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A Scare

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We’ve had a very, very worrisome 24 hours here at the cottage. Yesterday morning, after we’d been up a few hours, I went to let Riley outside. With Riley’s weakening hind quarters, I am always careful to help him navigate the step out the door with as little stress as possible. I heard Scout behind me, getting up from the floor. Then I heard a thud as she, the most agile of dogs, fell. I turned around quickly and saw that she was listing to one side a bit. I helped her outside and watched her walk with difficulty around the yard. She kept tripping and falling.

At first I thought she had hurt her left rear leg, because she was unable to control it. She could walk and put weight on it but, at times, she couldn’t seem to control her movements. I brought her in and tried to figure out what was wrong. Maybe she’d pulled a muscle? At one point, when my back was turned, she tried to jump up on the sofa and fell backwards. Both dogs have had lyme disease at one time or another and I wondered if it was recurring.

Don was in NYC for an audition and had the car. I waited until he was out of the audition to tell him about Scout. We decided we’d wait until he could see her when he came home for a quick change of clothes before he went to work. By that time, Scout was walking a bit better, still listing and tripping occasionally and was obviously stressed. Again, we decided to wait and watch and if she got worse, Don would come home from work and we’d take her to the doctor.

She didn’t want to eat and this girl loves to eat. I finally coaxed her to have some fried egg (her favorite food) and some white rice. And she drank a bit of water. Along about 6:30 I became extremely alarmed when I noticed her eyes were moving back and forth constantly. She had a little tick going over her left eye as well. My heart was in my throat as I realized something was happening neurologically. I called the Vet (by this time it was close to 7 pm) and they were still open. But I didn’t have a car. After calling my neighbor and receiving no answer, I called Heidi and she drove over immediately. In the meantime, after the receptionist relayed Scout’s symptoms to our Vet, he called me back to tell me not to panic. He suspected she was having what would be somewhat similar to a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) in a human. He assured me it wasn’t life threatening but he wanted to see her right away.

After examining her, he told me she was suffering from Vestibular Disease or what he calls Old Dog Vestibular Disease which is “an acute nonprogressive disturbance of the peripheral vestibular system in old dogs.” The vestibular system is the sensory system that contributes to balance and involves the inner ear, as the vestibulum is in the inner ear. This comes on suddenly, with no warning. It shows as imbalance, disorientation, a head tilt and irregular eye movements – all of which Scout was showing. Often the dog will vomit because of nausea which explains her lack of appetite. Scout did vomit during the night.

The good news is that the eye movements should go away in about 3 days. And Scout should be back to normal within a month. We’ll have to watch her and make sure she doesn’t get too rambunctious and take her outside on a leash for a while. The hardest part will be the next 2 days or so until the eye movements stop. It’s like having vertigo. I can tell she is very confused and can only think her little world must be spinning and how terrible that must feel.

My poor girl. I really thought she was having a stroke or had injured her spine. This kind of attack may well happen again but at least we’ll know what is going on. The doctor gave me a copy of the facts about this disease and at the end it says to “reassure the client…..the prognosis for rapid improvement and recovery is excellent.”

I’m watching her sleep as I write this. She’s my baby, you know. She may be 13, but she’s still my baby girl. For a while there, I thought I might be losing her.

I’m grateful that she is going to be okay.

Comments

  5. I felt much the same way, when my Cocker Spaniel, Maggie all of a sudden just couldn’t walk. She did have a spinal problem, which was taken care of with surgery. I know just how you feel about your baby. They are so helpless at that point and looking to us for help.Thinking of you and hoping your doggy gets well.
    Balisha

  6. They may be pets but they are like our children … and to lose any of them or see them age and decline is most awful. I’m glad she will recover somewhat and will be with you for a bit longer. We do love them so!

