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Could repeated flinching/seizure-like behavior be associated with eyesight?
Here is a compilation video: https://vimeo.com/434151259
Our 10-year-old toy poodle has begun flinching (for lack of a better word) repeatedly on walks. We’ve been to the vet, but due to an enlarged heart with a leaky valve he wants her to see her cardiologist to ensure it isn’t heart-related. We are trying to get an appointment but the pandemic is making wait times in the weeks and we’re concerned in the meantime about how dangerous waiting could be.
Based on our experience, the flinches rarely happen at home, happen much more frequently in bright sunlight on walks, especially facing the sun. They also occur much more frequently when leaving a shadow into the sun or leaving the sun into a shadow. Her vet has noticed early signs of cataracts and we’ve noticed her eyes getting cloudy. She’s also begun walking into things occasionally.
We’re hoping these are eye-sight related rather than seizures or neurological issues, but are unsure of next steps while waiting appointments with specialists.
Thanks.
I have a American Staffordshire Terrier. She has had anxiety since we got her at a very young age of 6 weeks from a kill shelter in WV. She is now 7. I think all the vets at Jarrettsville Vet have seen Lucy at one time or another. We just moved 2 weeks ago. From the beginning of May when we started packing up the old house and continuing after we moved, she is having anxiety about going outside to use the potty. She has a covered crate, which she loves, that she stays in while I’m at work. But she has terrible anxiety about going outside, even if Lilly comes with us. I might get her to pee then she runs back into the house and poops. I don’t get it. I’ve never had an issue with her messing in the house before this. Does a calming medication help in this type of situation? I don’t want to drug her but we somehow have to work thru this so she feels comfortable about going outside and doing her business. She is on a leash so i’m always with her. I just don’t know what else to do. Any suggestions? Thank you for any help you can provide!
Hi there- so sorry this is going on. I think you might have to go “back to basics” just for a bit… meaning that rewarding for going outside like when first potty training. Being on a leash will help her from bolting back inside. You may have to wait outside until she goes, but rewarding right after will help cement the deal. As she was house trained before, it may not take long at all to get her back on track. Hope this is helpful!????????
I wouldn’t be afraid of medication. Sometimes it’s necessary to bring the dog back down from an anxious state to work with them to get through an issue.
My dog is paralyzed from the waist down. My dog is a 4 year old, 10 pound Shi-poo mix. He suffered from some trauma yesterday (Friday) after getting his paws stuck in some metal grating he seemed ok but then his symptoms exacerbated after running around the park and playing with another dog. At around 5pm on Friday, he was able to poop and urinate and ran around at the dog park but by the evening he couldn’t put any weight on his hind legs. At 8pm, my dog was still able to wag his tail. We went to a doctor this morning and that doctor says he still has sensation in his hind legs (even though they he cannot move them). We have been given the option of MRI followed immediately by surgery but we are not sure if we want to put his body through that much trauma with the risk that he could die on the operating table. We have taken him to a “holistic” vet who has treated him with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and cortisone. The acupuncturist Vet said he would need 4 weeks with 1 session a week to see if that method could help but also told us we could very well have “missed” his critical cure time if it doesn’t. Nevertheless the acupuncturist said he is very confident as his method has seen much success in IVDD in older dogs. My dog is in a lot of pain and has not urinated or passed stool since yesterday I do not believe he has control over his bowel movements And he is constantly holding his head back and he is constantly propping himself up on his two front legs. I would love a second opinion and an honest opinion of what his chances of regaining full motor function and bowel control are with OR without surgery.
Hello- I am so sorry you are going through this. I am hoping that Dr. Magnifico sees your past, as she has a lot of experience with ivdd. I can however direct you to her YouTube webpage where she has helpful videos dealing with ivdd that may be useful to you. Very best to you and your pup. I hope things work out well????????
Hello,
I’m sorry to hear about your dog. I’m also not a neurologist and it doesn’t appear that you have done the diagnostics to acurately and definitively diagnose him. I think the best advice I can give is to go to a neurologist and see if they can help do this. They typically need an mri to diagnose. This is usually over $1,000 and I don’t encourage clients to do it unless they are ready and able to do surgery after. This is usually about $7,000. If you chose to or cannot afford these then I think full body xrays with a concentration on the spine is the next best option. From here if it is spinal trauma I advise strict cage rest without being outside to do anything except go to the bathroom. Also the pain has to be addressed. Someone need to provide this immediately. I have a lot of information available on this (search IVDD) on my blog and YouTube channel. I think it addresses all possible scenarios and outcomes. Please go there. Read and review all of it. It will help. Good luck.
Hello,
I can’t tell you if this is serious or not, but, we always have to prepare and address the worst and hope for the best. Please call your vet and ask to be seen. If it is something that affects the ability to breath it needs to be treated immediately If it is an infection you will need antibiorcs from them.
