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My 15 yr old, female, mini daschund has has two episodes of some sort in the last 24 hours. (and unfortunately it is Sunday and our vet is closed) The first started with her acting restless and whining, but then she seemed to have some difficulty walking. The second, she was walking around, kinda yelped, and then acted disoriented. She has had back problems in the past, but this doesn?t seem like that. For instance, I could pick her up with out seeming to casue any pain, yet she seems to being experiencing some sort of overall discomfort.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $5

Does the disorientation seem to be a stumbling of the legs or does she seem "drunk" with her "brain" meaning she is not responding to you.

Dr.V

Dr. D.A. Vamvakias
Veterinarian

Reply to Dr. Vamvakias's Post: No, she responds to me. In fact, she does not want to be left alone. If I walk out of the room, she whines or tries to follow. Right now she is sleeping.

When this happened last evening, she eventually went to sleep and seemed fine when she woke up this morning. I took her outside to do her business, she came in and wanted her morning biscuit which she ate and wandered around like normal. The second episode occurred around 11 am.

Unfortunately with the breed, they have problems up and down their back. The previous episode could have manifested lower in the lumbar area, where picking her up she would cry. This episode could be in the high lumbar vertebrae, thoracic or cervical vertebrae.

Usually we recommend rest, you can give a baby aspirin with a 1/2 tsp of mylanta and some food because aspirin can be irritating. This will help with any inflammation in the back.

Now if she shows a new sign then we should be addressing that...but I do feel, with the weakness and ataxia, you are dealing with a disc issue.

Dr.Vamvakias

Dr. D.A. Vamvakias
Veterinarian

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