A 9-Year-Old Schnauzer With a Seizure, Trembling and Changed Behavior
by John
(Bunker Hill, WVa)
What you describe, waking suddenly, struggling with her legs, staggering, disorientation and trembling, could have been a seizure, but other problems can look similar, including a balance (vestibular) problem, low blood sugar, a heart rhythm problem or, less commonly, a stroke. Her being distant and less playful now is also worth taking seriously.
Please have Katie checked by your vet in the next day or two. Epilepsy usually starts in younger dogs, so when seizures begin at 9, vets look carefully for another cause, such as a metabolic problem or a growth in the brain. The first steps are usually a full exam and blood tests, and sometimes a referral to a veterinary neurologist for an MRI.
If she has another episode, try to film it, time how long it lasts, and keep her away from stairs and furniture. Don't put your hand in her mouth. A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, or more than one seizure within 24 hours, is an emergency.
See seizures in dogs and why dogs shake.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
