Poor Dalmation

[Raggs]

There is a Dalmation at my work boarding. She is going home either tonight or tomorrow morning. She's 15 yrs old and shows it. She can't bend her front legs and she kinda hops to walk. Her front legs and back legs will just give out on her while she's walking and she'll fall down. She was bad last time she came to stay and Friday when her human dropped her off she told us that she was worse. We always keep an extra close eye on the old dogs. Well she went outside to go potty today and I looked out and didn't see her so I figured she was making her way around the large snow pile. There was a large group of dogs just standing around in a circle and I could see her in that either. So I was making my way to the door when the other girl I work with comes barreling inside saying that Dottie fell and couldn't get up. Well that large group of dogs were actually standing around Dottie like they were protecting her. So the other girl picked her up, brought her in a laid her on her bed. So I sat and watched her for a while to make sure she was ok. She got up and started walking around the kennel. Then her head tilted to the right and she leaned to the right and started making tight little circles. Looked as if she had a stroke. So I went in and sat with her for a little bit. Then she got up again and seemed fine. I told my boss that I think she just had a stroke. So we all kept and even closer eye on her. Then my other boss came back from picking up a dog and took a quick glance at Dottie and noticed right away that something was wrong. Her head had tilted back to the right and she was shaking, she was leaning to the right and her eyes were shooting back and forth. So my boss went in a sat with her to calm and relax her. She tried to call her owners but their cell's were off. We have permission to take dogs to the vet if they get injured. But if they need anything more than stitches or a quick fix up the vet needs to speak with the owners. So there was nothing we could do. It's so sad. My boss was contemplating taking her to the vet. It was take her and stress her out for them not to be able to do anything without the owner consent or keep her where she is and let her relax. The owners have been thinking euthanasia, and I think it's about time now. It just broke my heart today to see her like that. This all happened early this morning and by the time I left work she was lying down and resting but her eyes were still shooting back and forth.

[mary1982]

my moms 13 year old cocker had an episode like that!!! the head tilt and the eyes shooting back and forth, he was laid out on the floor and stiff and would not get up.and he had urinated and pooped all over himself. so we rushed him to the vet and they said he had some kind of vestibular disease also know as old dog syndrome. they sent us home with valume for him and it took a few days for him to recover from that but the vet said the most dogs dont recover from it. and it can be misdiagnosed as a stroke.

[pamperedpups]

Edited.

[Poodlefluff]

My old cocker used to have seizures that were similar to what you are describing, she hasn't had one in a year though. When I worked at the boarding kennel owners had to choose how much they would be responsible for like up to $300 or unlimited, etc. Managers are supposed to take the dog to the vet and let the vets observe it or treat it, if the owners can't be reached we call the emergency contact # they listed as well.

[DogChic]

you might want to include in your boarding contract that dogs will be taken to a veterinarian (the owner's choice if possible, or the shop's vet of choice), at owners expense at the discression of the shop owner. ESPECIALLY for older dogs, or special needs dogs. multiple emergency numbers, and clear instructions on what to do if something like this should happen should also be included. in our contract it also states that if a dogs nails are too long, or the dog gets dirty playing with other dogs then then the shop has the right to perform such tasks at the owner's expense.

IMO this dog needed to see a veterinarian asap and that did not happen. If this were my dog, and for some reason I couldn't be contacted and no one took it to a vet, i would be furious.... to put it lightly.

[toomuchfunbnme]

That is so sad. I also feel that this dog needed veterinary attention immidiately. It is unfortunate that the kennels policy didn't make that possible. I hope that the kennel will rethink their policy and that the dog was finally able to recieve the proper care.

[Helly]

It does sound like geriatric vestibular syndrome. It's usually an ear disorder, although there can be some brain involvement. The eye movement is called nystagmus. Sometimes the dizziness will cause nausea and vomiting. A lot of people will mistakenly think it's a stroke because there are no warning signs. It looks worse than it is. Most dogs will recover with supportive care. Here's a link for more information.

http://www.peoriahs.org/vestibular.html

[misscatahoula]

When I worked at a boarding kennel the kennel owners had the pet owners sign a release much like Poodlefluff described , where the owner would give their consent for veterinary attention and they had to give the $ amount they were prepared to spend in the event of. If I was the dal's owner I'd probably have wanted them to err on the side of caution and have a vet make sure she was okay. Poor old dog doesn't sound like she's having the best time of things as it is.

[sheilabgroomer]

Raggs, I can sympathise. I have a small boarding kennel and it is so stressful and sad when my boarding babies start to get so aged like this. I do make sure the clients understand that I will take the dog to the vet if I feel there is reason. If an older dog has an episode like that I feel it needs vet care. Your boss really needs to get a new waiver for clients that states this. It is much better to err on the side of caution because it would be an awful thing if that baby expired in her care and she had not enlisted veternary care. Hope the poor old girl has a better day and gets to go home soon.

[Raggs]

It's in the paperwork at my work that we can take a dog to the vet for treatment. We have their consent for everything. However the vets up by me will not do anything with the signing of a peice of paper, they will only treat a dog other than minor cuts upon the consent of th owner to them personally. Thank goodness though, shortly after I left work the owners checked their messages and called. They arrived just a few minutes later to get her and took her to the vet. They haven't called us with any news and my boss's want to wait a couple days before they call.

[sheilabgroomer]

Let us know the outcome!! I had something similar happen to a Lab that I was boarding before Thanksgiving. Amos is an older boy, and when we went in on Sunday afternoon to care for the kennel he was acting very disorented. He had been fine until then. The owner was coming to pick him up then (we have a 5 - 5:30 pick up Sunday) so I didn't call, I didn't want to upset him if he was driving. Anyway, I never heard back from Amos's owners on how he was doing and I am afraid to call. What do I say, Is Amos still alive? His owner told me he would call me to let me know, and the fact that he didn't makes me think either Amos didn't make it, or they were upset that I didn't call them. In hindsight maybe I should have called, but like I said, they were on their way and I saw no reason to freak them out while driving. I want to call or write, but I don't know if too much time has passed. Maybe I should leave well enough alone. What do you all think?