My senior dog coughs, stiffens, and falls. Is it a seizure or heart?

Question

My wife and I have a small dog named Jackie. She is 13 years old and is a Mix of chihuahua and pekingese. About mid November she developed a hacking cough that really concerned us. Now that hacking caugh has become a precursor to what seems like a stroke or seizure were she stiffen up and falls over letting out a whine. I hold her for awhile while she gets her bearings back. Recovery period has started to get longer. She has had 5 of these episodes. Please help

Mallori Kaminski, BVSc · Accepted Answer

Poor Jackie! It could be a seizure, but it could also be that she is having syncope (fainting) episodes due to heart disease. She needs to be seen by a veterinarian soon, so that she can be examined. If the vet suspects heart disease, they may do an x -ray, and refer you to a cardiologist for an echocardiogram to determine what part of the heart is affected, and what medication is best for Jackie to help her feel better and slow down the progression of the disease.

My senior dog coughs, stiffens, and falls. Is it a seizure or heart?

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