Dog help - scary episode

[daisyfay25]

My 9 year old pug likes to nap in the laundry room in his bed, my son and I were in another room. Suddenly I heard a bang against the laundry room door and I ran in, my pug was laying in the doorway, in a normal position (belly on floor, legs by his side). But I bent down to see if he was ok since he had hit the door and as he tried to move it's like his legs weren't working.

I was scared and petted him, and in the process it was like he almost rolled onto his back for me to pet his belly but then all of a sudden he panicked and was just on his belly with all 4 legs arched up into the air and flailing. His eyes were open wide like he was scared. No yelping but he was clearly very uncomfortable. I've never seen him do that.

That lasted 5-10 seconds and then he settled into my lap and we sat quietly for 5 minutes. Then he just up and walks into the other room like nothing is wrong! And now he's outside sniffing the grass and peeing as usual. I thought he was dying! Could his legs have just fallen asleep while he was napping?

I've called the vet but am waiting on a return call. He just had his yearly checkup this month and got a clean bill of health. Anyways, anyone ever experience this? Should I be freaking out?

[sweetchix]

Poor guy. Could it possibly have been a seizure?

[averyjessup]

My little yorkie has vestibular episodes (doggy vertigo, basically) and the first time it happened it was like his legs weren't working, he kept trying to stand and then falling over sideways. And then we were both freaking out and it was mayhem for a few seconds but then after about 10-15 minutes of sitting calmly he was absolutely fine. He gets it while he's sleeping and then wakes up and is too dizzy to stand up. Sounds like it could possibly be similar? I'm sorry that happened to you and your pup!

[daisyfay25]

Mar 27, 2017 15:12:57 GMT -5 sweetchix said:

Poor guy. Could it possibly have been a seizure?

I don't know, I've never seen one before. He was fully conscious the whole time, is that common with seizures?

[daisyfay25]

Mar 27, 2017 15:14:09 GMT -5 averyjessup said:

My little yorkie has vestibular episodes (doggy vertigo, basically) and the first time it happened it was like his legs weren't working, he kept trying to stand and then falling over sideways. And then we were both freaking out and it was mayhem for a few seconds but then after about 10-15 minutes of sitting calmly he was absolutely fine. He gets it while he's sleeping and then wakes up and is too dizzy to stand up. Sounds like it could possibly be similar? I'm sorry that happened to you and your pup!

That does sound sort of similar, I wonder if it was that. He'd definitely just woken up.

[YahYahs]

Sounds very similar to my dog's seizures. His eyes look like they're going to bug out and he gets very rigid and flails uncontrollably for about a minute or two, drools, etc., then it's all over like nothing happened.

[cmeon]

With the sound you heard and the symptoms you witnessed, I'm going to guess he ran into the door at a pretty good clip and knocked his little brain around a bit (mild concussion). I would get him in for a check-up ASAP, but, he likely wasn't able to get enough speed to do much damage.

ETA: We had a dachshund foster who had a similar circumstance at his adoptive home- he was running after a bug and smacked head first into a stucco wall. He was stunned for a few minutes and it definitely freaked him out- but, he lived quite a few more years and had no obvious permanent damage!

ETA2: We've also had fosters with seizures- they are so traumatic to watch and so nothing to the dogs, once they recovered. I think it's safe to say he had something neurological going on and needs a trip to the vet- but, the fact that he seems fine now is a good sign that it's nothing really worrisome.

[sweetchix]

Mar 27, 2017 15:22:01 GMT -5 daisyfay25 said:

Mar 27, 2017 15:12:57 GMT -5 sweetchix said:

Poor guy. Could it possibly have been a seizure?

I don't know, I've never seen one before. He was fully conscious the whole time, is that common with seizures?

Yes. My dog had a few and I would describe them just as below.

Mar 27, 2017 15:30:40 GMT -5 YahYahs said:

Sounds very similar to my dog's seizures. His eyes look like they're going to bug out and he gets very rigid and flails uncontrollably for about a minute or two, drools, etc., then it's all over like nothing happened.

A scary thing to see, that's for sure.

[tracita]

Mar 27, 2017 15:14:09 GMT -5 averyjessup said:

My little yorkie has vestibular episodes (doggy vertigo, basically) and the first time it happened it was like his legs weren't working, he kept trying to stand and then falling over sideways. And then we were both freaking out and it was mayhem for a few seconds but then after about 10-15 minutes of sitting calmly he was absolutely fine. He gets it while he's sleeping and then wakes up and is too dizzy to stand up. Sounds like it could possibly be similar? I'm sorry that happened to you and your pup!

I was thinking vestibular event also. My older pug used to have them. They can last a few seconds or a few hours. Her longest was about an hour. It's scary, but apparently doesn't harm them.

Good luck.

[Leeham Rimes]

I was going to say it sounds very similar to a seizure (edited. My brain isn't working) my friends dog had while I was babysitting. It was over 15 years ago so the fine details are hazy but that sounds very similar to what I saw.

I hope the vet can shed light and peace of mind <3

[spitforspat]

It sounds like a seizure. My dog had a series of them when his blood sugar was messed up.