It's scary to see your dog suddenly look drunk, not be able to walk, develop rapid, abnormal eye movement (called a nystagmus) and fall to his or her side. When this happens, one common benign cause may be due to “old dog vestibular disease.”
The term for this uncoordinated gait is “ataxia,” and the type of ataxia that causes dogs to walk like they are drunk is called a “vestibular ataxia.” The vestibular system, or balance system, in dogs is composed of two parts: the peripheral portion, or the inner and middle ear, and the central portion, or the parts of
Wobblers Syndrome (also called spondylolithesis), is a condition that can affect puppies or adult dogs. They develop an unsteady gait due to spinal cord compression caused by the narrowing of the vertabral canal, or by a ruptured disc in the neck.
Tracheal Collapse The official name for the condition is tracheal chondromalacia. Dogs with tracheal collapse have a dry, hacking and spasmodic cough. They cough repeatedly and have a hard time calming down. Their coughing will worsen if they pull while they're on a leash.
While most pets aren't generally interested in alcohol itself, rich treats like cream liqueurs, brandy-soaked puddings and eggnog might tempt their palate. Your pets can get tipsy without you noticing, so it's worth knowing the risks (and symptoms) of alcohol poisoning. For many domestic animals, alcohol is toxic.
Back arching, also called kyphosis, can alternatively be described as abdomen tucking, which makes sense, as it often suggests gastrointestinal distress. However, it is also an extremely common sign of spinal pain. This is especially true if your dog is arching its back and walking off balance, panting, or shaking.
When healthy, sound dogs walk or trot their heads move up and down slightly through the stride cycle. If you notice your dogs' head bobbing up and down significantly, this is a good indication of a disturbance in their movement.
Sometimes this involves just one muscle, sometimes entire groups of muscles. This dog, unfortunately, looks like he's just dancing to music to the untrained eye. But in actuality, he just may not have control of his motor skills.
Your dog will focus his gaze in front of him and he will act like he sees something, even though there is nothing in the area. Veterinarians believe this is caused by a neurological disorder, such as a partial seizure or epilepsy.
If your dog is hacking away or constantly making noises that make it sound like they are choking on something, they may have a case of kennel coughkennel coughKennel cough is an infectious form of bronchitis that affects dogs. It's also referred to as canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) or infectious tracheobronchitis. The most common symptom of the illness is the hacking cough produced by canines with the infection., or canine infectious tracheobronchitis.
In fact, experts say that Trance-like Syndrome (TLS)—also referred to as “ghost-walking,” “weed-walking” or simply “trancing”—is usually a benign canine quirk. Though most common in Bull Terriers and sighthounds (such as Greyhounds and Salukis), TLS has been observed in multiple breeds and mixes.
Curiosity – Another reason dogs dig is as a way of investigating something. If they think there's something exciting hiding under the cushions of their bed, like some leftover food or a toy, they might dig as a way of uncovering it.
“When someone is inclined to believe in the paranormal, some dogs may exhibit behaviors that make it look like they are perhaps sensing an apparition is nearby,” says Dr. Mary Burch, director of the AKC Family Dog Program and a certified animal behaviorist.
When a dog moves his mouth as if he's talking, it can be a sign of one of several serious medical conditions such as distemper or seizures. If you think your dog might be suffering from a medical problem, you need to make an urgent consultation with his vet.