Bassett Hound looks dizzy....

[tothemoon]

On 1-20-2010 my bassett bad a seizure, I posted on here to try to find out what could have caused it. A lot of people responded and I was hopeful that it was just a mild poisening but now he is exhibiting some odd behavior that really scares me. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. He is now acting like he is dizzy, leans to one side and when he walks his rear starts to go in a different direction, ends up kind of like his front and back legs are walking side by side. He was alseep in my arms and his head kept raising up ever so slightly, like he was tensing his neck then relaxing it over and over. These symptoms are very slight, and sometimes it appears he is just fine. Sometimes when he is sitting or laying down, he looks like he is rocking, like heavy breathing but he isnt breathing heavy, just rocking. I am very scared and will try to get him in to see the vet tomorrow but I would like some advice from my friends on here as to what it might be. Im also extremely depressed right now, not that money is more important than my sweet George but we were just starting to get caught up on all our bills, then my boxer, Chip, had to go to the vet for extreme vomiting just a few days ago and cost us about 350.00. Now George........... it seems like one thing after another is just trying to keep us down. Please pray for my sweet George and thanks in advance for any help or advice.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Just curious, how old is he? Could it have been a stroke? I hope he's OK.....

 

[tothemoon]

He's going to 3 the 22nd of this month. A stroke was kind of what I was thinking, or maybe an inner ear infection, but he hasnt been scratching at his ears or messing with them and I looked in them and they looked fine.

 

[ams3651]

sounds like he is still having seizures would be my guess. He needs to get to the vet asap. Being off balance could also be maybe an inner ear infection. Does your vet offer Care Credit? Ours does and I needed it when my dog was mysteriously paralyzed. Their payments are low if you have to make the minimum and I can use it in the future if I need. You may want to check into it. Please get him seen as soon as possible.

 

[Kansaseq]

Sounds like something neurologic. I'm glad you have an app with your vet tomorrow, and hope they can get him back to normal. Good luck!
Ams is right; the sooner you get him seen, the better, especially since we don't know what's wrong with him. Do you have an ER near you?

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

It is a scary thing to see. I had a beagle with seizures. If they are seizures and last longer than a couple of minutes you need to take him to the ER. Grand mal seizures cause irreparable damage. I would video tape him...nothing better than for the doctor to see exactly what you're talking about instead of trying to describe it. Medication will generally get seizures under control.

Important for you to know. He may bite you while having a seizure. He is not himself and is not aware of what he is doing. Do NOT put your face near his while you try to comfort him. Do not try to put your hands in his mouth. He could hurt himself falling down stairs, rolling into the fireplace, etc. Do not let him outside without you being right there. Keep him on carpeted surfaces or in a crate to keep him safe. Keep your other dog away from him. Sometimes it excites other pets. Do not act excitable while he is seizing. Stay calm and just make sure he is safe. I always put mine in a crate and walked away. It was too hard to watch and nothing I could do for him.

I hope that this is something that will pass. A lot of dogs with seizures only have them a few times a year. Usually the right dose of medication will keep them under control. I too have a basset and it would break my heart to see her going through this. It was hard for me with my beagle, but he was a rescue with many birth defects so I wasn't caught off guard by it.