If you notice that your dog suddenly loses their sense of balance they could be suffering from any of the following health issues. Signs of loss of balance should not be ignored since they can indicate a serious medical emergency. If your dog shows signs of any of the following health issues its time to head to the vet straight away.
Ataxia is a condition relating to sensory dysfunction that results in a loss of coordination in the rear end, head, or limbs. Three kinds of ataxia are commonly seen in dogs: vestibular, cerebellar, and sensory.
Head trauma, injury or damage to the inner ear can cause balance issues in dogs. It can be difficult to tell if a dog is injured because dogs tend to be very good at masking pain. Signs and symptoms of pain in dogs include heavy panting, slowed reflexes, change in appetite, enlarged pupils, biting or licking the wounded area, reluctance to lie down, and anxiety.
If your dog is staggering, stumbling, or falling over, it may be the result of a variety of medical issues, including injury, stroke, poisoning, or an infection. Here, our Matthews Emergency and Specialty Vets explain why you should get to a veterinary hospital right away.
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Injuries such as head trauma or damage to the inner ear can cause dogs to lose their balance. It can be hard to tell if your dog is injured because dogs tend to mask pain. Signs that indicate a dog is in pain include heavy panting, slowed reflexes, change in appetite, enlarged pupils, biting or licking the wounded area, anxiety, and reluctance to lie down.
If your dog suddenly loses their sense of balance they could be suffering from any of the following serious health problem. This means your dog requires immediate attention and you should get to a veterinary hospital right away .
Brain tumors sometimes occur in dogs, especially older ones, and can lead to staggering, stumbling and general loss of balance. Other symptoms of a brain tumor depend on the location of the tumor, and include changes in behavior and/or appetite, seizures, signs of pain, head tilt, swaying, a wide stance, lack of coordination, head tremors, flicking of the eye, and pacing.
If your dog is staggering, stumbling, or falling over, it may be the result of a variety of medical issues, including injury, stroke, poisoning, or an infection. Here, our Memphis Emergency Vets explain why you should get to a veterinary hospital right away.
Cerebellar ataxia occurs when the cerebellum is damaged. Sensory ataxia is when the spinal cord becomes compressed due to a bulging intervertebral disk or a tumor. Vestibular ataxia is the result of an issue with the inner ear or brainstem.
The Nail Bed May Be Infected
If the nail bed is infected, it may create problems with the nails growing correctly or getting stuck in the ground. Infected nails can also lead to difficulty walking and getting up. Treatment for infected nail beds typically involves antibiotics and pain relief medication.
Please speak with a veterinarian to decide the best way to proceed if you see any of these symptoms in your dog. In most cases, simple cleaning and treatment will fix the issue and help your dog walk easier and more comfortably.
Dog Muscle Spasms What You Need to Know and Do
It was just a simple two-step shuffle to avoid tripping over my dog and then I fell. Reaching my hands out to avoid crashing my head into the curb, I broke my left wrist.
I thus became one of the more than 86,000 people a year who end up in the emergency room after tripping over their family pet. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) most of those falls (76,000 or 88%) were caused by dogs.
Most of the time, tripping over your dog doesn’t cause a severe or incapacitating injury. In my case, I needed outpatient surgery to repair my badly broken wrist. I’ve had more than three months of physical therapy and months of pain and swelling. At times, I’ve seriously thought about whether I should have a dog or ever get another dog in the future.
I’ve backed away from such extreme reactions. There are ways to help avoid tripping over your dog. Here are the best tips I’ve found:
One of the worst parts of my fall has been the lasting fear of falling again. With time and experience, that’s getting better. I no longer daydream or allow myself to get lost in my own thoughts as I walk. I try to stay in the moment, alert to where my dog is walking.