[News] How to Treat Yorkie Seizures - YorkieTalk.com Forums

fasteddie · 11-05-2004, 11:29 AM

Very informative stuff in case a Yorkie has a seizure. Be calm while the episode occurs, then immediately take him or her to the vet...
---
Molly is a 3-year-old Yorkshire terrier that lives with Fran and her husband, Bill, in Modesto. Molly spends most of her time indoors, never far from Fran or Bill, and has had no health problems until about four months ago.
Fran and Bill were on the couch watching television with Molly sitting next to them when, rather suddenly, Molly began to tremor and roll to her side. After a few seconds, she was shaking violently, and urinated and defecated on the couch. Bill and Fran recognized the episode as a seizure and kept Molly from falling off the couch until the episode ended. Fran remarked that it seemed to last forever, but in reality, it was probably, about a two to three-minute event.

Fran brought Molly to her veterinarian the day the seizure occurred. A blood sample was drawn to check for abnormalities that might lead to a seizure, and Molly was sent home. The results of her blood test were unremarkable, and Fran was instructed to wait to see if Molly had another seizure.

About two weeks later, Molly had two more seizures, and again was taken to her veterinarian. A diagnosis of epilepsy was given, and Molly was placed on Phenobarbital. This medication is used to control seizures in animals, as well as humans. Molly initially was very sleepy on her new medication,but eventually, after about five or six days, she became used to the drug in her system.

Unfortunately, Molly was still having seizures, and her dosage of Phenobarbital was increased. In the past three weeks, Molly has had five more seizures, and Fran again has been instructed to increase Molly's Phenobarbital dosage. Fran has done so, but is worried about the possible problems that Molly might have because of taking the Phenobarbital.

It is likely that Molly does have epilepsy. This disease results in what is called a seizure focus in the brain, which allows an uncontrolled discharge of electrical impulses through the brain, resulting in a seizure.

It is very important to understand that epilepsy is a diagnosis veterinarians arrive at after ruling out other causes of seizures. That was a likely reason Molly's veterinarian performed a blood test on Molly. There are many other potential causes for seizures, and some can be quite difficult to diagnose.

Epilepsy usually starts manifesting itself in younger dogs, but can show up later in life, as well. There are cases of a dog having a single seizure at some point in its life and never again. This is a good reason to wait after one seizure to see if the dog does indeed have a seizure again. If so, and if other causes of seizures have been ruled out, treatment for epilepsy, specifically seizure prevention, should be started. It is important to realize that once a seizure happens, it becomes easier for another to occur, and so on. It's as if a neurologic pathway becomes more and more burned into the brain with each seizure. This is why, with multiple seizure occurrences, it becomes imperative that the seizures be prevented.

Seizures are not inherently painful, but if left unchecked, they can, over time, become very damaging to the brain.

Fran did not share the dose of Phenobarbital being given to Molly in her letter, so I cannot comment on whether or not it is excessive. Patients taking this drug, which works quite well in preventing seizures, should have their blood levels monitored on a regular basis. This will allow the dose to be properly tailored to the individual patient to achieve the ultimate goal of seizure prevention with minimum medication.

There are cases of epilepsy where seizures are not able to be prevented with Phenobarbital alone, even at the highest allowable dose. These cases likely need the addition of or replacement with another anti-convulsant medication. Usually with combination drug therapy, seizures that have not been controlled by Phenobarbital alone are indeed suppressed bringing about control of the condition.

Jeff Kahler is a veterinarian in Modesto. Questions can be submitted to Your Pet in care of LifeStyles, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352.

http://www.modbee.com/columnists/you...10291674c.html

Rhonda_333 · 01-22-2009, 06:49 AM

My poor baby, KiKi, will be three years old on March 21, 2009. She started having seziures last year. Her doctor has ordered the blood work and she has an appointment this month. It is so scary for me when she is having one. She had one Monday night and this was the first one where she went potty on me and made really bad gurgling sounds. Is there anything else that can be done while we are waiting for the doctor to place her on medication?

5 Yorkies Mom · 01-22-2009, 12:13 PM

Thank you so much for the information. All of us have seen this or have experienced it...any information given to us is so helpful. Thank you very much.

