My dog is crying, lethargic, and walking sideways. Is it a stroke?

Hello, I'm sorry to hear that Luna is having this issue. I suggest you get her to a vet as soon as possible for an exam and treatment. This sounds very serious. I don't know exactly what is going on with her but it sounds neurological - maybe a form of epilepsy or a brain lesion. Could also be due to a toxicity or a problem with her eyes. I strongly suggest you get her an exam as sion as you can.

There is something called Old Dog Vestibular Disease, that causes dogs to suddenly appear to be totally unable to balance, be nauseous, spine in circles, or even be unable to stand. This happens for no particular reason, and usually improves over a few weeks with patience and supportive care (anti-nausea medication and fluid/nutritional support as needed). It is important to check for middle ear infections (which requires the otoscope at the vet clinic), general blood work and thyroid levels, and do an exam to make sure she doesn't have signs of other neurologic issues that would suggest a brain tumor. So, I'd advise keeping her safe tonight by blocking stairs, removing water boils, etc and taking her to the vet tomorrow to be checked out.

Poor Luna! She may benefit from intravenous fluids. Have you veterinarian check some bloodwork to see if her liver or kidneys were affected. You may also ask your veterinarian if pain medication would be beneficial. Without being able to examine Luna myself, it's difficult to know how best to advise you. I hope she recovers quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Without seeing Trixie it’s hard to be sure what’s going on. It sounds like vestibular disease. This is an inflammation of a nerve that runs near the ear. When this happens the pet has a head tilt, can’t stand or walk well and is dizzy. I would recommend keeping her calm and away from anything dangerous, like stairs, until you can get her to the vet. You don’t need to give her any medications and it’s ok if she doesn’t eat for a couple of days. Keep water close by. Good luck and kisses to Trixie!

Poor Missy! A head tilt can mean a few things - serious ear infection, vestibular disease (this affects balance and coordination), or brain/nerve problems. It would be best for Missy to be seen by a veterinarian to determine what is going on and if there is treatment available. It is a good idea to have young children leave Missy alone while she isn't feeling well, since dogs that don't feel well may be more likely to bite.

I'm sorry that happened to your dog! It's always scary to see them disoriented. Based on what you've reported, I suspect she may have experienced a seizure. It sounds like she recovered without complication as they often do. My personal dog has epilepsy so I've seen this many times. I would record the symptoms and date on your calendar. I would consult with your veterinarian and report her symptoms (not an emergency unless she experiences another episode today). Your vet can perform a thorough exam and recommend any other diagnostics to make sure there is nothing obvious that needs treatment. Depending on what they find and if she has more episodes, appropriate treatment can be recommended.

Little Baby Boy needs to see the veterinarian quickly. Weakness/neurological signs are never normal and can indicate many things including toxin ingestion, drug exposure, an infection in the brain, low blood sugar, a middle ear infection or liver dysfunction. Vestibular disease affects older dog but an infection in the middle ear is similar. A stroke would be very unlikley unless he got into certain medication or had a congenital abnormality. Also, yes, there are classic presentations to these diseases but not all pets read the book about how they should look so other presentations are possible. A physical exam and bloodwork is needed to begin figuring out the cause and the best treatment. Other diagnostics may also be indicated. I hope it's nothing too serious and that he gets back to normal quickly.