My dog is wobbly, lethargic, and hard to wake up. What's happening?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Harley! Look closely at Harley's eyes...are they moving quickly side to side or rolling? If they are then he could be having a vestibular event. The most common cause is a middle ear infection (under the ear drum) that causes inflammation of the peripheral nerve that control balance. Other causes could be more serious: stroke, seizure, brain tumor, metabolic issues or bleeding that is causing weakness. Harley should see your Vet ASAP this morning for an exam. I hope this helps and I wish Harley the very best!

Hello Aim. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry that Cooper is not well. This is definitely not normal. Dogs do get something called vestibular disease (a king of vertigo) that can throw their balance off but it usually happens in older dogs. I have never seen it in a 4 year old dog. I would be very worried that he may have ingested something toxic. I really think you should get him examined by a vet as soon as possible.

Poor puppy. These symptoms of being wobbly, with no associated vomiting or diarrhea, don't necessarily mean he got into a poison. Typically there are some GI symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea) when a pet ingests something they shouldn't have. There could be an internal problem going on or a primary neurological condition. Also a possibility is an adverse reaction to a recent topical flea product or heartworm medication. The Benadryl will likely make him a bit sleepy, so don't be alarmed if you see that. I would consider taking him to your ER vet for further testing, if there is no immediate suspicion for his symptoms, because treating the underlying problem right away is our primary goal here, so that we can hopefully reverse the neurological symptoms before they cause permanent damage. I hope that your puppy Eli is able to make a full and speedy recovery soon! Best wishes and take care.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would be worried about a few things regarding Bindi with what you are describing. One possibility if a bleeding tumor. If Bindi is older (>4-5 years old) this becomes more likely. You can look at her gums to see if they are pink or white. Otherwise, it is possible she got into a toxin (like marijuana) which can make her sleeping, be normal when 'roused' but otherwise be very flat and tired. If she is dribbling urine this is more likely. There are many other conditions as well. I would suggest calling the clinics in your area and finding one that does out of hours calls to see if they could see you. There are many other causes for her clinical signs, and without seeing her or knowing more it is hard to narrow it down. Best of luck with Bindi.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. If he is still acting this way, he will need to see his veterinarian. Was there any chance that he could have ingested a toxin? That was my first consideration when reading your post. If not, then he could have a primary neurologic disease. His veterinarian will be able to guide you based on his exam findings. Good luck!

It’s possible she had a seizure. If she does not steadily return to normal over the next few hours, it would be best to have her checked by your vet in the morning. Routine screeening bloodwork can help determine if a liver or kidney issue could be the cause of the seizure. Medical treatment for seizures is usually not started unless the pet has multiple seizures in one month, repeated seizures or a grand mal seizure lasting more than several minutes. Seizures generally have a pre-ictal phase where the pet is anxious and may vomit, the ictal phase during which paddling/convulsions are seen, and the post-ictal phase where the pet is disoriented and often wobbly. Best wishes for Nola to steadily return to normal and not have another episode!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian right away if at all possible. The symptoms you have described can be the result of an intoxication, orthopedic pain such as arthritis or a neurological problem. An examination will be performed and x-rays may be needed to diagnose the problem. From there, appropriate treatment can be prescribed. I hope this information helps!