Carterna · 01-23-2009, 08:17 AM

I just wanted to say thank you so much for sharing this with your YT family.
Izzy had her 1st seizure this week and I have not left her side sense. I have not went to work and my boyfriend watched her while I had school yesterday. I have recorded the date and time of the 1st one, and if it happens again I am making her an appointment.
Thanks again and we will be praying Molly & Family!

Rhonda_333 · 01-26-2009, 06:42 AM

Awww, I am SO SORRY to hear about your baby. I know, the first time it happened for KiKi I was terrified. All I could think about was how many times has it happened while I am at work. In speaking with her doctor, he told me that while the seizure is going on, they are actually unconscious. Even after they are done having the actual seizure, it can take them 15-20 minutes to gather themselves and remember where they are. When KiKi has one, I keep her close to me so that she has me to lean on, I keep a towell close by her mouth because she will usually throw up and I just keep telling her I love her and it will be ok as I rub her hair. I did notice, when she was pregnant, the one time she was, that she didn't have any (that I know of since I work also) nor when she was nursing. I still have one of her babies (I bred her with a s**tzu/yorkie mix) and the baby hasn't had any seizures. I hope Izzy doesn't have anymore anytime soon.

Love,

Rhonda and KiKi

Carterna · 01-27-2009, 07:45 AM

Thanks Rhonda & Kiki...Izzy & I appreciate all the information and we send prayers & positive thoughts your way! My boyfriends mom has been in Paris but when she got back and I told her about Izzy's episode she said that she would take her to the vet to have blood work done, we have the same vet and getting an appointment with him can take months.

Take Care

XoXo Izzy & Tasha XoXo

motherhen_44100 · 03-06-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carterna

Thanks Rhonda & Kiki...Izzy & I appreciate all the information and we send prayers & positive thoughts your way! My boyfriends mom has been in Paris but when she got back and I told her about Izzy's episode she said that she would take her to the vet to have blood work done, we have the same vet and getting an appointment with him can take months.

Take Care

XoXo Izzy & Tasha XoXo

seizures can be caused by poisoning.
The Doctors Book of Home Remedies Pet Problems

good page, Doctors book of home remedies.

motherhen_44100 · 03-06-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carterna

Thanks Rhonda & Kiki...Izzy & I appreciate all the information and we send prayers & positive thoughts your way! My boyfriends mom has been in Paris but when she got back and I told her about Izzy's episode she said that she would take her to the vet to have blood work done, we have the same vet and getting an appointment with him can take months.

Take Care

XoXo Izzy & Tasha XoXo

seizures can be caused by poisoning.
The Doctors Book of Home Remedies Pet Problems

good page, Doctors book of home remedies.

bethceleste · 12-27-2009, 05:35 PM

Hi. I have a 15-1/2 year old Yorkie who has started having seizures. He's never had one before. He had one on December 21 and another on December 26. The doctor said that we could do tests but at 15-1/2 it would really just be for information purposes and a CT scan was around $1000.

He has been getting growths once in a while on his back but they were being controlled with antibiotics. Usually he would get one and he'd go on antiobiotics and it would go away. Now his back has a whole bunch of them. So right now he's on antibiotics for the growths.

Our vet put him on a steroid to help reduce inflammation since we weren't exactly sure what we were dealing with after the first episode. The first was under the Christmas tree and he kind of went to his side and his body kind of contorted and he let out his blood curdling yelp. He came back around and just laid there. My son was rubbing his back reassuring him that he was okay. He just laid there limp for about 3-4 minutes.

The second one was 2 in the morning and he let out that yelp again. This time he was laying down in what I call the sphinx position and his body was rocking side to side and he wet the bed. We called our vet and he's now on phenobarbitol. At 15-1/2, we're trying to keep him comfortable.

Our vet said that we probably only have months left with him and if he had another one within a week (which he did) that it would be less than that.

