Last weekend i got a frantic call from one of my clients saying her little dog age nearly 14 had suddenly gone unstaedy on her feet,spinning in circles annd making chewing motions with her mouth.I rushed straight round to take her to the vets( her owner is in her late eighties).By the time i got there she had gone completly back to normal.At the vets she was given a complete check including listening to her heart,feeling her tummy and joints,looking in her mouth and also blood tests which later came back fine.The fee was £89 which was promptly paid and the vet asked to see her agin in a few days for an ecg and to take a urine sample which i did,all came back perfect and my client was charged a further £80.Being a pensioner and with no insurance it was a lot of moiney for her to pay but the vet is now asking her to come back for another visit for a hormone test.My question is,is this really necessary?She is an eldery dog,spayed and seems fine now but her owner still doesnt know what happened that day.What is a hormone test and could it have been done the same day as the other tests?Also does anyone have any idea what it couldve been?Any advice appreciated.Thanks.

It sounds like a minor epileptic fit. Unless they become frequent (say once a fortnight or so) they usually don't need treatment, and they cannot be diagnosed with tests either.

My last poodle did the same and when I went to the vets they told me it was a fit he had suffered and he was put on phenobarbitone for a week but never had any more fits after that.

sound like a mild fit to me  ( had an epileptic dog) I would consider another vet if this occurs again ..some vets are just rip off merchants.

We have had a number of elderly dogs (current one is 16 1/2).  This sounds like a small stroke or fit.  We ensure quality of life is maintained but do not over do veterinary intrusion.  We do consider medicines that are not recommended for long term use, but will improve quality of life for the oldie, and take the chance.

I would certainly not be 'fising in the dark' for reasons, just ensuring each day is of quality and that the dog is happy, eating and interested

This little dog is idolised by her owner and certainly noy fishing for answers but her owner was concerned that the vet was running unnessesary tests,not only is it expensive but her dog is extremely fearful of the vet and naturally like any loving owner she wants to know what is wrong with her baby.she has no idea what a hormone test would be for either.

Sorry you misunderstood me :-)  I meant the vet was fishing for answers, I felt you wanted reassurance for the owner to leave well alone, which is certainly what I would do :-)

Oops im so sorry,i thought you meant that the owner was fishing for answers.I feel so sorry for her because naturally she would spend every last penny on her girl but i just feel feel the vet is scraping the bottom of the barrel now,doing tests that he knows fair well have nothing to do with what happened to the little dog.