Over the last few weeks my dogs legs have gone out from under her when we have been out.  Both times it happened when she was pulling on the lead to get near to a lady who gives both the dogs biscuits.  She doesn't lose consciousness and it only lasts a few seconds but she crumbles to the floor and gets up a few seconds later.

Is this something to worry about?  I haven't taken her to the vet as the first time I thought she was just being stubborn and lying down to stay near the woman but when it happened again it seemed to be too much of a coincidence.

Any thoughts?  I have known of this happening to boxers but not staffies.  She is 8 and in fairly good health if that has any impact. TIA

Defiantelty worth a vet check, there are a number of things that could be behind this.

My sisters boxer collapsed last year. With her, the vet ruled that is was to do with her throat when she got over-excited. It could be the same for your dog, however, I really think a vet-check is in order.

Is your dog pulling on a collar (as opposed to chest harness)? The pressure on her throat may well be the problem, but again, defiantely worth a vet check.

How frightening for you, I hope you get to the bottom of it.

Is she normally over excited and hot as sounds like exercise induced fits :-)

I would get her checked out, heart as well as some heart conditions cause exercise-induced fainting and don't necessarily show other symptoms before that point.

Hey Ali! (Good to see you chick!)

A faint most commonly (of all the causes) indicates Hypoxia (low levels of Oxygen) and given the events looks a likely cause but as others have said I would get a vet MOT.

What type of collar is she wearing? In mulling it over (and all purely hypothetical) I'm thinking it could be simple asphyxia or could even be pressure applied to the vagal nerve (which I know from my line of work, when detainees try to 'hang' themselves the ligature can press on the vagal nerve (in the neck, same as dogs) which causes 'bradycardia' slowing of the heart, this can be accomplished in as quick as 30 seconds) The right Vagus causing circulatory problems much quicker.
    So it would be interesting to know, what type of collar pressure she has and did she pull forward or to the left or right?

Liv x

I would go to the vet there are a number of health conditions which can cause this but normally these would have appeared prior to 8 years old, your dog could also have developed some laryngeal paralysis which means that the airways can become compromised by straining on a collar.

So it might be as simple as to change the dog over from a collar to a harness or actual medical treatment.

In any case, go see vet.

Thanks for all the feedback, perhaps a vet trip is in order.

She is a lazy mare so definitely not exercise induced anything Lucy.  These have happened when we have been for a dander to the grassy bit at the top of the road so no more than a 10 minute wander.

Nikita, she does have a heart murmur and she does make coughing noises but any vets I have queried have ruled out the snotteryness to the heart murmur.

Mastifflover, it is boxers I have been aware of this in before.  There was one at the agility I went to that would just hit the deck if there was any aggro or excitement.

Liv, long time no hear - how are you doing? she wears a half check collar so your columbo ponderings are probably right on track.  I was thinking about getting her a harness and seeing if it makes any difference.  She wears 2 collars (a bioflow one too) so there is perhaps more constriction than usual.  Flipping typical I have a dog who gets her kicks from asphyxiation, I will know we are in trouble when she appears in the living room with an orange in her mouth rooting around for a plastic bag!

Tohme, even longer time no hear.  Good to see you both back! laryngeal paralysis sounds serious, looks like we are heading to the vet.

The irony of it all is that one of the reasons I bought a staffy is because they were meant to be one of the most robust pedigree dogs around.  What a joke, she is a walking disaster where health is concerned - just as well she is so damn cute.

Thanks again and I will update once we have been to the vet.

> with an orange in her mouth rooting around for a plastic bag

Ali...... :-O (ROFL! :-D)

> Tohme, even longer time no hear

Bloomin good to see the Doyenne of good common sense and sound advice back isn't it!

> I will update once we have been to the vet

Great! good luck and fingers crossed for you both x

Well, drum roll......... the vet said it is because she is choking herself with the collar and cutting off the air supply so should be walked with a harness rather than a collar.  I have raked out her old one we used for her therapet visits and will test out the theory tomorrow.

Looks like the oranges may be safe in the fruit bowl if we switch to a harness.

Silly Stafford!  Good to hear it's nothing more serious though :) 
My two walk on a collar, but it's after a looooooooooong slog training them not to pull!

She is 8 so has had years of practice walking at heel and does it well.  Typically it is an old lady carrying biscuits that is her downfall.  Imagine the headlines in the paper 'devil dog killed by old lady' rather than the other way round that usually features in the red tops.

lol, yes I can just see it now :)

My girl has just turned 9 years, and I can honestly say it's only the last 3 or 4 years that she hasn't been a puller!  I kept seeing so many Staffords that were NOT pulling on the lead that I just thought 'enough is enough'.  Now, thankfully, both of mine are pretty good at walking to heel too.

Food will always be a temptation :)

> 'devil dog killed by old lady'

You are costing me a fortune in Tena Lady pads young lady!!! :-D
    Glad you got to the bottom of it xx

that was so funny ali-t oranges and plastic bags