staggering gait

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Margaret - 23 Sep 2005 23:14 GMT

I have a 7 yr. old male Chow who went out early this AM to go to the
bathroom; he came in, ate his breakfast, went out again for a few minutes
and came in and ate a cookie. About an hour later, he acted like he wanted
to go out again so I opened the door for him. At 1st it looked like he was
limping a little but as he walked , he had a staggering gait and looked like
he was going to fall over. He went further out into the yard by leaning on
the fence. He didn't seem to be able to walk in a straight line.
I got him back in then took him off to the vet.
By the time we got out of the car at the vet's
he seemed to be walking better.
Vet checked him out thoroughly and found nothing except a fine nystagmus
when he shined the light in his eyes. Blood work was WNL.
So we don't have a diagnosis but he's got some antibiotics and prednisone to
take.
Did he have a small stroke? An inner ear problem? ??
Any diagnostic thoughts would be appreciated.
Margaret

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"Chows leave paw prints on our hearts"

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Marie - 23 Sep 2005 23:51 GMT

I am not a vet. I own a lab who ate a few acorns. The next day he had a
seizure. He never fell down, but while standing, looked like he was
paralized. It lasted about two minutes. I found out that parts of the oak
trees are toxic to dogs.

Could your Chow have eaten somthing toxic?

>I have a 7 yr. old male Chow who went out early this AM to go to the
>bathroom; he came in, ate his breakfast, went out again for a few minutes
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Any diagnostic thoughts would be appreciated.
> Margaret

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Margaret - 23 Sep 2005 23:57 GMT

>I am not a vet. I own a lab who ate a few acorns. The next day he had a
>seizure. He never fell down, but while standing, looked like he was
>paralized. It lasted about two minutes. I found out that parts of the oak
>trees are toxic to dogs.
>
> Could your Chow have eaten somthing toxic?

Possible, but not likely since Chows are notoriously finicky, especially as
adults.
Thanks for your reply.

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josh - 24 Sep 2005 22:22 GMT

I'd certainly keep a very close eye on him and return to the vet if you see
anything within a few days, but mild to moderate ataxia and horizontal
nystagmus (I'm assuming here) with nothing else and no progression sound a
lot like idiopathic vestibular syndrome. Most animals recover from this
uneventfully.

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Margaret - 25 Sep 2005 01:21 GMT

> I'd certainly keep a very close eye on him and return to the vet if you
> see anything within a few days, but mild to moderate ataxia and horizontal
> nystagmus (I'm assuming here) with nothing else and no progression sound a
> lot like idiopathic vestibular syndrome. Most animals recover from this
> uneventfully.

Thanks for your reply...he seems fine today. Keeping a close eye on him is
a given :-))
I guess what concerns me is when anything is "ideopathic". I always like to
know why something happens and if it might happen again.

Margaret

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josh - 25 Sep 2005 14:07 GMT

> I guess what concerns me is when anything is "ideopathic". I always like
> to know why something happens and if it might happen again.

The short answer there is "you'll never find out" and "yes". If this is
what it is, be glad. Finding something rather than nothing with these
symptoms is almost always not a good thing.

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Dale Atkin - 27 Sep 2005 01:56 GMT

> lot like idiopathic vestibular syndrome.

Hey I learnt two new words today :).

Thanks.

Dale & Erwin.

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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / September 2005

staggering gait