If your dog is staggering, stumbling, or falling over, it could be the result of a number of medical issues, including injury, stroke, poisoning, or an infection.

Why is my dog stumbling and seems drunk?

Potential causes include inner/middle ear infections, intoxication, strokes, tumors, infectious or inflammatory diseases (meningitis), idiopathic vestibular disease (also called “old dog” vestibular syndrome), or other less likely causes.

Why does my dog walk like she's drunk?

It could be anything from old dog vestibular disease, to an inner ear infection, or even a brain tumor or some other central nervous system lesion. It also may not have anything to do at all with the nervous system.

What does it mean when a dog stumbles?

Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain can cause dogs to display symptoms such as stumbling and falling down. Brain inflammation can occur due to several issues including fungal infections, tick-borne diseases, and parasites. Dogs suffering from encephalitis can also experience lethargy, depression, and fever.

Why is my dog wobbly and off balance all of a sudden?

Inner ear infections are a common cause of dogs losing their balance. Other symptoms include head shaking and scratching, eye flicking, and walking in circles. Often there may be redness, swelling, discharge, and odor associated with the affected ear.

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Why is my dog suddenly flinching and wobbly?

If you suspect your dog is flinching from being in pain, have your veterinarian conduct a physical examination to determine the cause. Many times a mild seizure will cause flinching and tremors and you may not even realize that your dog has just experienced a seizure.

What are the signs of a stroke in a dog?

Stroke signs in dogs may include sudden loss of balance or coordination, head tilting or compulsively walking in circles, abnormal eye movements, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty walking or standing, loss of bladder or bowel control, confusion or disorientation, seizures, and abrupt changes in ...

How do you treat a dog that is disoriented unbalanced and confused?

If the dog is seriously disoriented or ataxic (stumbling, unable to stand or walk), it may be given sedatives to help it relax. Drugs that help combat nausea or motion sickness may be beneficial. Antibiotics may be used in cases suspected of having middle or inner ear infections.

Why is my dog stumbling and leaning to the side?

If your dog is staggering, stumbling, or falling over, it may be the result of a variety of medical issues, including injury, stroke, poisoning, or an infection.

What is wobbly dog syndrome?

Cervical spondylomyelopathy, commonly referred to as wobbler syndrome, is a disease of the spine within the neck, resulting in poor transmission of nerve signals between the brain and the body. There can be various morphological problems of the bones of the neck in affected dogs. Back to Neurology service.

Why is my dog staggering a bit?

Staggering is often the result of vestibular disease, which impacts the balance systems of your dog's body. The disease is the result of irritation to the nerves that connect the inner ear to the brain. When this occurs, it leads to a loss of balance along with other issues. There are two forms of vestibular disease.

What is drunken gait in dogs?

There are different types of ataxia, but here we are referring to cerebellar ataxia. The cerebellum (the “little brain”) is the portion of the brain that fine-tunes movement. Affected dogs might have a “drunken”, “staggering” gait, and frequently have a “goose stepping” movement of the front limbs.

What is dog ataxia?

Ataxia is incoordination within the nervous system. The abnormal movement can occur in the legs, the head, the body, or all three. There are several forms of ataxia, depending on where in the nervous system the abnormality occurs.

Can dehydration cause stumbling in dogs?

Severe overheating & dog dehydration symptoms - If your dog exhibits severe signs of dehydration or overheating (e.g. extreme lethargy, rapid breathing, stumbling, collapse, or seizures) it is a medical emergency.

How do you treat a wobbly dog?

Medical management typically involves activity restriction and treatment, with a course of corticosteroids to reduce spinal cord swelling associated with compression.

What does it mean when your dog loses balance?

Inner ear damage, head trauma and other injuries can cause pets to lose their balance. Because dogs are good at hiding pain and discomfort, it can make it difficult to spot some of the signs.

Why is my dog staggering like he's drunk?

Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain can cause a dog to stagger, stumble, or fall over. This serious condition can result from fungal infections, tick-borne diseases, and parasites, among other causes. Some other common symptoms of encephalitis include fever and depression.

Why is my dog suddenly disoriented and wobbly?

Brain tumors, infections, and inflammation can affect your dog's ability to balance and walk properly, as well as affect nerve function. Abnormalities in the cerebellum and degenerative changes that can occur due to disease and old age can also affect nerve function.

What to do if my dog is stumbling?

Is it serious if my dog keeps stumbling and falling over? Any dog that is staggering, stumbling over their front legs or falling over requires immediate veterinary attention, since they may be suffering from pain and other symptoms, and their life may be in danger.

Why is my dog off balance and swaying?

If your dog has wobbly walking and cannot maintain their balance, it means they have vestibular syndrome. The causes in dogs are multiple and include brain tumors, infections and/or inflammations of the middle or inner ear, hypothyroidism, stroke, or certain medications that are toxic to the ears.

Why is my dog suddenly confused and disoriented?

You should take your dog to see a veterinarian if you suspect they are experiencing signs of dementia. Vets typically make a formal diagnosis of CCD by using the acronym DISHA after first ruling out other medical causes of their disorientation, like: Diabetes.

Should you put a dog down with vestibular disease?

As dramatic as the signs are, no you shouldn't. As long as the underlying cause is dealt with, the prognosis for vestibular disease in dogs is good. Most dogs recover within a few weeks of diagnosis, although sometimes they can be left with a permanent head tilt or recurrent ataxia.

What does congestive heart failure look like in dogs?

The most common clinical sign of CHF is persistent coughing accompanied by difficulty breathing. This is due mainly to pulmonary edema or the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Many dogs with CHF will tire out more easily, have reduced stamina, and do not engage in playing or walking as they once did.

What do dogs' eyes look like when they have a stroke?

Strabismus, or abnormal eye positioning, is another clue. One eye might wander as the other stays still, or the eyes may seem to focus on two different spots. These eye movements mean you should seek a vet's help right away. This is a commonly-missed sign of stroke, because your dog might just seem tired.

How do you tell if a dog had a stroke or vestibular disease?

With the latter, especially, a dog may leap after a tennis ball, yelp with pain and immediately have difficulty walking. This can occur in dogs of all ages. Signs of a stroke can be subtle but may also include head tilt, circling, weakness, paralysis of one or more limbs, loss of urine or bowel control and collapse.

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