Vertigo

 

On Saturday, April 14^th, when we went to bed, Rowdy was just fine. Sunday, the next morning, he couldn't hardly walk, without stumbling. He would stumble and fall on his face with his front legs, and had great difficulty walking on his back legs, with them constantly slipping out from under him. When he looked at you, his head seem to be locked in a odd angle and could not hold it level. It's like he tried to focus on you, but then his head and eyes would wander slightly off, with loss of control.

So Monday, I called the Vet, but could not get an appointment until the next week, even though I deemed this to be somewhat of an emergency. This is the second time I have been put off by this Vet, or their office, when I deem it necessary for an immediate visit.

They have a sister clinic an hour's drive away, that take walk-in's, so I took him there instead. I should also mention, that I had to drive by the first clinic on the way to the other one, and very few cars were out front. Didn't look like they were that busy, unless the Vet was out on call with farm animals. Either way, I'm still not happy with them.

The Vet did an extensive blood test, checking for organ functions and infections. Everything came back normal, so she decided that he probably has vestibular disease, as in dog vertigo. She said, this can come on all the sudden to older dogs and he may, or may not totally come out of it.

He also wouldn't eat his normal food, but would only eat something that tasted real good, like his wet food I treat him with every two weeks, or with his treats.

Over the last month, he has got much better. His head is held much straighter, and he doesn't stumble near as much. His playful attitude is back in full force and he is finally back to eating his normal dry dog food. However, now in the evenings, I still put a half serving of his wet food, on top of it. I guess this will be a permanent thing from now on, as I just don't have the heart, to totally remove it from him. It's sort of my way of providing him some extra comfort and excitement, in his old age.