I had an eventful morning with our poodle today. I gave her breakfast and as I was tending to some other things she started thrashing around on the floor (on her side, but "running" in circles, flipping over, can't stand up, head arched fuly back, etc). As I held her this flailing/movement continued for several minutes, she lost bladder control, etc. She seemed only barely aware of her surroundings, her eye (she has only one left) moving rapidly back and forth.
I bundled her up and drove to the emergency vet, pretty sure that this seizure/stroke was the end for her. She's 18 years old, we got her as a rescue, and she's a tough old girl. My 4 YO grandson loves her, and I was not looking forward to talking to him about this, death, why he wouldn't see her again, etc.
I waited in the little room and about 90 minutes later the vet comes in with the dog walking on a leash. She's a little unsteady, but that's it.
It turns out she had a case of "Old Dog Vertigo," or "Canine Vestibular Disease." It's fairly common, cats get something similar, though it can happen to them at any age. It ca be caused by a few things but in the case of my dog it's likely an inflammation of the nerve servicing the inner ear/semicircular canals, and it scrambles their sense of balance. Most dogs recover to nearly 100% after a few days, some retain a constant need to tilt their heads, but that's it. Our pup is already a lot better, I'll just watch her carefully, keep her away from the stairs for awhile, etc.
This malady is something to be aware of if you have a dog or cat. At least for dogs, the thing to watch for is the rapid eye movement--that's one way to tell this from a stroke. This vertigo isn't "I'm feeling a little dizzy, I need to sit down" it's "I'm tumbling over and over, falling, I've got to get my feet under me!"
So, while I'll have to talk to my grandson eventually about mortality, saying goodbye, and all the rest, I'm happy to be able to delay that for awhile. Instead, we'll talk about the importance of friends and appreciating, every day, the people and animals in our life.
One small related comment: I wish the medical system that we have as humans could be as effective and efficient as the veterinary care system. True, when I bring this dog to our vet I seldom leave without a bill for $200 or more. But that covers the exam, usually some blood tests, sometimes an X-ray, they provide medications from a pharmacy right in that office, the doc spends time explaining the situation (far less rushed than when I see the [-]doctor[/-] PA), and I can usually get an appointment rapidly. Further, whatever I pay is it, not a small co-pay with the rest of the bill sent to someone else (maybe me, in the form of an insurance premium).
Today (Sunday), our vet's office was closed, so I took the pooch to the animal ER. A nice facility, several vets and vet techs on hand, free coffee for me, etc. Sure, they didn't have to do a lot for the dog, but they knew what they were doing, kept her comfortable, kept her under observation for about 90 minutes, and provided a prescription of anti-nausea pills for the pup. I paid $100. If I'd showed up to the "human ER" with anything, a case of hiccoughs, I'm pretty sure somebody would be paying a lot more than $100.
