Anyone experienced this or similar... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

mitchell · 03-05-2006, 10:18 AM

Just wondered if anyone has experienced anything like this or similar and could offer an explanation or any advice as to the cause. My 11 year old yorkie has been checked by a vet but they cannot find anything wrong or an explanation, he's had heart tests/blood tests, you name it he's had it. He's been "fainting" about once or twice a year from 2003. They happen at about the same time, during the night and he goes very stiff and dead like, very ridged out streatched front legs, wide staring eyes, very out of it, it takes him about 10 minutes to fully recover and then he's fine. All the tests have come back normal. The vets only comment was that he could be going into a deep sleep and then waking up fast but his heart can't catch up with the speed of waking and thus making him faint. He is fine in every other way, eating and going to the toilet normally, playing and seems ok in himself, I'm just concerned when this happens as it's pretty frightening and wanted to know if this is something any yorkie owners have come across before. He's has fainted twice in 2003, once in 04,once in 05 and twice this year already. It all happens between 9.30pm- 4.30am. Thanks for any advice. Lisa

Magneticgal · 03-05-2006, 04:05 PM

Hi Lisa,

I wonder if he could be having seizures??? That is kind of what it sounds like to me.
I might try to consult another vet- possibly a specialist and see what they say. Please keep me posted and I wish you the best!!!

Magneticgal · 03-05-2006, 04:06 PM

Hi Lisa,

I wonder if he could be having seizures??? That is kind of what it sounds like to me.
I might try to consult another vet- possibly a specialist and see what they say. Please keep me posted and I wish you the best!!!

YorkieRose · 03-05-2006, 04:39 PM

Yes..sounds like some sort of seizure..thank goodness they are rare for him.

whispersmom2 · 03-05-2006, 05:12 PM

When an animal, well human or dog, faints they become limp not rigid. Almost always rigidity,staring and being just out of it for a time indicates a seizure. Usually, after a seizure, humans seem confused and unresponsive and the dogs I have seen are the same way. I agree with Pat that we are glad they are a rarity for him. I would suggest that you be cautious when you approach him after such an episode..he could be so startled that he might bite...
Keep an eye on him so that you can tell if they start to happen more often..

HIrwin · 03-05-2006, 05:47 PM

These symptoms definitely sound like nocturnal seizures. Since your vet has attributed these episodes to sleep problems have you considered consulting a veterinary neurologist to discuss the symptoms and pinpoint the problem?

Please keep us informed on what you learn if you decide to do this.

SnowWa · 03-05-2006, 10:06 PM

QUOTE: The vets only comment was that he could be going into a deep sleep and then waking up fast but his heart can't catch up with the speed of waking and thus making him faint.
------------------------------------------------------

Are you positive your vet said this???? This is totally impossible. The beating of our heart is a totally involuntary action - We don't control this nor do any of our activies - Our heart works (without our help) whether we are awake or asleep, whether we wake up suddenly or slowly and regardless of almost any activity we can perform. I, personally, have never heard of such a thing - and I have worked in a cardiology office for almost 20 years. I can promise you that after typing tens of thousands of reports on our patients, I have never heard of anything like this.

There are heart problems that can cause people to faint (arrhythmias) - but as one poster mentioned, stiffness and rigidness are not associated with this problem. (Just out of curosity - if you can - check your pup's heart rate and heart rhythm when this happens. Try to see if it is a normal rate and a normal rhythm. I know this may be hard to do - but do your best. I think if you listen to your dog's heart rate occasionally, you'll get familiar with what it is normally. Then during one of these episodes, you'll be better able to tell if it's different.) But - for all I know - it may be normal for a person to have a faster rate during a seizure also.

I like the others (I shouldn't be playing vet) think it sounds more like a seizure. Your pup is having these so infrequently - once or twice a year -(if she's perfectly healthy the rest of the time) --I'm not sure I would spend hundreds of dollars (or more) to get a more definitive diagnosis.

