Why is my old dog losing balance when walking? Is it Rimadyl?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is concerning as the Rimadyl is supposed to be helping but things continue to be about the same. This could be due to a neurological issue for example. I would encourage you to check in again with your veterinarian to have Lex reevaluated as she has not improved much. They could consider another medication such as gabapentin or more advanced diagnostics to try to diagnose the matter. Best of luck!

That sounds like neck pain and it could be from disc disease or other causes. Rimadyl can help but a lot of dogs with neck pain need multimodal pain management. And, it can take time to resolve, especially if disc related. The length of time of pain management can be variable but often is required for weeks if not longer dependent on the case, cause, response to treatment, side effects, etc. At your dogs age you will need to be very careful with Rimadyl as it can be hard on the kidneys. Older dogs especially benefit from multimodal pain management to try to decrease drugs like Rimadyl dose and dosing frequency. Rest is key, ideally crate rest. For disc disease this is typically 4 to 8 weeks, but this is case dependent and is best guided by the vet who examines the patient. Anyway to have a vet come to the house to see if this helps with the vet anxiety? I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. It sounds like she may have had a mild episode of a condition called Vestibular Syndrome, an imbalance in the inner ear(s). If it has been a while since she saw a vet, it would not be a good idea to have her checked out. At this age, 2chainz is considered a senior citizen & things can begin to change. A good wellness exam & geriatric bloodwork is highly recommended to make sure she is as healthy as possible going into her "golden" years. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be an indication of pain or discomfort. This could be due to a neurological issue or an orthopedic issue. Regardless, it does seem like he should see a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment. At the very least they can prescribe pain control medications if he seems unconfortable. Good luck and have a good night!

Since it has been happening for some time and she has recently developed new symptoms, Emma should be examined by your veterinarian. A physical exam and bloodwork (CBC, chemistry/thyroid panels, urinalysis) may diagnose metabolic or neurologic issues, especially in a senior pet. Severe, chronic ear infections may also affect balance.

Poor Luna! Because she is 8 or 9, my first thought is that she may be suffering from arthritis. That would cause her pain, and from your description, it sounds like she is painful. It could also be that she injured herself. Arthritis is common in older dogs. I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose if she is suffering from arthritis, and can give her some pain meds for it. Rimadyl (an NSAID) is a good drug to give to help with the symptoms of arthritis. I also recommend giving her glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, and you can use it in conjunction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from her symptoms. Give her vet a call today to make an appointment. Best of luck!

Hi there and thank you for using PetCoach to address your concern. Based on your description I would not suspect that a probiotic would cause this symptoms. In my years of using probiotics in dogs, this is one symptoms I've never seen arise from using a probiotic. Probiotics are quite safe to give to dogs and rarely cause side effects apart from GI upset (vomiting / diarrhea). I would recommend monitoring Roxy for 24 hours and if the symptoms persists, take her in to be examined by a veterinarian to help rule out other causes of this. Vestibular disease or other neurological disease would be possible causes. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns that I may help you with. Please see the below article for more information that may be helpful for Roxy. If after reading this article and following the recommendations Roxy does not improve, I would get her seen by a veterinarian. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/