My Old Lab Having "Episodes".

[chrissa1]

My 11 year old Labrador has been having weird moments. The first one he had was a couple of weeks ago. One afternoon I noticed him shivering and unwilling to move and he seemed to be staring at nothing. I took him to the vets that evening. He was checked over and the vet could find nothing wrong.

The next day he was back to his normal self.

Two nights ago he was totally uninterested in his "treat" that he gets after coming in from a quickie before bed and just lay in the hall staring at nothing.

The next day, back to his normal self.

After being perfectly fine this morning, on our walk this afternoon that was all it was. "A walk", he didn't trot as he normally does and had to be encouraged all the way. He is now just lying out in the hall, no wags or any sign that he can be bothered with me or his younger sidekick.

Any ideas what might be wrong please?

[ladybirder]

Sound like old age. My cat is in her 19th year and stares into space and at walls for ages. But then comes round and is fine until the next time.

[chrissa1]

Really ladybirder? It's quite worrying.

[ladybirder]

I wouldn't be worried about the staring bit, but if he's not enjoying his walks that would worry me. I take it he's eating and eliminating OK? I think I'd give it the weekend and see how he is on Monday and then back to the vet if no better.

[chrissa1]

I will ladybirder.

[wolf63]

My old dog was a bit like that - he was 14 when he died but for the two years or so before that he got a little senile. He would get lost in the house or just stand staring (as your boy is doing). Otherwise he was fine - if you ignore his vanishing sight and dodgy hearing.

11 isn't terribly old for a lab (Robbie was half lab and half GSD).

This getting old stuff is hard work. ;-)

[shiznit]

Our 3 year old Persian sometimes sits staring at the wall. We had him checked out, the vets said that pets are just weird sometimes for no explanation. Maybe they are just mulling over the meaning of life, or why everything is in black and white.

[chrissa1]

Thanks all. He's normally a lively 11 year old whose tail can clear a coffee table with one swipe. It's just strange to see him like this bless him.

[Amber-Rose]

My little girl is almost 14. I often find her sitting under the bed or squashed up in a corner staring into space, or with real vacant look about about, I could wave my hand in front of her and she won't blink, and then what seems like ages but is probably only a minute (if that) she suddenly comes round and is back with me. She sleeps a lot also. It worries me silly, but the vet says she is well, just old and probably losing her mind due to old age. Does upset me. x

[masma]

Sounds like a getting old thing - Jetspoon would go off into her own world, so much so that we didn't see much of her towards her end, she would go upstairs and sleep more often than not. She went on like that for 2 ish years, quite happy in her own little world.
Bless his little heart - take him back to the vet if you're worried about him.
Lots of love to you both xx

[chrissa1]

Thanks masma. Hope you're well.

[tigwig]

I have no idea about the dog but reading Amber Rose's answer about her child made me think this could be a mild form of epilepsy. I have heard that there is a form of it which has symptoms like that.

[Prudie]

Personally I'd go back to the vet to make sure as this seems to have come about quite recently rather than gradual onset of age. Shivering, off treats and unwilling to enjoy his walk would suggest to me he's in discomfort or feeling unwell. Hope it turns out OK.

[Jemisa]

My old mothers dog acted like that for months, it was later diagnosed as mini strokes and he died when in quite a bad one. but he was 14.

jem

[naomi24]

I have a dog (age 14) who sometimes behaves as yours does. The vet thinks she has had a series of strokes, which apparently don't affect dogs in the same way they affect humans.

[Rodge2]

A lab that is turning down treats is a reason for concern. Sometimes you have to keep proding the vet to get anywhere.

[chrissa1]

Thanks all. Last night he completely turned down his dinner, (very unusual for him) and just lay in the hall all evening. I took him to the vets first thing this morning and he's going back tomorrow for a day of blood tests and x rays.

ps He wolfed down his dinner this morning before going to the vets....Odd.

[ladybirder]

Good, glad he's been to the vet. Wolfed down his food eh? Typical of a dog to do the opposite of what you expected. Let us know how you go on after the tests.

[albaqwerty]

I hope the dear lad will be fine.
Mine went weird and off her food a couple of weeks ago for a few days. She's back to her normal fussy self (she's 7 ish)

I think they do it to keep us on our toes. xx

[chrissa1]

That's what makes it so odd ladybirder. These episodes pass in about 8 hours. He's a very stoic old man and we wouldn't know if he was in pain. Hence the x rays. Will let you know what the verdict is tomorrow night. Thanks all.

[Rodge2]

Hope its gone all right Chrissa.