You wouldn't want to put her on any medication to stop something that occurs this infrequently (since these medications have side effects). If she is perfectly healthy and happy, at your next vet visit, ask your vet about "doing nothing" since these episodes happen so infrequently.

Get a little more information from your vet - we don't want you worried about this....

Carol Jean

mitchell · 03-06-2006, 09:39 AM

QUOTE: The vets only comment was that he could be going into a deep sleep and then waking up fast but his heart can't catch up with the speed of waking and thus making him faint.

Thanks everyone. Yes the vet did say this to me although it wasn't something he thought, he asked another vet who specialises in heart problems in dogs etc and this is what he was told. I did think the same as you but as I'm not a vet did not want to question his knowledge. The other thing I did think might be a problem was that Yorkies do have rather large tongues and was wondering if he may be swallowing it during sleeping thus leading to him passing out. Just a thought, I don't want to put him throught further unnecessary tests as it is so infrequent but I would love to try and pin point whats happening to make this occur and maybe change things that might be a trigger for it. I did notice that when he had the last seizue he was very restless and wouldn't settle, shaking etc, I gave him some food and it seemed to do the trick, he settled and went to sleep, could he be suffering from hypoglycaemia or do dogs not suffer from such things. Either way it's a great help to hear all your thoughts on this as it might just throw some light on something I haven't thought about. Thanks everyone for their input it's very much appreciated. Lisa

mitchell · 03-06-2006, 10:51 AM

I've just been advised on another forum that high levels of Sodium and Potassium in dog food can lead to seisures, does anyone have any experience of this or could advise. My Dog is on a Hills diet because of tummy troubles, Hills ID to be exact and the sodium/potassium levels do seem quite high, would appreciate your views. He has tinned food which has sodium 0.12% and potassium 0.27% and dry food which has sodium 0.42% and potassium 0.87%. I have been told that the maximum should be sodium 0.18% and potassium 0.75%. If you put both foods together it does seem a very high amount. Your thoughts much appreciated. Lisa

03-05-2006, 10:18 AM	#1
mitchell Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 228	Anyone experienced this or similar... Just wondered if anyone has experienced anything like this or similar and could offer an explanation or any advice as to the cause. My 11 year old yorkie has been checked by a vet but they cannot find anything wrong or an explanation, he's had heart tests/blood tests, you name it he's had it. He's been "fainting" about once or twice a year from 2003. They happen at about the same time, during the night and he goes very stiff and dead like, very ridged out streatched front legs, wide staring eyes, very out of it, it takes him about 10 minutes to fully recover and then he's fine. All the tests have come back normal. The vets only comment was that he could be going into a deep sleep and then waking up fast but his heart can't catch up with the speed of waking and thus making him faint. He is fine in every other way, eating and going to the toilet normally, playing and seems ok in himself, I'm just concerned when this happens as it's pretty frightening and wanted to know if this is something any yorkie owners have come across before. He's has fainted twice in 2003, once in 04,once in 05 and twice this year already. It all happens between 9.30pm- 4.30am. Thanks for any advice. Lisa

03-05-2006, 04:05 PM	#2
Magneticgal Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canton,Ohio Posts: 514	Hi Lisa, I wonder if he could be having seizures??? That is kind of what it sounds like to me. I might try to consult another vet- possibly a specialist and see what they say. Please keep me posted and I wish you the best!!! __________________ Kris , RIP Lexie , Bella Zoey

03-05-2006, 04:06 PM	#3
Magneticgal Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canton,Ohio Posts: 514	Hi Lisa, I wonder if he could be having seizures??? That is kind of what it sounds like to me. I might try to consult another vet- possibly a specialist and see what they say. Please keep me posted and I wish you the best!!! __________________ Kris , RIP Lexie , Bella Zoey

03-05-2006, 04:39 PM	#4
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	seizure Yes..sounds like some sort of seizure..thank goodness they are rare for him.

03-05-2006, 05:47 PM	#6
HIrwin Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 61	Anyone Experienced This or Similar These symptoms definitely sound like nocturnal seizures. Since your vet has attributed these episodes to sleep problems have you considered consulting a veterinary neurologist to discuss the symptoms and pinpoint the problem? Please keep us informed on what you learn if you decide to do this.