  7. What a scare. I am happy that she will be Ok. Poor Scout, don’t worry you’ll be back to your old self in no time.
    Blessings, Joanne

  9. So sorry to hear about Scout, Claudia. Prayers for her complete recovery.

    It’s always so hard with old dogs. No matter what we do, they just never live long enough for us. “Thirteen” gets to be a senior citizen in the dog world, with everything that brings with it. Hope you have much more time with your girl.
    xoxo
    Donna

  12. How very scary! Does this just come and go at will, or did the vet prescribe something? All the symptoms made sense once the diagnosis was given, and I’m sure it’s very reassuring…although it’s so hard to see our dogs aging. :-( Our 12.5 year old dog has recently lost most of her sight. It is sad to see her miss the step to the back door or not be able to jump up on the couch any longer. But she is still a sweet and loyal pal. Hope things go along well for you and your sweet doggies.

  13. Oh poor Scoutie! Give her a big hug from Aunt Mere, I treat kids with vestibular dysfunction, they often have that nystagmus with their eyes, think about this that constant eye movement is all they know! Get well little girl.
    Meredith

  14. I’m so sorry to hear about this heartbreaking scare with Scout– and so relieved to hear she will be better soon. I will be thinking about Scout and sending healthy wishes her way. oxo
    Hugs,
    Jill (& Hagrid)

  15. Ah Claudia, what a scary moment for you. Poor Scout, but I am glad to hear that things will improve.

    It’s horrible when they get sick, we feel so helpless.

    Wishing her a speedy recovery.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

  16. Oh my gosh, how scary! I am so glad that she is better, and that she will recover. We all get so attached to our furry family!! Hugs,
    Kris

  17. Sending good thoughts for her. I know she is in capable hands and is loved more than anyone knows. Get better soon, sweetie. Hugs

  18. She’s at that age when stuff happens, I guess. My sisters last dog had that..It’s like they can’t get their bearings..Don’t know where they are sometimes…Hope she’s better soon…

  19. She’s at that age when stuff happens, I guess. My sisters last dog had that..It’s like they can’t get their bearings..Don’t know where they are sometimes…Hope she’s better soon…

  21. As soon as I started reading your post I knew what was wrong with Scout. Our Penny, who we lost this spring, had the same thing two years ago. We thought she had a stroke. She kept falling over and her eyes were funny too. Thank goodness it lasted only a couple of days. We just walked her on a leash so she felt secure until she was better and she was fine.

    I will be sending positive thoughts for both of your babies. Hope she is better soon.

    Take care,
    Sue

  24. Poor Scout! I’m sorry she (and you) have to go through this. I have had this problem myself, and I know it is no fun to have the world spinning around. And the eye movement is the worst. And she doesn’t understand what is happening to her, poor thing.

    I’m glad she will recover. Thirteen years old – she is a senior citizen, isn’t she! I will keep you in my prayers as you watch over her.

  27. Oh Claudia, I am familiar with the feeling you must have had when these symptoms first started with Scout. My cocker spaniel was given to us by people who just plain didn’t care about him anymore. It turned out, the apparently FORGOT to tell me he had seizures!!! It was really frightening for me, as I had no idea what to do for him whenever he had one. I did some research on the internet, then changed his diet, and he hasn’t had one since (with the exception of one fancy-flavored dog bone my daughter thought maybe he could have; but NOPE! He had another seizure after that!)… Anyways, I hope your baby girl, God bless her, is feeling better soon! ((big hugs)) ~tina

  29. It’s so hard to know what to do about vetting elderly pets. I went through that with two of my cats last fall. I couldn’t justify the expense for my most special baby when it would only buy her a month. The vet let me make the decision and then told me I made the right choice. I’m so glad you don’t have to do that! ~ Maureen

  30. oh-my heart was in my throat while I read this. I am so glad to read that it will go away, but your poor baby!! She is lucky that she has such loving parents to help her through this confusing time- I’m sending healing thoughts for Scout ♥

  31. How frightening. Our animals become real members of our family and any illness or difficulty is alarming. I’m glad you were able to find out what was causing the problem and hopefully it disappears quickly.

  32. I’m sorry ti hear about Scou,t but glad she will be okay. It must be hard on you to see her in distress. I hope she comes out of it fast.

