Help! Healthy puppy suddenly having trouble walking & standing
 

Hi Everyone,

I have a 9-month old yorkie girl, Bijou, who all of the sudden can't seem to stand / walk well! I read everything I could find on this forum but nothing seems to quite describe it.

I took her for a walk today - she was playing and running around like a crazy puppy, she was the same yesterday and most of the last two weeks. She was spayed about 3 weeks ago and took a bit longer to recover than normal, but we were finally rejoicing that she seemed totally back to normal.

After her walk today, she ran around a bit more (so I don't think anything happened on the walk) and then took a nap on the couch. About two hours ago, I went to the kitchen and heard sounds coming from the hallway - normally she runs in when I'm cooking, and she was just sitting there. When I called her she kind of ran a step or two then sat down. She tired a couple times but couldn't really walk and kept sitting and them seemed to get a bit scared. Other behaviors - she was biting her back right foot earlier, and she's been scratching with it / twitching it a bit more today as well. AFter the first "episode" I took her out and when she peed the back leg flailed around like she was scratching.

After reading the forums here, I'm pretty sure she didn't have a seizure because this has now been going on for 2 hours. She seems pretty alert - like she wants to follow me around but can't.

I gave her several syringes of sugar water which she readily lapped up. She's always been a bit of a picky eater but she did eat breakfast and I also gave her, about an hour ago, some dry food mixed with wet. She picked around a lot of the dry but probably ate a full meal of mostly wet (it was a special care can left over from her spay surgery). So - I feel like I've done the treatment protocol for possible hypoglycemia but she wouldn't even stand to eat her food. She's currently sleeping - and it's almost 8pm here so vet really isn't an option until tomorrow morning (no emergency vet here and if I drive to another town to find one they won't speak English).

I have no idea what could have happened! She was completely fine and then just woke up and can't seem to stand / walk. On her last attempt the first leg shook too so I don't think it's an issue with just one leg. She was wobbly in general. I also would have heard her yelp if she somehow managed to hurt herself in the 15 steps from my home office to the kitchen.

Has anyone experienced anything like this? What can I do? Hoping the time difference with the US will work in my favor with getting some responses. Also hoping she just wakes up again and is fine!

Thanks!

I would put a call into your vet and possibly video her acting that way so the vet can see how she is having trouble in case that changes once you get to your vet. I hope others chime in to help. Sending well wishes that Bijou is ok.

I'd get her to a vet asap... if she's unsteady keep her in a kennel till the vet can see her so she doesn't fall and have an injury.

Video is a good idea. I'm letting her sleep but my husband is on his way home so I'm sure she'll try to run to him when he walks in and I can see if she is any better. I have 12 hours before a vet opens so still hoping this was just a weird thing!

If she seems worse, I'd consider finding an ER... and I agree, video would be great.

Update: So she is definitely getting better, not worse. About 30 minutes ago she ran from one room to the other but then just sat, tried to get up, walked a step, and and sat back down, and did that a few more times then laid down. But as I write this she just got a burst of energy and leapt up on the couch and started rolling over for a belly rub. This is so weird to me! Could these have been symptoms of hypoglycemia at 9 months? She is 8lbs and picky but usually gets at least a half a cup of food in her. Like I said don't think it was a seizure or anything either but don't know what would have caused such severe symptoms so suddenly. She is still biting at herself more than usual - especially her back feet but I can't see anything there and she doesn't mind me poking and prodding around. Will see how she's doing tomorrow and go to the vet if she isn't 100%. Thanks for the help.

Might be a good idea to have blood work run on her anyway. I hope she continues to improve...

It is very doubtful if it is hypoglocemia at 9 months and 8 lbs.

She needs to be evaluated by a vet - even if she seems to be at 100%. At the very least call and let them know what's going on with her.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

A vet is definitely called for. The original symptoms sound like a back or leg injury to me. Leg injuries could include things like luxating patella, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, or ACL injury, and these things need to be ruled out. I don't know about the others, but luxating patella symptoms can come and go. Hopefully it will turn out to be something minor or treatable.

These symptoms didnt show up for no reason the problem is still there its just not showing the severity right now. you really need a vet evaluation

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Absolutely! The symptoms might come and go, but there could still be an underlying problem that needs treatment.

I guess it has only been nine hours since the post but I look forward to an update. A leg injury sounds most likely but some of those symptoms sound potentially neurological. I hope all is well with your baby, please let us know.

Morning update: I'm so relieved that she woke up completely normal - as if nothing happened. Bounded out of bed, went outside to go to the bathroom (no leg shaking) and is now chasing her toys after a full breakfast. I'm so happy she's ok but still confused. If I didn't work from home the whole episode was so fast I never would have known. I got a video half way through that I'll email my vet, but I'm pretty sure as long as she is acting 100% normal they will tell me to just keep an eye on her. Dehydration? Weird muscle spasm or cramp? I wonder if it was that in the beginning then she was just scared / tentative to walk for a while. She will definitely be watched closely the next few days. Thanks for the advice and if I hear anything from the vet I'll post to the thread so future people will know. Costs here are like 3x the states though (just paid $800 for spay) so probably won't bring in for blood work unless vet recommends it after seeing video or something happens again in which case I will immediately. It was definitely the back / neurological possibility that scared me the most.

I paid $650 in NY to get neutered. Vet care is expensive but you need to find out what is wrong with you pup.