I was wondering, without seeing the dog and just going by what I have posted, can anyone tell me what I should be looking for in the coming weeks/months or what I should expect. Nobody ever wants to tell you, even with humans. But I really need to know. So if anybody has any experience with this and can shed some light on this for me, please let me know. I would really appreciate it.

kohler43 · 12-28-2009, 06:40 AM

my yorkie was 3 months old when he started having seziures, this was caused by a liver shunt, he died a month ago..... usually shunts can be controlled by a special diet, but sadly my coco dies

Lyric · 10-17-2012, 02:11 PM

Betcheleste, I was amazed to find your post, as I, too, have a 15-and-a-half year old Yorkie and the poor little guy also just started having grand mal seizures. I don't know if he had any before when we were gone, but the first one I noticed was just last month. He actually had two that night, within a few hours of each other. He screams now during each seizure as if he's very distressed. He is on Phenobarbitol, which makes him very groggy and "out of it" to the point that he just lurches around, falls over on his side, and paces in circles. He has also had at least three more seizures while on the Phenobarbitol, and I can't imagine putting him on a higher dose, as he can barely tolerate the one he's on now. Also, after each seizure, he sleeps so deeply (sometimes with his eyes open) that it's like he's unconscious. He has no idea where he is or who we are. He is barely breathing. And this after-seizure lethargy lasts for HOURS.

He is also blind and deaf and can't smell that well anymore, either. It is so sad. I know we are losing him. The vet suspects a brain tumor, but we can't do an MRI, as he wouldn't survive the general anesthesia. (And there's no treatment that a dog of his size, fragility and age could stand, anyway.)

So sorry about your little Yorkie. Believe me, I know what you're going through, as the exact same thing is happening at my house.

Dinas · 08-03-2013, 02:06 PM

Hello,

I live in Greece and I have a Yorkshire terie named chilli, a male . He is nearly 4 years old. 3 times in his life so far ( the third time was today, that is why I am writing this post), has had seizures. I do not know whether this is epilepsy or not.

Today I was so afraid he might die in my arms. It started with a vomit and then he started shaking, and saliva was cmming out of his mouth, he could not stand straight his eyes were staring in hyper space, his tongue was falling from his mouth in the side. I totally freaked out.

I hugged him and carressed him and talked to him slowly so to help him recover but it seemed to me it took ages. it lasted about 5 minutes. I thought this is it. he will die in my arms. this happens to him, once a year. but today was the worst of all.

Is this common with yorkshires? shall i take him to the vet? was it induced by an external factor? Was it beacuse of the vomit? did he ate something whil i got him for a walk? maybe he got frightened by something? the previous seizure was when he got frightneted by a guy last year. he saw the guy and started shaking all of a sudden, they told me later ,( I was not with him at the time,) but they described it to me exactly as I witnessed it today.

They took him to the vet, he did not mention anything about epilepsy at the time, he siad that perhaps he was not fed properly and he might have had a low blood sugar shock.

Searching in the internet for yorkshire- crisis - sezures- I found this forum

I do not know what to do

Please advice- i am really woried.

Thank you very much for your time and efforts for this forum
Dina

Juliealfies mum · 08-03-2013, 02:24 PM

Hi Dina it is very worrying when you dog experiences a seizure episode .it would be a good idea to take him to the vet and get checked as there are all types of reasons for seizures and this will help to rule out any other factors.
Try looking at this web site on epilepsy as it has some good info on there,
Canine Epilepsy Website
Try and keep a diary of when he does have these episodes as it is useful to have it written to keep a note and you may be able to to see a pattern and what triggers it off.

yorkiefan_ · 08-03-2013, 06:51 PM

With Minnie, she started getting grand mal seizures because her kidneys were failing, and they killed her.

I'm so sorry to hear Chilli is having them; it's one of the most difficult things in the world to watch, but at least they are unconscious for it.

Roxybear · 08-18-2013, 03:58 PM

Hi folks. I'm new but excited to be registered! I have a question. My 8.5 year old yorkie, Roxy has had 3 walks per day most of her life. Of my two dogs she was always in tiptop shape and the leader of the pack, often looking back to see what was taking us so long. In late spring, she began slowing down and stopping during a walk. I thought it was the high humidity at the time. Intermittently she appears to have a spurt of energy and then slows right down again. As of today, she walks quite slowly and often lags behind, waiting to be picked up! This is so out of character.
I took her to the vet last week, who checked her heart and all of her joints in case she had arthritis. No ultrasound for the heart. Blood and urine was taken and all was normal.
I'm worried and think it might be her heart. She also had loose stool this weekend and has thrown up her brown rice meal two out of three times. I'm stumped. Is the brown rice hurting her? I'd hate to think I was making thing worse!Help??

