My senior dog is pacing, rolling, and walking sideways. Is it serious?

Poor girl. The fact that she is wobbly and running into things, means that this is likely neurological. I would definitely have her seen by your vet right away for a thorough examination and brief neuro exam to see if we can find the underlying cause for this. One common cause for these types of sudden neurological symptoms in older dogs is vestibular disease, which can be caused by an inner ear infection, a brain tumor, or idiopathic (no underlying cause found). Idiopathic vestibular disease is the most common one we see and typically can improve on its own within a few weeks time with supportive care through your vet. I hope that things work out well for your pet Molly moving forward. Best wishes and take care!

I’m wondering if you’re dog might be showing signs of a neurologic problem. I would recommend checking in with the vet who performed an exam when the blood work was checked to see what they would recommend as the next step. Referral to a neurologist might be recommended, or they may have another thought as to what is causing these signs.

Walking sideways isn't normal. It can indicate brain dysfunction, inner ear infection, or major organ dysfunction. I would recommend that you have Dioji examined by a vet. The vet will do a thorough physical and neurologic exam, and may recommend blood work to see what is going on.

Hello, I am so sorry for your concerns about Doofy. This may not be a classic seizure, but this is definitely an indication of abnormal neurological behavior. She is an extremely old dog, so this would not be totally unexpected. It is very important to have Doofy seen as quickly as possible. She needs immediate care, otherwise she will literally walk herself to death. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, & I am very sorry that Doofy is not well. I hope you can help her as soon as you can. Take care.

All these signs are worrying, it could be due to a condition called "vestibular disease" which is common in older dogs, I would definitely recommend taking her to the vet ASAP in order to get it checked.

You are correct there could be something else going on. In senior dogs like Molly, they can develop a condition called canine cognitive dysfunction. This is similar to dementia in humans, and it would cause her to behavior strangely at times. I would have Molly seen by a vet. The vet can diagnose if she does have cognitive canine dysfunction by doing a physical exam, blood tests, urinalysis, and x-rays to rule out any health problems that could potentially cause her symptoms. If canine cognitive dysfunction is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment with you. While it cannot be cured, it can be managed with mediations, behavioral therapy, and special diets.

She does need to see a vet as soon as you can as this sounds like a neurological problem. It may be a stroke, an inner ear infection, or vestibular disease. Your vet will examine her and start her on medicine to help with the dizziness and off balance so she can rest. Most regain normal function with time and treatment.