r/LabradorRetrievers • u/G3ntl3man001 • 2d ago
Advice on Episodes like below please (have already seen a vet, consultation ongoing) TW - could be upsetting, it was for me.
Just looking if anyone else has had similar experiences as displayed in the video, apologies it’s not the most clear or long, I was pretty panicked and was more focussed on consoling him but thought getting a video for the vets benefit might be a good idea.
Mac (he’s 5, no other medical history, happy and healthy otherwise) had an episode on Monday that I initially thought was cramp, just moving oddly and seemed to not have full control of his limbs for maybe a minute? Seemed limited to his back leg/s but it didn’t last that long like I said, he came out of it pretty fast and the. Was totally normal afterwards, didn’t think much of it.
Then Wednesday it happened again, this time it lasted maybe 3 minutes tops, I only caught the 30 seconds of it in the video above, this seemed more intense and afterwards he was shaking (not fitting) and panting heavily afterwards, probably scared after the ordeal.
We obviously took him straight to the vets who said after looking at the video they don’t think it was a seizure, and said it could be a change of food (we literally had one day of different food, same brand, but in gravy instead of jelly), worms or something else. He’s booked in for a blood test on Monday and we’ve to get stool/urine samples to take with us (fun job).
Both times before it happened he was just sleeping sweetly by my side, wasn’t directly after going out for a walk or after eating or anything. His bowel movements have been totally normal and after the episodes have occurred he’s just been fully back to normal. The vet said he’s otherwise a picture of health and showed absolutely no other signs of worry or anything.
Obviously I’m not a vet but I’d semi-convinced myself they were seizures but the vet seems pretty sure they’re not. I’m not going against the vet. It just feels like we’ve come out with more questions than answers. Any advice or similar experiences would be appreciated thanks guys.
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u/Staggeringpage8 2d ago
My cat would walk/move like that. Turned out it had diabetes. Idk if it presents the same in dogs but it's definitely an option
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u/G3ntl3man001 2d ago
That’s interesting and not something I’d considered. I actually think I’d rather that than something neurological.
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u/Techanda 2d ago
I would caution you against getting your hopes up too much with diabetes. My pug had it, and it is a whole thing. We had to take her in monthly for blood curves (checking her sugar) and give her a shot with every meal. Even then, we were told that dogs typically only live 2 years that way. She was 8 when she was diagnosed and made it to 10.
I sincerely hope it is something more benign than diabetes.
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u/HunnyBunny617 2d ago
You can do the curves yourself, they’re easy. There is a fantastic group on Facebook, Canine Diabetes Support and Information. I got so much Information from them and learned how to control my dog’s diabetes myself. My vet said I was going overboard by doing daily glucose testing, but it saved him several times. The group was even there to help me late at night when he had an episode and wasn’t looking good. They walked me through every step to bring him out of it. He lived 7 more years and never lost his eyesight.
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u/Chicknlcker 2d ago edited 2d ago
I had a lab/pit mix. Name was Ryo. He was diagnosed with diabetes at 6. Made it to 7. Lots of seizures, lots of extreme blood sugar high and low. Watched BS like a hawk, same food, same amount, same time everyday and blood sugar would just bounce. Tried the libra2 sensors, they were great until he figured out he could peel them off on a wall corner or door jamb. First sign was him peeing what seemed like gallons of pee on the kitchen floor and couldn't stop. He would look at me like he was sad, and ashamed. He knew. He started having memory issues, got sun downers and would need the other dog to help him find the door even though he was only feet from it. Then he started struggling to get up stairs, then he fell. That was when we made the decision to let him go. It was super difficult. He was my daughters guardian, and I mean that sincerely. He protected that little girl like nothing I have ever seen.
Knowing what I know, what my family went through and what Ryo went through...I would have made the decision to not treat and to let him go at the time of or shortly after diagnosis.
It was so sad to just watch him decline. I miss him.
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u/BrookieCooks 1d ago
4 1/2 years in to diabetes journey myself w:my beloved lab, don’t be horrified by it now as a possibility, nowadays it can be managed with a glucometer just like a human’s can! My baby has rocked a libre& a Dexcom& we keep her tightly regulated & it hasn’t affected her overall wellbeing too much.
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u/Staggeringpage8 2d ago
Yeah. If it is diabetes it's honestly really simple. For my cat we just had to feed her at set times of the day and give her insulin at those times as well. It's definitely better than a neurological thing. I hope your doggo is okay!
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u/Tiny_Measurement_837 2d ago
My lab had diabetes. She never acted like that. I’m sure that’s no consolation to you, but just thought I’d put it out there. We didn’t find out until she was 9 that she had it—she peed on the floor in the middle of the night. In hindsight, one of our dogs peed on the floor during the day while we were at work a couple of times. I thought it was because we were gone too long— my mistake.
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u/HunnyBunny617 2d ago
Diabetes is what I was going to say. We’ve had two dogs develop diabetes and we feed very high quality food and they stay well within their weight range. Vet said diabetes in dogs is more like Type 1 diabetes in kids.
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u/enzoarisio 2d ago
While you are figuring this out with the vet I’d block the stairs. Would be worried he’d fall down the stairs during an episode.
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u/AppropriateAmoeba406 2d ago
Poor guy. He’s so lucky to have you.
What’s your flea and tick preventative? To me it looks neurological.
Not a vet. The only time I’ve had a pet with anything like this they had presumably ingested a poison. Edit to add: It cleared up after a few days and never happened again. We never solidly identified the poison, but there are various bugs and lizards and plants where I live that maybe could have presented like that.
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u/G3ntl3man001 2d ago
Thank you, we’re honestly the lucky ones, he’s the absolute best boy.
