Why is my rescue Yorkie swaying, wobbling, and walking sideways?

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Bear. It could be that he has a problem with his back or hips causing intermittent problems walking. It could also be there is a neurological issue going on. Keep an eye on him for now. If this behavior repeats itself, then I would take him into a vet to get it checked out. I hope this helps!

It sounds like Wiley needs to see the veterinarian quickly. It's impossible to know without a physical exam and likely some bloodwork but these symptoms could describe low blood sugar (which can be fatal), hepatic encephalopathy or exposure to a toxin. Other causes are also possible but it's best to play it safe. I recommend to have Wiley examined right away. I hope everything turns out ok and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Judge isn't feeling like himself. What you are describing sounds like "ataxia," which may be due to a variety of reasons, including an inner ear infection, a neurologic issue, an underlying medical issue (such as low blood sugar), or another underlying issue. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine what may be going on, and if any further diagnostics or treatment is needed. Good luck!

Hello, sorry to hear about S. Depending on your location, this may be associated with cold weather. Toy breed dogs whom are geriatric can lose body temperature rapidly. Alternatively, if he has progressive elevation of his ALT and other liver values, pets can develop hepatic encephalopathy and will begin to show neurologic signs such as twitching, lethargy, or even seizures. However, progressive elevation of liver values can also and often causes other clinical signs such as vomiting, anorexia, and lethargy. If you note any of these signs, or are concerned that S may be having hepatic encephalopathy, then he should be seen by your veterinarian tomorrow. Otherwise, make sure S is warm during the cold weather. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I certainly understand being worried and scared about Yuki, it sounds like he has had a sudden change in behavior. It could be he is suffering from vestibular disease causing him to tilt his head, walk in circles, and bump into walls. Vestibular disease is a sudden, non-progressive disturbance of balance, and it can be caused by a middle or inner ear infection, toxins, trauma, hypothyroidism, and idiopathic (no known cause). When it comes on suddenly like it has with Yuki, it's best to take him into a vet immediately. I advise having him seen by a vet now. Best of luck.

There can be numerous reasons that this may be happening to Zooey and most likely you will need to have her checked out by your vet to determine the cause. She might be suffering from an ear infection that is deep enough to affect her equilibrium, she may have some weakness in one or more kegs caused by arthritis or an injury, she may have arthritis in her spine. These are just a few of the possible causes. I would recommend a general exam for her to see if a cause can be detected.

I reviewed the labs and I don’t see a cause for the symptoms you describe. ALP is a liver enzyme but it is also made in growing bones and an elevation can be normal in a puppy. Calcium and phosphorous can also be increased in young growing dogs. Albumin is a little low and so is total protein (albumin is one of the proteins) and this can be seen with parasites or inflammatory diseases. It can also be seen with portosystemic shunt if there are other symptoms. I did not see blood glucose and would be concerned about that possibility.