11-05-2004, 11:29 AM	#1
fasteddie *YT 6000 Club Member* Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,238	[News] How to Treat Yorkie Seizures Very informative stuff in case a Yorkie has a seizure. Be calm while the episode occurs, then immediately take him or her to the vet... --- Molly is a 3-year-old Yorkshire terrier that lives with Fran and her husband, Bill, in Modesto. Molly spends most of her time indoors, never far from Fran or Bill, and has had no health problems until about four months ago. Fran and Bill were on the couch watching television with Molly sitting next to them when, rather suddenly, Molly began to tremor and roll to her side. After a few seconds, she was shaking violently, and urinated and defecated on the couch. Bill and Fran recognized the episode as a seizure and kept Molly from falling off the couch until the episode ended. Fran remarked that it seemed to last forever, but in reality, it was probably, about a two to three-minute event. Fran brought Molly to her veterinarian the day the seizure occurred. A blood sample was drawn to check for abnormalities that might lead to a seizure, and Molly was sent home. The results of her blood test were unremarkable, and Fran was instructed to wait to see if Molly had another seizure. About two weeks later, Molly had two more seizures, and again was taken to her veterinarian. A diagnosis of epilepsy was given, and Molly was placed on Phenobarbital. This medication is used to control seizures in animals, as well as humans. Molly initially was very sleepy on her new medication,but eventually, after about five or six days, she became used to the drug in her system. Unfortunately, Molly was still having seizures, and her dosage of Phenobarbital was increased. In the past three weeks, Molly has had five more seizures, and Fran again has been instructed to increase Molly's Phenobarbital dosage. Fran has done so, but is worried about the possible problems that Molly might have because of taking the Phenobarbital. It is likely that Molly does have epilepsy. This disease results in what is called a seizure focus in the brain, which allows an uncontrolled discharge of electrical impulses through the brain, resulting in a seizure. It is very important to understand that epilepsy is a diagnosis veterinarians arrive at after ruling out other causes of seizures. That was a likely reason Molly's veterinarian performed a blood test on Molly. There are many other potential causes for seizures, and some can be quite difficult to diagnose. Epilepsy usually starts manifesting itself in younger dogs, but can show up later in life, as well. There are cases of a dog having a single seizure at some point in its life and never again. This is a good reason to wait after one seizure to see if the dog does indeed have a seizure again. If so, and if other causes of seizures have been ruled out, treatment for epilepsy, specifically seizure prevention, should be started. It is important to realize that once a seizure happens, it becomes easier for another to occur, and so on. It's as if a neurologic pathway becomes more and more burned into the brain with each seizure. This is why, with multiple seizure occurrences, it becomes imperative that the seizures be prevented. Seizures are not inherently painful, but if left unchecked, they can, over time, become very damaging to the brain. Fran did not share the dose of Phenobarbital being given to Molly in her letter, so I cannot comment on whether or not it is excessive. Patients taking this drug, which works quite well in preventing seizures, should have their blood levels monitored on a regular basis. This will allow the dose to be properly tailored to the individual patient to achieve the ultimate goal of seizure prevention with minimum medication. There are cases of epilepsy where seizures are not able to be prevented with Phenobarbital alone, even at the highest allowable dose. These cases likely need the addition of or replacement with another anti-convulsant medication. Usually with combination drug therapy, seizures that have not been controlled by Phenobarbital alone are indeed suppressed bringing about control of the condition. Jeff Kahler is a veterinarian in Modesto. Questions can be submitted to Your Pet in care of LifeStyles, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352. http://www.modbee.com/columnists/you...10291674c.html

01-22-2009, 12:13 PM	#3
5 Yorkies Mom YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 288	Thank you so much for the information. All of us have seen this or have experienced it...any information given to us is so helpful. Thank you very much. __________________ Maryann/ TheSassy's:Sam,Scotty,Sonny,SkyeBindi,Bro ok,Breezy,Bunnee

