Why is my senior dog suddenly falling, pacing, and disoriented?

Question

I have an 8 yr old female chocolate lab who no longer wags her tail or greets you. She falls over and is no longer playful. She seems to be turning her head to look at objects and she no longer wants to play. She also paces. This all become visible in such a short time span (30 days or less). How can I help and what is wrong? Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 8 years and 2 months old | 170 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Scout! I'm sorry to hear that she's having these problems - it definitely sounds like something is wrong. Falling over, pacing, and having a hard time seeing objects can be signs of a neurologic problem such as a stroke or brain tumor. Most of the other symptoms you describe (not wagging her tail or greeting people, not wanting to play, etc.) are very vague and could be caused by almost any kind of illness. I would recommend taking Scout to see a vet as soon as you are able to. He/she can do a complete neurologic exam and may also recommend blood work, x-rays, or other testing to help diagnose the problem and see what can be done to treat it.

Why is my senior dog suddenly falling, pacing, and disoriented?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

Is my pet's occasional sneezing and eye crust a URI symptom?

My chinchilla ate plastic from a trash bag. Should I be worried?

Dog licking paws, fur loss, and jaw wound: Could it be allergies?

Is there a chart for dog food protein biological value and digestibility?

Why does my puppy have bloody, mucousy stools despite diet changes?

Share