I have a minature yorkie who is nine years old, the problem began on Wednesday when he started falling over when he tried to stand up, this lasted for a minute to a minute and a half then he was ok, but last night and again tonight he has been, anyone any idea what might be wrong, I will take him to the Vet on Monday, how long is the average for a yorkie to live??

It sounds as if he is having what is commonly known as a stroke, but it really a disorder of the inner ear, affecting his balance. When this happens, are his eyes flickering from side to side? It's like really bad sea-sickness, but he should get over it in a couple of days (so my vet told us), but may not ever be entirely his old self again.

See your vet.

Yeah his eyes were flickering, he has been sick a further twice tonight although no more fits, is the fits to do with his old age???

To be honest, I wouldn't class 9 years old as being old for a little dog like a Yorkie!

It sounds as if your dog has Vestibular Syndrome, which according to one of my books can take about 5 days for a dog to recover from an attack But it can often recur and may be more severe next time. It can be caused by a constriction of a blood vessel in the brain, a localised brain infection or disease of the inner ear.

It can leave him with his head permanently tilted to the affected side.

Take him to the vet, who may be able to suggest something to alleviate the symptoms, and advise you as to the possible causes. Good luck.

PS. This syndrome affects his balance, which is why he falls over. His eyes are flickering because he can't get a "fix" on a horizontal - he feels like he's tipping over all the time. This makes him nauseous (like travel sickness, or a fairground ride!) so a ginger biscuit might help. When he has these attacks, hold him close and firm so that he doesn't feel like he's falling all the time.

It may well be caused by an ear infection, and antibiotics might clear it. I would have thought he's only middle-aged, so there's a good prospect for him. :)

His balance seems to be unaffected after the fit, is this common. When he stops falling over he is a little quite for about 10 minutes then he's back to his usual self, I was just really worried that his time had came, he has had good health all his life so it gave me a bit of a fright.

Hi Kerry,
In between these attacks (I don't like to call them "fits" because they are nothing to do with epilepsy!) he will be fine, just a little tired, as you say. Providing it is vestibular syndrome, he's quite likely to make a good recovery.

As for his age....my friend up the road has 2 tiny Yorkies and she says she would expect them to make their mid-teens.

Hope this helps! Good luck :)

Thx jeangenie you advice has been great, really pleased to know that I should have pleanty more fun with him, he's lying on my bed as if he owns it the cheeky dog.

We have just moved house so the stress might be getting to him a little and making him feel a bit down

thx again, you advice has been wonderful

Kerry,

You should take your Yorkie to the vet for blood tests. A number of diseases can cause fits, including liver problems, kidney problems or brain tumours.

Liver problems are often manageable, but you need to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Everyone guessing what might be the cause will not help.

Stacey

What age do you reckon a dog like a Yorkie lives to, my father said 12 years, but he's no expert, it is quite worrying to hear this, he'll be going to the vet on Monday so i'll let yous know how he gets on

cheeers Kerry

You could well be looking at anything up to 16 or more! The collapsing has been well covered by Jeangenie, suffice to say this does not sound like epilepsy to me. Dogs don’t get strokes in the usual "Human" way, as she said, the two near types are the inner ear and a brain problem. Often for a while afterwards the dog has a tendency to "Knuckle under", to literally roll the toes under the foot and stand on the top of the toes. Years ago one of my Labs, Mandy, had the brain one and never got over it. Lucy had the Vestibular Syndrome and made a complete recovery with no reoccurrence.

Regards, John

Sorry everyone just noticed what I said on my first post - 'but last night and again tonight he has been'... I meant to say 'he has been sick', there has only been one fit, with the sickness described after that, I don't know if this puts a little more light on things, hopefully he won't have anymore fits, your advise is very much appreciated, sorry if I confused you's.

thx Kerry

There is no sickness with either of the two "Stroke Like" illnesses described. As a thought, very many years ago a dog belonging to my uncle had an "Epileptic" fit. She also has sickness and during one of the bouts of sickness brought up a long length of string. The sickness and epilepsy stopped!

Could it be possible he has swallowed anything?

Regards, John

When my elderly (15) bitch had Vestibular Syndrome she was definitely nauseous and vomiting with it. The vet who came out said that it was due to the feeling of falling over (impaired sense of balance) and that this was very common with the syndrome. The flickering of the eyes is a real tell-tale sign.

There is every chance of a good recovery if this is what he is suffering from. :)

I have the human version of vestibular syndrome Meniere's and I can tell you I would be very suprised if a dog didn't feel sick and vomit when it is at its worst try riding a very uneven fast spinning roundabout for along time and you would get the same effect not pleasent and I understand whats going on the poor dog doesn't.Gillian

My 5 year old Son suffers fits- his body can't control it's temperature and so it kind of shuts down when it's too hot or cold. He's always sick when he comes round- very dis-orientated etc, he doesn't know who or what's happening:(

Stacey x x x

Hi Kerry,
Did you take your Yorkie to the vet yesterday, and what was the outcome? Good, I hope. Let us know!

No, we got snowed in, have another appointment for Thursday, but good news no more fits or sickness, just a happy yorkie, Kerry

That's great news Kerry!! :) :) :) Really pleased!