My dog is shaking, off-balance, and acting drunk. What's wrong?

I am sorry to hear that Preston isn’t feeling well. At such a young age this concerns Me about the possibility of intoxication. If there is any chance he could have ingested a prescription or recreational medication then he should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately. I also worry about a possibility of infection such as distemper virus, or other neurologic abnormalities. Lab work and possible imaging such as x-Rays or MRI may be recommended depending on what is found on the physical examination. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

The symptoms you describe can be caused by a neurological condition such as a stroke, spinal cord inflammation, or a mass. It can also be due to back/neck issues or an ear infection. Certain toxins or viruses can also be to blame. It is important for Mia to be seen by a vet to determine the underlying cause and begin the appropriate treatment. There are services in many cities that provide home visits from vets, who can perform a neurological exam on Mia. In the meantime, Mia should be kept quiet and calm in case she is in pain. I hope this helps and that all is well with Mia!

It sounds like Leo is very sick. For a young dog like him, toxin exposure, heavy parasites, or intestinal blockage are the big concerns. If he is not properly vaccinated, a sever viral infection could also cause these signs. I recommend to have him seen by his veterinarian immediately. The doctor will likely recommend to check blood work and possibly radiographs to try to determine the underlying cause. Act quickly as the sooner he starts treatment, the better the prognosis. Best of luck and I hope this helpful. Please feel free to post any additional questions!

A dog acting drunk can be a sign of toxicity in dogs, such as from ingesting a human medication or recreational drug, it could be due to an ear infection causing vestibular disease, or due to head trauma. I would take Romeo into a vet right away, the cause of the symptoms need to be diagnosed so he can be treated. Please take him into a vet immediately.

That is very unusual. There are several things that come to mind that could cause the signs. Ingesting toxins, an inner ear infection, stroke or viral infections are all possible. Anytime a pet appears off-balance you should be concerned and I recommend to take Nigel in to see a veterinarian right away. The doctor will need to perform a few basic tests to try to figure out the cause of the imbalance. Treatment will depend on the cause. Best of luck and I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm so sorry that George is having this problem. I certainly understand how scary it can be when your dog is not feeling well and you don't know what is going on. Unfortunately, the signs you are describing could be caused by a large number of things, so it's impossible for me to tell you what is going on without George having an examination. George certainly could be having a problem with his vestibular apparatus which controls his balance. Vestibular disease can cause nausea, so dogs will need medication to resolve the nausea if that is the case. I am attaching more information about that below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=564 George could also have something abnormal with his blood pressure or his nervous system to cause him to be off balance. I would strongly recommend having your vet evaluate him to determine what might be going on and what treatment might be needed. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that George feels better soon. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Poor King Meza! He does sound like he isn't feeling well at the moment, but his symptoms are a little general to pinpoint a specific illness. I'm wondering if you mean that his head is shaking when you say he can't keep it still. That would be involuntary head tremors, and could be caused by an injury, toxins, inflammation, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), weakness, or pain. He might be lethargic as well. You have a couple of options in this case. You can take him into a vet right away for an exam to be safe, and I typically recommend doing that since I can't see the animal in person to say if they will be ok or not. In my opinion, it's always best to be safe and have an animal seen by a vet when there are concerns about their health. The other option is to monitor him for now. If his symptoms continue for the next couple of hours, they worsen, or he develops additional signs such as vomiting, anorexia, seizures, or any other concerning signs, I would take him into a vet right away.