Morning all,
Last night my twelve year old border collie became very ill. The symptoms began in the morning when he wouldn't get out of bed or go into the garden. He was also off his food but nothing too unusual. As the day progressed he started going to the toilet in the house, something that he has never done. He seemed to have lost control of his bladder and would urinate in his basket and lie in it. As he still lives at home with my parents, they telephoned me last night to go and see him. When I arrived he was lying down on his side, his eyes were rolling in his head, he could not stand, was foaming at the mouth, was shaking (but not convulsing) and looked extremely sorry for himself. This came on very suddenly, although as I said, he had been 'out of sorts' all day. We rushed him to the 24 hour vets where he had numerous tests: blood, urine, prostate (I think). His temperature is normal and he hasn't taken any pills, poison etc. He shed an awful lot of hair but the vet said that this was due to stress. The vets have drawn a blank as all tests were clear. She said his heart is very strong and circulation is good. He has had all of his jabs and is usually very, very active (could jump a six foot wall the day before). Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Naomi

The answer could be that he has had all of his jabs - there are some postings here about homeopathic nosodes as an alternative to conventional vaccination - maybe Leigh can point you in the direction - many people who use alternative methods, and even some vets, wouldn't condone vaccinating an older dog....it's a complicated thing and I know it won't help you now....I do hope your dog recovers - I expect it's simply old age - possibly the dog could be having mild ' strokes ' ?which is exactly what happened to my old collie - he didn't fit exactly, but just sort of went through shivering episodes....hope all goes well.

Hi norm,

I think that your right in that he appears to have had a mild stroke. When I said this to the vet however I was told that strokes in dogs were very rare. Can they run tests for this? What treatment is there?

Cheers, Naomi

I think John explained something about strokes in a previous posting. Can't exactly remember it all but something about there being 2 types of stroke ??? If you do a search you might find it. Sorry I can't be of more help, maybe someone else can remember what I'm on about about. I found it interesting so may search for it myself.

Hopes he's feeling better by the way.

Found it, do a search and put in key word Stroke posted by John.

Sorry if there is a way to do a link I'm not that clever ;-)

My BC suffered a stroke at the age of 14 years and went on until the ripe old age of 17. He suffered symptoms similar to your dog and the vet diagnosed a stroke. He had no treatment except tlc and apart from a slightly tilted head occasionally was fine.
Good luck with him
Diane

Thanks all for your help. He must be on the mend as he is on his way home as I type. I will keep you updated. I would be interested to hear all of the symptoms that your dog had Diane (if you don't mind), does it seem simular to you? It was interesting to read Johns posting. I have recently read an article on the second version of a stroke, where it effects the inner ear and it seams like this is what has happened.

Thanks again,
Naomi.

Apparantly - when my dog had his ' strokes ' the vet described it as that as it was the nearest thing that I would understand I suppose, but she did say dogs don't have strokes, as such - not entirely sure what she meant - but the effect seems similar to that seen in humans as my dog lost his balance in the end and became very confused - so might tie in with the inner ear thing you speak of.....glad to hear your dog is on his way home.

Hi Naomi,

a very similar thing happened to my parents' border collie. One morning he suddenly could not get up, even to wee and consequently wet his bed. He seemed to be almost trance-like, lying very stiffly in one position panting and shaking with a most peculiar wide-eyed expression, though no mouth-foaming. We rushed him to the vet, and it turned out that he had slipped a disk the evening before playing his favourite game of leaping into the air after his football and the syptoms had kicked in overnight. (You say that he likes to leap too.) His strange behavior was a sort of shock as a result of the severe pain.

I don't know what medication he was given as it is a long time ago, presumably anti-inflammatories, but he made a good and fast recovery, though I seem to remember he had to be supported to wee for a few days and also had to forfeit any more jumping games for the rest of his life as they aggravated his condition and made him limp.

Just a thought - though it seems that he is on the way to recovery now.

Hi all,
My baby is home and like a new dog. He is running around, has bladder control again and is back to his old self. The vets are unsure what happened but said that they think he had a siezure. Fingers crossed that he stays around for a few more happy years yet. Thanks for your help. It's nice to know that there are people at the other end of a computer with probably more experience and knowledge than a lot of vets.
Best wishes all,
Naomi.

Hi Naomi, the symptoms my BC had were urinating, loss of balance and his eyes flickered in their sockets. I remeber now that the vet gave him sea sickness tablets as she said he would feel sick from his eyes flickering and the disturbance in his inner ear and eustachian tubes. Glad to here your dog is on the mend.
Diane