01-23-2009, 08:17 AM	#4
Carterna Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.A Posts: 225	I just wanted to say thank you so much for sharing this with your YT family. Izzy had her 1st seizure this week and I have not left her side sense. I have not went to work and my boyfriend watched her while I had school yesterday. I have recorded the date and time of the 1st one, and if it happens again I am making her an appointment. Thanks again and we will be praying Molly & Family! __________________ LOVE MOOSE & MOMMY R.I.P. IZZY

01-26-2009, 06:42 AM	#5
Rhonda_333 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Waco Posts: 4	Izzy Awww, I am SO SORRY to hear about your baby. I know, the first time it happened for KiKi I was terrified. All I could think about was how many times has it happened while I am at work. In speaking with her doctor, he told me that while the seizure is going on, they are actually unconscious. Even after they are done having the actual seizure, it can take them 15-20 minutes to gather themselves and remember where they are. When KiKi has one, I keep her close to me so that she has me to lean on, I keep a towell close by her mouth because she will usually throw up and I just keep telling her I love her and it will be ok as I rub her hair. I did notice, when she was pregnant, the one time she was, that she didn't have any (that I know of since I work also) nor when she was nursing. I still have one of her babies (I bred her with a s**tzu/yorkie mix) and the baby hasn't had any seizures. I hope Izzy doesn't have anymore anytime soon. Love, Rhonda and KiKi

01-27-2009, 07:45 AM	#6
Carterna Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.A Posts: 225	Thanks Thanks Rhonda & Kiki...Izzy & I appreciate all the information and we send prayers & positive thoughts your way! My boyfriends mom has been in Paris but when she got back and I told her about Izzy's episode she said that she would take her to the vet to have blood work done, we have the same vet and getting an appointment with him can take months. Take Care XoXo Izzy & Tasha XoXo __________________ LOVE MOOSE & MOMMY R.I.P. IZZY

01-22-2009, 06:49 AM	#2
Rhonda_333 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Waco Posts: 4	My poor baby, KiKi, will be three years old on March 21, 2009. She started having seziures last year. Her doctor has ordered the blood work and she has an appointment this month. It is so scary for me when she is having one. She had one Monday night and this was the first one where she went potty on me and made really bad gurgling sounds. Is there anything else that can be done while we are waiting for the doctor to place her on medication?

12-27-2009, 05:35 PM	#9
bethceleste No Longer a Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ottawa, IL, USA Posts: 1	Hi. I have a 15-1/2 year old Yorkie who has started having seizures. He's never had one before. He had one on December 21 and another on December 26. The doctor said that we could do tests but at 15-1/2 it would really just be for information purposes and a CT scan was around $1000. He has been getting growths once in a while on his back but they were being controlled with antibiotics. Usually he would get one and he'd go on antiobiotics and it would go away. Now his back has a whole bunch of them. So right now he's on antibiotics for the growths. Our vet put him on a steroid to help reduce inflammation since we weren't exactly sure what we were dealing with after the first episode. The first was under the Christmas tree and he kind of went to his side and his body kind of contorted and he let out his blood curdling yelp. He came back around and just laid there. My son was rubbing his back reassuring him that he was okay. He just laid there limp for about 3-4 minutes. The second one was 2 in the morning and he let out that yelp again. This time he was laying down in what I call the sphinx position and his body was rocking side to side and he wet the bed. We called our vet and he's now on phenobarbitol. At 15-1/2, we're trying to keep him comfortable. Our vet said that we probably only have months left with him and if he had another one within a week (which he did) that it would be less than that. I was wondering, without seeing the dog and just going by what I have posted, can anyone tell me what I should be looking for in the coming weeks/months or what I should expect. Nobody ever wants to tell you, even with humans. But I really need to know. So if anybody has any experience with this and can shed some light on this for me, please let me know. I would really appreciate it.

12-28-2009, 06:40 AM	#10
kohler43 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: johannesburg Posts: 1	seizures my yorkie was 3 months old when he started having seziures, this was caused by a liver shunt, he died a month ago..... usually shunts can be controlled by a special diet, but sadly my coco dies