03-05-2006, 05:12 PM	#5
whispersmom2 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MD Posts: 2,985	When an animal, well human or dog, faints they become limp not rigid. Almost always rigidity,staring and being just out of it for a time indicates a seizure. Usually, after a seizure, humans seem confused and unresponsive and the dogs I have seen are the same way. I agree with Pat that we are glad they are a rarity for him. I would suggest that you be cautious when you approach him after such an episode..he could be so startled that he might bite... Keep an eye on him so that you can tell if they start to happen more often..

03-05-2006, 10:06 PM	#7
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	QUOTE: The vets only comment was that he could be going into a deep sleep and then waking up fast but his heart can't catch up with the speed of waking and thus making him faint. ------------------------------------------------------ Are you positive your vet said this???? This is totally impossible. The beating of our heart is a totally involuntary action - We don't control this nor do any of our activies - Our heart works (without our help) whether we are awake or asleep, whether we wake up suddenly or slowly and regardless of almost any activity we can perform. I, personally, have never heard of such a thing - and I have worked in a cardiology office for almost 20 years. I can promise you that after typing tens of thousands of reports on our patients, I have never heard of anything like this. There are heart problems that can cause people to faint (arrhythmias) - but as one poster mentioned, stiffness and rigidness are not associated with this problem. (Just out of curosity - if you can - check your pup's heart rate and heart rhythm when this happens. Try to see if it is a normal rate and a normal rhythm. I know this may be hard to do - but do your best. I think if you listen to your dog's heart rate occasionally, you'll get familiar with what it is normally. Then during one of these episodes, you'll be better able to tell if it's different.) But - for all I know - it may be normal for a person to have a faster rate during a seizure also. I like the others (I shouldn't be playing vet) think it sounds more like a seizure. Your pup is having these so infrequently - once or twice a year -(if she's perfectly healthy the rest of the time) --I'm not sure I would spend hundreds of dollars (or more) to get a more definitive diagnosis. You wouldn't want to put her on any medication to stop something that occurs this infrequently (since these medications have side effects). If she is perfectly healthy and happy, at your next vet visit, ask your vet about "doing nothing" since these episodes happen so infrequently. Get a little more information from your vet - we don't want you worried about this.... Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

03-06-2006, 09:39 AM	#8
mitchell Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 228	QUOTE: The vets only comment was that he could be going into a deep sleep and then waking up fast but his heart can't catch up with the speed of waking and thus making him faint. Thanks everyone. Yes the vet did say this to me although it wasn't something he thought, he asked another vet who specialises in heart problems in dogs etc and this is what he was told. I did think the same as you but as I'm not a vet did not want to question his knowledge. The other thing I did think might be a problem was that Yorkies do have rather large tongues and was wondering if he may be swallowing it during sleeping thus leading to him passing out. Just a thought, I don't want to put him throught further unnecessary tests as it is so infrequent but I would love to try and pin point whats happening to make this occur and maybe change things that might be a trigger for it. I did notice that when he had the last seizue he was very restless and wouldn't settle, shaking etc, I gave him some food and it seemed to do the trick, he settled and went to sleep, could he be suffering from hypoglycaemia or do dogs not suffer from such things. Either way it's a great help to hear all your thoughts on this as it might just throw some light on something I haven't thought about. Thanks everyone for their input it's very much appreciated. Lisa

03-06-2006, 10:51 AM	#9
mitchell Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 228	I've just been advised on another forum that high levels of Sodium and Potassium in dog food can lead to seisures, does anyone have any experience of this or could advise. My Dog is on a Hills diet because of tummy troubles, Hills ID to be exact and the sodium/potassium levels do seem quite high, would appreciate your views. He has tinned food which has sodium 0.12% and potassium 0.27% and dry food which has sodium 0.42% and potassium 0.87%. I have been told that the maximum should be sodium 0.18% and potassium 0.75%. If you put both foods together it does seem a very high amount. Your thoughts much appreciated. Lisa