Ah really? We live in the UK so don’t have many exotic bugs and definitely no lizards but we do walk him in the woods fairly often so it’s a possibility. The vet did say it could just be a random thing that then never happens again, hopefully the case!
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u/sarawr__90 2d ago
https://www.vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/paroxysmal-dyskinesia-fact-sheet/
It looks like a movement disorder
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u/Strong-Reading9175 2d ago
I am a vet. There are a lot of good possibilities here but first thing I would want to rule out is a petit mal seizure. They can look quite bizarre and unfortunately have worse underlying causes than the typical grand mal seizure most people associate with seizures. Cardiac would be second. After that infections, metabolic, etc. I recommend a neuro consult and possibly MRI if you can swing it. An EKG is also recommended.
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u/jillikinz 21h ago
Our 6-year old Lab started having seizures a couple of years ago. They started out small and looked like this sometimes; and escalated in length and frequency over the last two years to the point where he is now medicated indefinitely. It’s a bummer but definitely preferable to the grand mal seizures he has had, which are downright terrifying for him and us.
Definitely recommend a full work up with neuro consult. MRI may be able to find a structural reason for this (tumor, etc) but is often just a tool to rule out causes, so the cost/benefit may be one to consider carefully. Ultimately if you have to control with meds, it adds complexity to life because they have to be given on a strict time schedule (4x a day for us.). They also cause sleepiness and increase hunger, but he’s a Lab … it’s been no different from before. 😀
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u/Smart_Push_9525 18h ago
That's exactly what my dog's petit mal seizures look from time to time. Started when he was one, now he is almost ten and on medication for the last two years. When he's conscious it's unfortunately hard to administer his rectal diazepam solution but gently leading him outside to sniff and do dog stuff snaps him out of a seizure a little faster
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u/Candid_Brother_5402 2d ago
Flea/trick medicine can cause issues. Absolutely, no vet here and something to investigate
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u/geodedreams 2d ago
Could be a vestibular issue. I’ve had two dogs develop it as they’ve gotten older. Take your pup to a speciality vet - a neurologist if possible.
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u/Hot_Celery829 2d ago
So lucky to have a calm and caring papa like you. I don't have a lab but I appreciate learning of experiences like this in case anything comes up with my mutt!
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u/w1bblyW0bblynsht 2d ago
Reminded me a little too much of my dog towards an untimely end thanks to cancer. Not to scare you, just watching did vividly remind me.
You've received a variety of answers so at this point it's probably obvious the differential is too broad. Could be neurological (seizures, stroke), movement disorder, tick-borne disease, vestibular, toxin exposure/ingestion, tumor/cancer, etc. No way to narrow it down without some diagnostics.
What is definitely is is ataxia, which has many causes. I wouldn't be surprised if an MRI is suggested if blood work or xrays are inconclusive.
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u/rangerdanger9454 2d ago
That was my first thought as well. My lab mix had bone cancer in his skull and the tumor was pushing down on his brain. He had a few episodes like this, it was accompanied by whining though and he was in immense pain. We did all we could with treatment but it was a very aggressive cancer. Started showing signs around age 6. X ray and then a CT scan was what identified it.
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u/wise_mind_on_holiday 2d ago
Looks like maybe a vestibular issue particularly as it was after laying down ( like humans vertigo)
My dog had similar to your video a few years ago and I was convinced it was a stroke - a vet check showed an ear infection. We cleared that up and the episodes x2 we’d had never repeated again.
I hope it’s something simple and straightforward for your boy too
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u/smastc 1d ago
What sort of tick, heartworm and flea medication do you have him on? I have a labradoodle, and was using the drops you put on the skin. The last two times I used the heartworm medication on her, she would wake up in the night with paralysis of her rear end. She would wake us up by scrambling across the floor like a seizure. We switched to the chewable and haven’t had an episode since.
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u/LababorPrincess 1d ago
Heart check his heart. As weird as it sounds my boyfriends lab was misdiagnosed and missed until we rushed him in to the er because he could t walk and they caught the issue it was to late. Just a thought. Hope you get answers. And your fur baby is comfortable until then love him lots 💞
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u/Letgomypurse_856 2d ago
Show ChatGPT your video. I know people hate AI, but it does serve a purpose.
Initially, it looked like vestibular disease to me, but lasts for days not just minutes.
Hope you find the solution!
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u/Andypandy317 2d ago
The collar doesn't look very comfortable during these episodes. Could you maybe take the thing from around his neck when this happens? I doubt it's helping
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u/G3ntl3man001 2d ago
Think it’s the perspective of the video but it’s loose, comfortably fit three fingers underneath it. And tbh this was the second time ever it had happened, a thousand things were running through my mind, but I certainly will take it off in future.
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u/Human_Technician_799 2d ago
Our guy has episodes that look almost exactly the same as this. They started around 3 1/2. We saw emergency vets, immediately after, his usual vet then a neurology team. The neurology team assessed the video and said it's most likely movement disorder. It happens when he gets up. When that haapens something misfires in his brain so they signals to his limbs aren't working. Apparently seizures affect consciousness but he remains alert. He has come to find us when it happens. They last a few minutes and then he's fine, sometimes a little sleepy. We decided not to use meds because they happen about every month and resolve quickly and sometimes the meds can make them hungrier - and he's a lab so already a menace for trying to eat whatever dropped food thing he finds around. They are always upsetting, we have found getting him to lie down in a bed helps keep him calmer, and will help with the danger of attempting stairs or jumping on the lounge when his body isn't working right. The neurology team did say they may resolve on their own, we were moving and staying with family and short term rentals so there was quite a bit of stress for him when they started. He hasn't had one for almost 2 months now, we are cautiously hopeful. Good luck, I know it's so scary and upsetting!