Suzy is acting weird

[cocowum]

Our year old lab started acting strange a little while ago. She looked scared and was trembling. Did not want to play with Norman. She is not trembling right now but it really freaked me out. She didn't get into anything and was fine before. She ate breakfast and had a snack, no appetite problems. She's napping right now. I called the vet and they said they couldn't tell if something was wrong over the phone that I would have to bring her in. I don't know if I'm overreacting because she's my baby or if I should bring her in.Any opinions???

BTW DH thinks I'm overreacting.

 

[Serena]

I'd go get her checked. It's possible she got into something, or maybe she is sick and you are just tuned into her more than your dh. Or he could be right. You won't know until they look at her.


I hope he's right.

 

[chrissyk]

Yes, bring her in to see your vet. I had a "gut feeling" that my male cat was sick this week. He seemed to be drinking a lot more water than usual. Sure enough, he had a bad UTI! I am so glad that I brought him right in. Trust your instincts. When you are that clued in to your pet, you **know** when something is not right with them.

 

[miste76]

I've done dog rescue for a number of years now... and generally, our rule of thumb is that if the dog is eating and drinking normally, then don't rush into the vet. I've had a dog have a seizure (a personal dog of mine) and I immediatly rushed her to the emergency vet in the middle of the night - and I would probably do it again. That dog acted very strange for a while before she actually had the seizure.
But, only you know your dog. If the dog is completly different (lathargic, can barely move, etc...) then take the dog to the vet.
Then again... If you're worried, then put your mind at ease by taking the dog to the vet and having him/her checked out. If I was worried, then I certainly wouldn't mind a $35 vet bill to know that my dog was ok.

 

[diznygirl]

You said Suzy was scared, trembling and did not want to play with Norman, your newest dog? Is it possible that Norman did something that scared her? I know you just can't ask her, but you can see how they interact the rest of the day.

Hope it's nothing serious.

 

[Chuck S]

It is quite possible that she was having a seizure. Many dogs are prone to seizures similar to epilepsy. If the episodes are infrequent, medication may not be needed. Some dogs have to have meds everyday. I have had 3 seizure prone dogs. If you are able to get them to swallow something at the first signs of a seizure, valium can somtimes make the seizure less severe. The last dog I had them more frequently than any I;ve had before, but did not require daily med. When she first felt a seizure coming on, she would seek us out and we'd recognize that "wild look" in her eyes...we'd give her her valium and in about 10 minutes she was fine. If we didn;t get it to her in time, it would last up to 30 minutes, with lots of foaming and drooling, shaking...not a pretty sight.

 

[Disney Doll]

Sounds like she and Norman had a "tiff" and he did something that scared her OR she was having a seizure...maybe a "petite mal" one...a smaller, less dramatic seizure than a grand mal.

I'd get her checked out. Labs are prone to seizure activity.

 

[magicfan]

I've done dog rescue for a number of years now... and generally, our rule of thumb is that if the dog is eating and drinking normally, then don't rush into the vet. I've had a dog have a seizure (a personal dog of mine) and I immediatly rushed her to the emergency vet in the middle of the night - and I would probably do it again. That dog acted very strange for a while before she actually had the seizure.
But, only you know your dog. If the dog is completly different (lathargic, can barely move, etc...) then take the dog to the vet.
Then again... If you're worried, then put your mind at ease by taking the dog to the vet and having him/her checked out. If I was worried, then I certainly wouldn't mind a $35 vet bill to know that my dog was ok.

The problem is, they will probably want to run a bunch of tests. I have been there, dont that, and I have never left a vet office only paying the office visit fee. It's very expensive to take an animal to a vet around here.

I'm not saying don't do it, at all. Just wanted to add that it is quite possible that the visit will cost well over $35. Our vets, and the emergency vet clinic always wants to run blood work, take x-rays, etc... They tell me they can't determine exactly what is wrong, and how to treat my dog otherwise.

If you don't mind the expense, and it will give you peace of mind, I would take her in. My first thought was that maybe he/she was having a seizure?
But, I am no expert. I hope your dog is okay

 

[mrsv98]

One of our labs has very infrequent, very mild seizures. The only thing that happens when she has them is she trembles and then has muscle weakness for about 10 mins afterward. The first time it happened we freaked and ran her to the ER vet but unless they actually see her having them, there isn't mush a test can tell. Her's are so mild she doesn't need any medication.

Keep watch on her and if it happens again see if she can walk right away or if she is weak and wobbly. If they are mild it may just be something you deal with like we do, if they become more frequent, it is something that can be helped (but not cured) with meds.

