Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I have a doggy girlfriend in Vermont who is beautiful, even if she does has four legs. Heidi is an older woman, and we just found out that she has the wobbles.
Has anyone heard of this condition? Her doctor referred to it as "Old Dog Vestibular Disease" and mentioned that it tends to come and go suddenly. Any advice or information about what they can expect is greatly appreciated!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Steve from the Rolling Dog Ranch, (sanctuary for disbaled animals) has quite a few wobblers in the crew...might be worth checking out the website.
sami had this problem about a year and half ago. she couldn't walk, every time she stood up she would immediately fall down. and when she could walk, she had to hug the wall for support. she also tilted her head and really couldn't eat well. it was really scary! as soon as it started we took her to the vet and they told us it was old dog vestibular disease. they told us to give her bonine or dramamine II. we did and her symptoms went away a day later.
she hasn't had any more problems with it since then. hope heidi feels better soon!
This forum has not been updated in a long time, but there is a great article available on:
http://www.marv.....sease.html
It's worth your time to take a look at it, if you are still interested.
Love, Blazer, Kimber & Mom
Wow, thanks for taking the time to add the link and keeping us informed about this important topic! We really appreciate all that you do here 🙂
xoxo
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Everypawdy, I know this is a really old thread, but I'm looking for advice.
My mom took her 13 year old Bichon to the vet today because she could not walk, had a severe head tilt... the works. Basically the vet told her not to worry... its Idiopathic Vestibular Disease. He didn't think it was the end for her and advised that it will improve given a few days.
My mom is really discouraged, sad and I think she is convinced this is the end. After the reading I've done on the topic I completely agree with the vet that she can recover and still be a happy little thing for awhile longer. Unfortunately, Mandee has had a few rough weeks. She had eye surgery to correct a corneal ulcer, and had a really rough recovery. She finally gets back to her old self and now this happens.
I've told her that I believe Mandee will let her know when she is ready to go and now isn't it. She's still eating drinking and pottying. She is just confused.
This is the video my mom sent me. It is heartbreaking to watch.
http://youtu.be.....mf0nlhB598
Has anyone else here dealt with this recently. Do you have any advice I can pass along? Words of encouragement? I feel lost and I don't know what to tell her. I wish I could just hug her and never let go but she is in Florida. Ugh, poor puppers.
Thanks everyone, Heather
Barret was diagnosed with Hemangiopericytoma May 16, 2013. Front left leg/scapula/pectoral muscle was amputated on June 11, 2013 and we've never looked back. Follow our story on http://barret.t.....pawds.com/ and read my column on That Pet Blog
Online
Mandee is so cute! Absolitley an adorable little doll!
IF this is the same thing my Bodie has (he's now 16 and going strong), it will clear up in a matter of days. He's had two "episodes" so far----many, many months apart. It seems like tje first time the vet gave him a small dose of dexamethazone (sp?) and maybe even a dose of fluids.....can't quite remember. It realy scared me....came comp.etel out of blue.......staggeri g, falling, heat tilting, etc. The second time it wasn't nearly as bad.....alittle cross eyed, and a little wobbly and this time it cleared up withing about six hoirs or so with no treatment.
I'm pretty sure he called it the same "old dog" thing but not 100%. Anyway, tell your mom not to worry......we've got TRIPAWD POWER sending healing energy to Mandee in Florida! BOOM! It's done!! She'll see iprovememt in about 24_48 hours:-) 
Tell your Mom she's raised a fine daughter!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Hi Heather,
My 13 year old pug had an episode like that a couple months ago. In Tani's case she couldn't control the right side of her body- couldn't stand or sit up. Scared the crap out of me, I thought she was having a stroke. I rushed her to the vet, by the time I got there she could stand up, but was very wobbly. She had proprioceptive deficits in all four feet (where they set the foot down on the top of the toes and the dog should pull the foot back immediately). She couldn't keep her balance on the linoleum floor so I had to carry her. She was wobbly for a couple days then was back to normal- sort of. She already has neurological issues (hydrocephalus) and her right back foot drags a little in the best of times. That seems worse than before the episode, but other than that she is pretty much her old self.
She occasionally has a weird few seconds where she can't seem to control one of her legs, usually her right front. We are not sure if it is tied to the vesicular episode or her 'normal' epilepsy, but it doesn't really matter at this point. She seems a bit confused when the episodes happen, but there seems to be no lasting damage.
Hope this helps.
Karen
Thanks guys, hearing about your experiences definitely helped!
{{{{hugs}}}}
Heather
Barret was diagnosed with Hemangiopericytoma May 16, 2013. Front left leg/scapula/pectoral muscle was amputated on June 11, 2013 and we've never looked back. Follow our story on http://barret.t.....pawds.com/ and read my column on That Pet Blog
Hey Barret I'm sorry to hear about your Mom's dog, it's definitely something that's hard to go through at first. Thanks for resurrecting this topic, I hadn't forgotten about beautiful Heidi but I had forgotten we posed this question here.
I will tell you that Heidi lived for two more years after this post, and she had a GREAT life. Yes, there were a few challenges, but when it comes down to it, the challenges she faced were no different than those faced by an elderly human being. It's part of growing old and as long as she was hoppy and healthy her Dad saw no reason to call it quits with her. I would be happy to try to connect your Mom with Heidi's Dad, I think I can still find him in Vermont.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My mom said that she had a rough night last night and couldn't get her to take her medicine this morning. She's resting now. Hopefully she starts seeing improvement soon 
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I will pass them along. The toughest part is that I can't physically be there for her. Stupid job... otherwise I'd be on a plane right now!!! (Not to mention that is is COOLER in Florida than it is in Central Pennsylvania right now 
)
<3 Heather
Barret was diagnosed with Hemangiopericytoma May 16, 2013. Front left leg/scapula/pectoral muscle was amputated on June 11, 2013 and we've never looked back. Follow our story on http://barret.t.....pawds.com/ and read my column on That Pet Blog
Hi,
We know how scary that can be! Our quadpawd Dakota had an episode last year and we had a complete freak out thinking she was having a stroke! They gave her 4 days of anti-nausea meds to help (the associated eye movements make them seasick). She didn't miss a meal but couldn't get around on her own for about 3 days. She made a full recovery within a week and has no lingering side effects. We were told that some dogs never get rid of the head tilt but they adjust to that just fine. For added reassurance, Dakota was almost 14 at the time and is a 68 pound Shepherd/Collie mix. She is still happy and healthy!
Sending good wishes for a speedy recovery.
A
As always, thank all of you for the kind words of support and encouragement, and for sharing your stories.
My mom said that Mandee was much better today and that your words of support helped her too. Thank you all for being such a great community to belong to!
Heather & Barret (and Lynda and Mandee)
Barret was diagnosed with Hemangiopericytoma May 16, 2013. Front left leg/scapula/pectoral muscle was amputated on June 11, 2013 and we've never looked back. Follow our story on http://barret.t.....pawds.com/ and read my column on That Pet Blog
Good to hear that Mandee is doing better. I know how scary these episodes are- especially the first one.
As I said Tani has had seizures most all her life, and I went though a lot with Maggie- so I don't get rattled too easily. When Tani had her episode it was the first time in 14+ years that I ever rushed a pug to the vet- that's how scared I was.
I hope Mandee continues to feel better.
Karen
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