sick dog, what could she have?

Question

Our Maggie is 14 years old, about a week ago she started walking in small right hand circles, never left? She walks into everything and can't seem to maintain her balance. She's not blind as she follows us with her eyes. She can't keep any food down, has diarhea. We've taken her to two vets, spent nearly $1,000.00 on tests with each one, and neither one can tell us what she has. I can't stand to see her suffer any longer, but each vet said give her a couple of weeks and see if she gets better? They just keep running more tests and running up the tab. I don't mind spending the money if there is any chance she could pull through, but to be honest she looks like she's totally lost all the time and scared to death. Can anyone tell me what she might have, or what you would do in this situation?
Thanks for your responses.
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Answer 1

I'm sorry to say this but it sounds like it's time to put Maggie down. You don't want her to suffer.

I have spent tons on my animals but sometimes you have to realize it's time to let go.

blessed be.

Answer 2

Walking in circles can be caused from several things,
Stroke
inner ear problems or infections
barin tumors or
brain injury.
My female doberman had what we think was a stroke and she walked in circles and could not get up on her own for afew days but it got better in about a week and we had her for another 6 months. She then had another stroke and could not get up and was very agitated and afraid of everything. She was peeing in her bed and we decided to end her suffering.
If your vet can not help it will be up to you to decide when she has had enough and it is a very hard and personal decision.You know your pet better than anyone else and if you feel she is suffereing and has no quality of life left let her go.
I am sorry for what you are going through. I know how hard it was with my girl I hated to see her like that as she had always been such an active dog.
Good luck.

Answer 3

Circling is always a serious warning sign, and you will want to call your vet as soon as it begins. If you can't see your vet right away, be sure to stop using ear medications or oral antibiotics in the meantime. There is a good chance that the drugs are irritating the inner ear. Stopping them right away will help ensure that there isn't permanent damage. Your vet will recommend other, safer drugs to try.

Pets that are walking in circles are often dizzy and confused. To help your pet avoid simple dangers, like falling down a flight of stairs, keep her locked in a crate or a small room until you can see your vet.

Anything that interferes with your pet's balance is going to look scary, and in fact, most of the conditions responsible for this symptom are quite serious. With fast diagnosis and treatment, however, you have the best chance to stop the circling and cure the underlying problem.

Your pet is going to need a thorough neurological exam, but the first part of it will be quite simple: Your vet will watch her walking in circles. The size and direction of the circles may tell your vet exactly what the problem is. He will also examine the eyes since they can provide valuable clues. Pets that move their eyes very rapidly, for example, probably have a problem with one of the body's balance centers. Brain tumors and some infections also cause eye changes, such as uneven pupils, that your vet can see during an exam.

Ear infections are the most common cause of circling. Giving antibiotics for a week or two will quickly clear things up, although it may take days or even weeks before your pet entirely regains her bearings and sense of balance.

Tumors are less common, of course, and they can be hard to detect. Your vet may refer you to a veterinary neurologist, who has the training and equipment to diagnose problems early on. Tests for tumors, infections, and other brain problems include the spinal tap, the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and the CAT scan.

Surgery is very effective for some types of tumors. Even when a tumor can't be removed, drugs such as prednisone can cause it to shrink, eliminating the symptoms.

Hope this can help you some.
I've got a dog of my own and would hate for her to get sick.

Answer 4

Has your vet tested her for geriatric vestibular disease? My beardie had it and the main symptom is the dog has no sense of balance. When he had episodes, he couldn't walk at all, and was also scared to death. If that's not it, I can't think of anything it could be that a vet wouldn't have checked for.

You're faced with a horrible decision here, but I believe that Maggie will let you know when the time is right to let her go. If the vets can't find the cause you have to look at her quality of life and what is best for your girl.

Answer 5

I am so sorry about Maggie's condition, hard decisions here, she is 14 yrs old and even small dogs live about that long and bigger dogs a little less. I have no idea just what is wrong w/her and you could wait the few weeks to see if she gets any better. I put my best dog ever down at 13 yrs old, he was a beautiful German Shepard but he just couldn't be the dog he always had been. Choices are difficult and I hope the best for yours

Answer 6

I'm no expert but I feel for you. My cat was very ill when I took her to the vet the day before Christmas in 2002. I had to put my cat to sleep so she wouldn't suffer. She had diabetes and the vet told me that insulin probably wouldn't work. She already had a kidney disorder and was fifteen years old. It never gets easy but I would trust the vets. Maggie will hopefully get better. I'm thinking hip dysplesia with her walking in circles, for the diarrhea, I don't know, but I do know that 14 is elderly for a dog. Good luck, okay?

Answer 7

My Border Collie had almost the exact same condition. He was going blind in his left eye. You can tell this because there is like a ivory glare when you look into his eyes. So I would suggest that you do that. Just because she follows you with her eyes dont mean that they "arent blind" Because they only see blk and white. So movement is diffrent to them. Also he might have arthritise in his joints. "Buster" My dog had that too. He had it so bad that we would have to carry him in and out of the back yard 3x a day to go to the bathroom. So that is all I can really suggest to you as of right now. Sounds like something is seriously wrong with his corination and that has everything to do with the brain. So maybe he might have pinched nerves as well. Just study your dog see when she is more active. But seriously it sounds like maybe she might just be getting old too. Like us we have a time to live and we have a time to die. Good luck

Answer 8

I totally agree with walkinglady. The first thing that came to mind was Vestibular Disease. You may have to look into a specialist if you're not getting the answers you are looking for. Your vet should be able to refer you to an neurologist who can help.

Good luck!

Answer 9

I'm sorry to hear about that, very sad when pets get older and vets don't know what to say. Is it possible she may have had a stroke and now these are just the effects of it?

Answer 10

i am so sorry to hear your sad news as this is exactly what hapened to my poor Jess,she recovered twice from it but on the 3rd occaision I had to let her go as she was a danger to herself,and it was heart breaking to see,she was the same age as your dog and the only thing that had happened to her was a couple of days before she first had a turn she had a tic on her and although we live in England i have always blamed that tic,your dog is a great age maybe you should let her go now ,good luck,and be brave.