Hello!
my cat chunk has been recently having issues with his front paws for the past 2 months. It’s off and on and when I touch his paws he doesn’t wince or cry. He still uses the scratching pad with no issue, but he’s limping and he can no longer jump up on the bed as easily. I’m afraid he may have arthritis. What is a good supplement or something we can get to help him with his joints so he’s strong again! He’s not an elderly cat, I guess you could call him middle aged. Thank you! He’s about 15 lbs
I think I’d start with a vet check. Medicating without diagnosis can be dangerous, and it’s possible he has an injury you can’t see.
I have kitten that is 10 weeks old. Just recently I noticed him limping on his left front arm, and a swollen ball on his neck It has now gotten big and swollen. What should I do, let me know ASAP plz .
Hello.
This kitten should be seen but a vet ASAP. I am worried about a fracture and abscess. These should be treated immediately in a kitten this young.
I just recently changed my 14 month old cat’s dry food but she hasn’t been eating as she used to. Then yesterday i saw there was smear in her bottom and it was brownish orangy i was not sure if there’s blood. Her poops are formed and brown though as usual. This morning poop is the same. But this afternoon she was on my lap and checked her bottom and a small dot of water came out. I wonder if she has diarrhea. She’s been having brownish discharge for about two weeks now too. Also, she’s been shedding since two months ago not sure if thats normal when cat age. What could be wrong? She doesn’t look sick.
Good morning???? Is your cat spayed? It could possibly be related to the change in food, but if she isn’t spayed it could be something more than diet. Either way- I think I would collect a stool sample and get an appointment with the vet to be safe. I would let the vet know the dietary changes recently. If your cat is not spayed, please consider it. Have a great day????????
Yes she is spayed. I was wondering if this is normal in transitioning to a different food brand (couldnt find the one shes used to so i bought a different brand-i feed her grain free). As a younger cat she wasn’t as picky. Also she’s indoors only no other cats.
If the diet change wasn’t gradual, I would assume she’s having a hard time with it. Cats aren’t as flexible as dogs when it comes to food and changes really need to be gradual.
She was not picky before that’s why i didn’t expect this. I did mix the food though it’s just that i have less of the old food because I couldn’t find it anywhere in store and online so it took time to buy food and was forced to buy a different one :-/
My dog was just diagnosed with IVDD. He had The wobbly sailor legs. We are on day 6 of “crate rest” and my husband and I noticed that his Back end almost looks skinnier? Could he be losing muscle mass this soon and is muscle loss even a side effect? His back and doesn’t seem as droopy from when I brought him in on Saturday his legs still kind of cross in the back and he is not strong. I have anxiety, diagnosed, and so I’m just looking for some peace of mind. We could just be over thinking it and maybe his backend always was the size.
Hi there- very sorry to hear about your pup. I am sure that you and your vet have come up with a game plan. I just wanted to make you aware that Dr. Magnifico has some videos online dealing with this exact issue on her YouTube. It might give you some helpful information that you weren’t aware of. Very best of luck to you ????????????
Hello,
Atrophy can start soon after disuse. If you aren’t using your muscles they start to atrophy. But he looks like he is in good body condition so I would worry about getting the pain under control and not so much the atrophy. You can only do a little at a time. And the first part of dealing with this is pain management. As he gets less painful he can start to walk a little more. Be careful and go slow. Best of luck to you all. I have lots of info on my blog and videos.
my cat coughs, gags, and has to walk away and take a second to relax and breathe after petting him and he starts purring. His meows are also weird and don’t sound normal and it’s more of just a quiet raspy “ah” sound. He coughs and gags after purring so i try not to pet him for too long but he loves attention and starts purring just by looking at you. He also starts breathing heavy and fast. He constantly has raspy breathing and snores when he sleeps. His vet thinks he may have a polyp does his symptoms sound like a polyp?
Hello,
It doesn’t sound like a typical polyp to me. These pets tend to sound like they are snoring all the time. Try to find someone who will do a sedated oral cavity exam for you. That will help.
my dog had had red skin and was constantly biting and scratching himself and he would get sores where he would scratch so much. He also had some dandruff. I read about it on google and thought it could be a food allergy so i changed his food a while ago and it got better super fast, but he’s still constantly scratching and rolling around and i’m not sure why. His fur is a bit dry and rough so i’m thinking it could be his fur scratching him, i’m not sure. Is there any products or anything at all you would recommend?
Hello,
These clinical signs are too broad and vague to offer much help here. Please see a vet for help. This can be something simple like fleas or something difficult like an immune system disorder or organ issue. Please start with an examination at the vets office. And stop wasting time on the Internet. There aren’t answers here that are reliable without your vets help in pointing you in a credible direction. Ask friends and family for a vet they trust. Then start the Internet detective work.
Hello,
This is a tough question to answer based on the information given. The optic nerve which services the eyes is connected to the brain so yes they can influence each other. But I am also worried about pain. I think it’s imperative to see a neurologist. Or try to get a second opinion from another vet. I also think that bloodwork and xrays are a good place to start. You can also ask to see an ophthalmologist. Please keep calling and please seek help from a vet locally. I hope this helps. Let me know what happens. Good luck.