My 9 month old sheltie this morning had an episode of excessive drooling, vomiting, was unable to control his hind legs to walk, to the point that he could barely sit up because of weaving back and forth. He had an episode similar to this when he was 4 months old, was seen at Tufts in Boston, and they thought he had possibly ingested something that caused it. After about 24 hours and IV fluids he was fine, but now it's happened again. He's had a liver ultrasound, so it isn't liver shunting. Has anyone else's sheltie ever experienced these kinds of episodes? He's better now,but he's sleeping due to the antinausea med they gave him. He's at least able to walk now with no more vomiting or drooling since I brought him home from the vet about an hour ago.
Drooling, Vomiting, Unable to walk
- Thread starter MaddieNC
- Start date
Ann
Moderator
I'm sorry to hear about your boy! How very frightening. I have no idea what it might be, but wanted to send good wishes for his improvement.
One of my girls had seizures as a puppy that were caused by flea/tick repellants and vaccinations. Have you used anything like that on him recently? Or given him heartworm med?
It sounds from your post like he saw your vet today, which is good. Do they have any idea what could have caused it? I hope they can give you some answers.
One of my girls had seizures as a puppy that were caused by flea/tick repellants and vaccinations. Have you used anything like that on him recently? Or given him heartworm med?
It sounds from your post like he saw your vet today, which is good. Do they have any idea what could have caused it? I hope they can give you some answers.
Mignarda
Forums Enthusiast
I'm surprised they couldn't give you a diagnosis.
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
Mostly like he just got into something nasty. If he's not better after 24-48 hours, then a vet visit for sure.
This is going to sound really awful.....but my Bacca had episodes like this after ingesting some of my son's marijuana.
The first time it happened, I didn't know what he had eaten but I came home and he was flaked on the grass staring at the clouds (truly!). I tried to wake him up and he wobbled and drooled forever. I rushed him to emerg and his stomach pumped and it confirmed, he had my son's drugs. It did once or twice more before I managed to get my son to keep the crap out of the house. (p.s. Bacca could sniff it out of anywhere. I always thought he would be a great drug sniffing dog, except he kept eating the evidence).
If these symptoms go beyond a day or two, then....
The only other things that comes to me is to have his blood checked. I would be looking for hypothyroid, bladder, kidney. I know it sounds extreme, but I'm just learning so much on my journey with Bacca that I take no symptoms for granted.
I don't want to scare you but just prompt you to ask the right questions of your vet. I've learned over the years, that sometimes we need to help our vets more in diagnosis by keeping tabs of everything that goes on with our dogs.
This is going to sound really awful.....but my Bacca had episodes like this after ingesting some of my son's marijuana.
The first time it happened, I didn't know what he had eaten but I came home and he was flaked on the grass staring at the clouds (truly!). I tried to wake him up and he wobbled and drooled forever. I rushed him to emerg and his stomach pumped and it confirmed, he had my son's drugs. It did once or twice more before I managed to get my son to keep the crap out of the house. (p.s. Bacca could sniff it out of anywhere. I always thought he would be a great drug sniffing dog, except he kept eating the evidence).
If these symptoms go beyond a day or two, then....
The only other things that comes to me is to have his blood checked. I would be looking for hypothyroid, bladder, kidney. I know it sounds extreme, but I'm just learning so much on my journey with Bacca that I take no symptoms for granted.
I don't want to scare you but just prompt you to ask the right questions of your vet. I've learned over the years, that sometimes we need to help our vets more in diagnosis by keeping tabs of everything that goes on with our dogs.
Cooper's Better
Cooper is better this evening...at least he ate some dinner. This symptom lasted about 3-4 hours, with some unsteady walking even 6-8 hours after it ended. The vet thought it could be vestibular syndrome, which is like an equilibrium thing that usually happens with older dogs, but can also be seen in younger ones as well. Then of course I thought about the whole portal liver shunting, although he had a liver ultrasound done in Boston last year which was negative, but I guess they could have missed something. I have a video they took at the vet's office today, but not sure how to post it on here. Any ideas? Mind you, it is very upsetting to watch, and of course I cried when the vet showed it to me, and at the end of the video you can see some of the drooling, which was much worse prior to the video. I thought I'd ask about a bile acid test, which can sometimes give a clue as to whether it's liver shunting. He's sleeping now, and hopefully it won't happen again tonight. I'll keep all posted on what I find out. Thanks everyone for your prayers and concerns.
What's so funny Barb is that the marijuana thing was asked by the vet in Boston when he had one of these episodes last year. They never did really find out what it was, but he got better after they gave him active charcoal.
Cooper is better this evening...at least he ate some dinner. This symptom lasted about 3-4 hours, with some unsteady walking even 6-8 hours after it ended. The vet thought it could be vestibular syndrome, which is like an equilibrium thing that usually happens with older dogs, but can also be seen in younger ones as well. Then of course I thought about the whole portal liver shunting, although he had a liver ultrasound done in Boston last year which was negative, but I guess they could have missed something. I have a video they took at the vet's office today, but not sure how to post it on here. Any ideas? Mind you, it is very upsetting to watch, and of course I cried when the vet showed it to me, and at the end of the video you can see some of the drooling, which was much worse prior to the video. I thought I'd ask about a bile acid test, which can sometimes give a clue as to whether it's liver shunting. He's sleeping now, and hopefully it won't happen again tonight. I'll keep all posted on what I find out. Thanks everyone for your prayers and concerns.
What's so funny Barb is that the marijuana thing was asked by the vet in Boston when he had one of these episodes last year. They never did really find out what it was, but he got better after they gave him active charcoal.
Video of Cooper at Vet's
I finally realized that I could send you to my flickr page to see the video of Cooper. Remember, it's pretty disturbing, so be prepared.
Madlyn
http://www.flickr.com/people/maddie980/
I finally realized that I could send you to my flickr page to see the video of Cooper. Remember, it's pretty disturbing, so be prepared.
Madlyn
http://www.flickr.com/people/maddie980/
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
I have to ask why they did a screens of his liver already. That would not be the first response unless they had reason.
romeosangiovese
Forums Enthusiast
I just watched the video and my heart broke. 
Poor baby! I hope he gets better soon. Big hugs to you!
Poor baby! I hope he gets better soon. Big hugs to you!Liver ultrasound
Because he was only 4 months old when it happened, the symptoms were so similar to liver shunting, and without any known toxins he had ingested, that was what they suggested. He was practically unresponsive when I got him to the vet in Boston. But just like today, it wore off and he was back to his normal self within about 24-36 hours.
Because he was only 4 months old when it happened, the symptoms were so similar to liver shunting, and without any known toxins he had ingested, that was what they suggested. He was practically unresponsive when I got him to the vet in Boston. But just like today, it wore off and he was back to his normal self within about 24-36 hours.