I know it can be scary

 

[Sparx]

Take her in. You would rather over react and it be nothing, than not do anything and it be something.

 

[maci]

I witnessed my yellow lab have a seizure, MANY years ago, I have never seen her do it since. Not to say she hasnt had them. But she is very healthy otherwise.

 

[cocowum]

Thanks everyone! As soon as I posted she perked right up. Her shaking wasn't visible, I could just feel it when I hugged her. I don't think it was anything serious.I just panicked at first (she is my baby after all. ) We spent an hour at the dog park (Norman too )and she ran around like mad. She is totally fine. Thank goodness.

 

[ckret01]

I am so happy to hear that. I totally understand where you are coming from. It is scary when a pet is acting funny b/c they can't tell you whats wrong so I would have paniced too. I'm so glad your baby is ok

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I'm glad to see that towards the end of this thread that your baby is doing fine. Isn't it something how we worry about them just like they're our children?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Sounds like a seizure to me. Once they are over a seizure they act and look normal. OUr yellow lab cross starting having seizures about a year and a half ago. She had to go on medication because the seizures were too frequent. She takes daily medicine and still has some seizures, but as long as they are at least 6 weeks apart the medication is doing it's job.

They are very scary to witness! Hopefully your dog will not have another episode, but if so make sure you keep track of how often they occur. I would have the vet check her to make sure nothing else is going on.

T&B

 

[cocowum]

Sounds like a seizure to me. Once they are over a seizure they act and look normal. OUr yellow lab cross starting having seizures about a year and a half ago. She had to go on medication because the seizures were too frequent. She takes daily medicine and still has some seizures, but as long as they are at least 6 weeks apart the medication is doing it's job.

They are very scary to witness! Hopefully your dog will not have another episode, but if so make sure you keep track of how often they occur. I would have the vet check her to make sure nothing else is going on.

T&B

T&B, when she was trembling I called her over and gave her a treat. She walked over and ate the treat, while she was still trembling. If it was a seizure do you think she could walk? I don't know if canine seizures are like human seizures.Thanks so much for any info.

She is fine this morning.

 

[mrsv98]

Hmm, if she could walk then I doubt it was a seizure. Our lab has really mild ones but can hardly walk during them, she has muscle weakness. Hers last about 10-15 mins start to finish and then she is just fine.

Like I said before, the frustrating thing is a vet would have a hard time diagnosing without actually seeing them. If it happens again, I would definitely take her in just to be sure.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I'd have it checked out.

Is it possible that she just doesn't feel well? I was worried about Monty this past week, as he was acting very tired and lethargic and when I brought him in the vet told me, that he's fine, but his allergies were acting up big time.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

T&B, when she was trembling I called her over and gave her a treat. She walked over and ate the treat, while she was still trembling. If it was a seizure do you think she could walk? I don't know if canine seizures are like human seizures.Thanks so much for any info.

She is fine this morning.

How bad was the trembling? She probably would not be able to walk, and she most likely would not have come when called for a treat.

Monty would not come for a treat at all, not even perk up his ears, last week. And that was just allergies.

 

[cocowum]

Hmm, if she could walk then I doubt it was a seizure. Our lab has really mild ones but can hardly walk during them, she has muscle weakness. Hers last about 10-15 mins start to finish and then she is just fine.

Like I said before, the frustrating thing is a vet would have a hard time diagnosing without actually seeing them. If it happens again, I would definitely take her in just to be sure.

Thanks. I don't think it was a seizure. She had no problem walking. I think she might have been afraid. She looked scared. DH and my DFIL were out back working on the deck. I wonder if that, all of a sudden scared her. But thank goodness she is fine now.

I'd have it checked out.

Is it possible that she just doesn't feel well? I was worried about Monty this past week, as he was acting very tired and lethargic and when I brought him in the vet told me, that he's fine, but his allergies were acting up big time.

How bad was the trembling? She probably would not be able to walk, and she most likely would not have come when called for a treat. Monty would not come for a treat at all, not even perk up his ears, last week. And that was just allergies.

Suzy looked scared. I went over and hugged her. That's when I felt her shaking. I couldn't see it. So it wasn't very bad.
Suzy has a check up scheduled for next week and I'll definitely mention it to her vet. But I think it was really me. I was that same way with DD when she was a baby. Thanks for all the help. You guys are great. DH doesn't have the bond with Norman and Suzy that I do. So he doesn't understand how upset I get when I think something might be wrong with them. It's so nice to come here and find people who understand.