhounds are carefully cooled down after a 30 second race during warm weather.)

 

Considering your foster is 7.5 years old, she's at least 2.5+ years beyond physical racing condition. An out of condition Greyhound is even less heat/exercise tolerant. Greyhounds don't know when to stop themselves to prevent over exertion. Also, if your foster has the beginning of any airway problems (e.g., progressive laryngeal paralysis), heat + exercise could exacerbate heavy panting, throat swelling, and breathing difficulty.

 

(Side note: BTW, bloat is a risk for hounds who attempt to run within 2 hours of eating a meal.)

 

We live in a fairly mild climate, but our hounds don't handle walks well if the temperature is above 70-72 degrees. Our hounds with laryngeal paralysis don't even handle indoor "resting" well if air temperature is above approximately 75-78 degrees. (BTW, one of our hounds arrived with laryngeal paralysis at 6 years old.)

 

Please read this veterinary link re: heatstroke/hyperthermia: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?S=0&C=0&A=366

 

Please let us know how her vet visit goes and/or if you notice any other symptoms. Thank you for fostering this Greyhound girl.

 

ETA: Also, please ensure she is not nibbling or ingesting any potentially toxic plants (including mushrooms) either inside or outside. ASPCA's web site provides some good plant and food toxicity lists.

Edited August 25, 2015 by 3greytjoys

[Guest Greycrochet63]

Vet was a little perplexed yesterday. Drew blood. Everything is within normal ranges for a greyhound. She thinks seizures could possibly be the cause of the disorientation. She also seems to have some pain or discomfort. Before going down the very expensive X-ray path (we would have to sedate her to X-ray her as she gets very anxious at the vet) we are trying gabapentin. Apparently it is an antiseizure drug as well as a pain reliever. We will so what this does for her. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[NeylasMom]

What type of pain or discomfort? And have you noticed any discoloration of her urine at this point?

 

If it happens again, I would pay close attention to her urine for a period of time afterward and get her temp while it's happening. Sounds like seizures are a greater possibility, but it's worth having that info.

[BrentsMom]

Low blood sugar?

 

Try rubbing sugar or corn syrup on her gums.... If she snaps back to normal quickly you pretty much know she's got something going on with her blood sugar levels...

 

I had a pup with an insulinoma... Which caused her to become severely hypoglycemic... She'd become dazed and confused, sometimes collapsing... And seizing..