10-17-2012, 02:11 PM	#11
Lyric YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 7	re: 15 1/2 year old Yorkie with seizures Betcheleste, I was amazed to find your post, as I, too, have a 15-and-a-half year old Yorkie and the poor little guy also just started having grand mal seizures. I don't know if he had any before when we were gone, but the first one I noticed was just last month. He actually had two that night, within a few hours of each other. He screams now during each seizure as if he's very distressed. He is on Phenobarbitol, which makes him very groggy and "out of it" to the point that he just lurches around, falls over on his side, and paces in circles. He has also had at least three more seizures while on the Phenobarbitol, and I can't imagine putting him on a higher dose, as he can barely tolerate the one he's on now. Also, after each seizure, he sleeps so deeply (sometimes with his eyes open) that it's like he's unconscious. He has no idea where he is or who we are. He is barely breathing. And this after-seizure lethargy lasts for HOURS. He is also blind and deaf and can't smell that well anymore, either. It is so sad. I know we are losing him. The vet suspects a brain tumor, but we can't do an MRI, as he wouldn't survive the general anesthesia. (And there's no treatment that a dog of his size, fragility and age could stand, anyway.) So sorry about your little Yorkie. Believe me, I know what you're going through, as the exact same thing is happening at my house.

08-03-2013, 02:06 PM	#12
Dinas YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Athens, Grrece Posts: 1	Chilli Seizure. crisis. epilepsy? Hello, I live in Greece and I have a Yorkshire terie named chilli, a male . He is nearly 4 years old. 3 times in his life so far ( the third time was today, that is why I am writing this post), has had seizures. I do not know whether this is epilepsy or not. Today I was so afraid he might die in my arms. It started with a vomit and then he started shaking, and saliva was cmming out of his mouth, he could not stand straight his eyes were staring in hyper space, his tongue was falling from his mouth in the side. I totally freaked out. I hugged him and carressed him and talked to him slowly so to help him recover but it seemed to me it took ages. it lasted about 5 minutes. I thought this is it. he will die in my arms. this happens to him, once a year. but today was the worst of all. Is this common with yorkshires? shall i take him to the vet? was it induced by an external factor? Was it beacuse of the vomit? did he ate something whil i got him for a walk? maybe he got frightened by something? the previous seizure was when he got frightneted by a guy last year. he saw the guy and started shaking all of a sudden, they told me later ,( I was not with him at the time,) but they described it to me exactly as I witnessed it today. They took him to the vet, he did not mention anything about epilepsy at the time, he siad that perhaps he was not fed properly and he might have had a low blood sugar shock. Searching in the internet for yorkshire- crisis - sezures- I found this forum I do not know what to do Please advice- i am really woried. Thank you very much for your time and efforts for this forum Dina

08-03-2013, 02:24 PM	#13
Juliealfies mum YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland Posts: 2,224	Hi Dina it is very worrying when you dog experiences a seizure episode .it would be a good idea to take him to the vet and get checked as there are all types of reasons for seizures and this will help to rule out any other factors. Try looking at this web site on epilepsy as it has some good info on there, Canine Epilepsy Website Try and keep a diary of when he does have these episodes as it is useful to have it written to keep a note and you may be able to to see a pattern and what triggers it off. __________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie

08-03-2013, 06:51 PM	#14
yorkiefan_ I ♥ my Cookie Monster! Donating Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,999	With Minnie, she started getting grand mal seizures because her kidneys were failing, and they killed her. I'm so sorry to hear Chilli is having them; it's one of the most difficult things in the world to watch, but at least they are unconscious for it. __________________ Cookie ;;; RIP Minnie

08-18-2013, 03:58 PM	#15
Roxybear YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1	Roxy Hi folks. I'm new but excited to be registered! I have a question. My 8.5 year old yorkie, Roxy has had 3 walks per day most of her life. Of my two dogs she was always in tiptop shape and the leader of the pack, often looking back to see what was taking us so long. In late spring, she began slowing down and stopping during a walk. I thought it was the high humidity at the time. Intermittently she appears to have a spurt of energy and then slows right down again. As of today, she walks quite slowly and often lags behind, waiting to be picked up! This is so out of character. I took her to the vet last week, who checked her heart and all of her joints in case she had arthritis. No ultrasound for the heart. Blood and urine was taken and all was normal. I'm worried and think it might be her heart. She also had loose stool this weekend and has thrown up her brown rice meal two out of three times. I'm stumped. Is the brown rice hurting her? I'd hate to think I was making thing worse!Help?? Last edited by Roxybear; 08-18-2013 at 04:00 PM.