  33. Get well soon, Scout! I have a 13-year-old dog, too, and it is hard to see them aging. We will keep good thoughts for Scout’s speedy recovery.

  36. Poor, poor Claudia. I’m just so sorry. I know how much it hurts when there’s something wrong with one of our fur babies. Thank the Lord that she will heal. I will keep you in my prayers.

  37. I saw your post title and thought “uh oh” and hurried to open and read. So glad she’s okay. Hugs to you Claudia ~ and know that you’re in lots of people’s prayers. xo

  38. So grateful Scout will be OK, even if there are some difficult days between now and then for both of you. I know how much she means to you.

  39. I hope your dog is much better very soon.

    Our pets do become important parts of our family, and it is so hard seeing them have health problems, but sometimes I wonder if it is harder on us than it is on them.

    Hope to hear good news about her recovery.
    nancyr

  40. Ohh Claudia – I read this with my heart in my throat. I’m glad Scout is going to be ok. It was sounding like the symptoms my cat, Mousie had which led to a stroke and her death. She was my baby and it killed me. J

  41. Read your post with MY heart in my throat! Poor little girl (and her poor mama!!) Am glad to hear all will be ok, but knowing it could reoccur and how she must feel is alarming I’m sure.
    You’re a good mama and I’m sure you’ll take great care of her..it is just hard to watch.
    Thinking of all of you…

  42. Whew! I was getting upset just reading this. I hope she is much better very soon. You’re a good mommy, Claudia.♥

  43. I’m so glad scout will be ok and that her condition is not life-threatening. It’s not easy getting old for pets or humans, and having had dogs all my life, I know how heartbreaking and scary it can be when they are sick. I know you will keep her cool and comfortable until she is her old self again. My prayers for your fur babies.

  44. SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT SCOUT….THANK GOD SHE WILL RECOVER…..PRAYERS WILL BE SAID FOR HER…..TAKE CARE…RIZZI

  45. I’ve had problems with my ears a few times and know how awful vertigo is. They give medication for it to humans. I wonder if it isn’t safe for dogs? We hope your baby will be back to normal in a flash.

  46. My old dog, Heidi, experienced the same sickness. Seems hers was triggered by the hot, humid weather we were experiencing at that time. She did recover though. Oddly enough, our vet put her on motion sickness meds (active ingredient was same as what vet would have prescribed – but cost less). Hope she’s feeling better soon.

  50. How frightening for you! My female pug has that. She compensates so well that you can barely tell there is a problem except that she has a head tilt and if you hold her head still between your hands, her eyes go back and forth like a typewriter. If you turn her hind paw so that the pads are to the back and up, she will just leave it there because it doesn’t register quickly that her paw is not in the correct place. We have only had her for a year, but she was older when we got her when one of her people died and the other had to go to a nursing facility. She doesn’t do the steps into and out of our 5th wheel, but does the steps to the bedroom just fine and can jump up on the couch. Dogs are truly the most amazing creatures! They just adjust and go on. Good luck to you and Scout.

  51. Claudia–
    I know how scary that is when our babies and loved one are sick and we don’t know what to do.

    You wrote yesterday: “Miracles happen every day.”
    Today you witnessed another…
    many blessings to you, your pup and your household, Pat

  52. Keeping you and your babies in my thoughts and prayers. It’s especially hard to handle when your babies can’t tell you what’s wrong.

  55. Well, this just makes me feel like crying. It is so hard to see a pet suffer and not be able to HELP them or to EXPLAIN to them what is goingon…okay- now I AM crying. Saying a prayer for your baby girl because I think God listens to ALL prayers. xo Diana

  57. Imagino o susto pelo qual você passou! Se algo acontece com meus cães, morro de preocupação. Espero que a recuperação de Scout seja muito rápida. Abraços,
    Zilda

  58. Oh, Claudia, I am so sorry for the scare you had! Poor Scout. Don’t you wish we could speak the same language at times like this, so you could convey to her that in a day or two her eye movements and vertigo would be gone. Poor baby. I hope she is doing much better today. Hugs to Scout from me… Donna

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