5. Dehydration
Your dog has exhausted himself or is currently recovering from a gastrointestinal infection? Or is it really hot outside right now? Then the four-legged friend really has to drink a lot, otherwise there is a risk of one Dehydration.
Canine physiotherapist Jeff Petersen shows what dehydration looks like in dogs. Source: Petersen Physical Therapy / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrYw93y9LZ0.
As with us humans, a lack of water can also cause disorientation and problems with thinking and coordination in four-legged friends. Affected animals therefore often stagger.
You can recognize dehydration various factors: What is typical is very wrinkled skin that does not return to its original position when you pull the dog. Little urine output with a dark color, heavy panting and fever are also common signs.
6. Epileptic seizure
According to a British study, around 0.75 percent of all four-legged friends are Epileptic. This is a disorder in the cerebrum, and occasionally the nerve cells are not charged properly.
The result is, so to speak, a “Short circuit” in the brain: The four-legged friend suddenly starts to stagger, eventually falls over and twitches his legs and muscles uncontrollably. Foam often runs out of the mouth.
Veterinarian Dr. Florian König in conversation on the topic. Source: Thomas Wengenroth / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSQWE-xgGAs .
Epileptic seizures can occur at any time – especially at night and even if the dog has not had any attacks in his life. Luckily, run However, most cases are mild but the four-legged friend can be very frightened afterwards.
7. Tumors
However, balance disorders can also occur tumors come. Older animals in particular are susceptible to cancer, but due to genetic factors there are also some younger animals that are already affected.
Dogs often sway and stagger when they have cancers that affect the nervous system. This is for example at brain tumors the case, but also Lymphatic cancer or neoplasms on the nerve roots, e.g. on the spine.
In the past, tumors were often a death sentence for dogs. But nowadays there is many therapy options, e.g. new surgical procedures, radiation and also chemotherapy. However, early detection is often necessary to have a chance of success.
8. Traumatic brain injury & concussion
Did your dog fall, run into a wall or get hit by a ball? If he then begins to waver, you should be very careful: it is quite possible that his brain has been affected.
Traumatic brain injuries or concussions If left untreated, they can have serious long-term consequences and even end in a fatal cerebral hemorrhage. Affected animals often lose their balance, appear listless and breathe very quickly. Seizures also occur more frequently.
9. Poisonings
But swaying and staggering can also be signs of one poisoning be: Many substances that are harmful to the dog have an effect on the nervous system and thus undermine the sense of balance.
Always potentially life-threatening
Poisoning is always a potentially life-threatening emergency: so you should to the vet immediately – on weekends or at night for emergency services.
You can find out more about this topic in our guide “Poisoning in Dogs”.
Unfortunately, there are many things that can poison the dog: Not only Poison bait are so dangerous but also fertilizers, some Plant and certain foods such as chocolate and some fruits and vegetables.
Insect stings and bites can also be dangerous for dogs – especially if the four-legged friend suffers from an allergy.
Drugs are also poison for dogs
Danger: Even small amounts alcohol are poisonous and dangerous for dogs. They lack the enzymes to break down the substance, so just one curious lick can make them drunk and lose their balance. Also Secondhand marijuana smoking often leads to swaying and staggering.
10. Muscle weakness
However, if your dog not only starts to stagger, but also loses his legs, this can also happen Muscle weakness to be responsible. The animal then has great difficulty standing, sits down again and again and begins to tremble even after short distances.
Sometimes such a weakness is acquired because of Dog not moving enough e.g. because the animal has just had an operation, or (e.g. because it is overweight) not resilient is. Also Joint diseases can lead to this, and inflammation or infections can also spread into the muscular system.
Two other clinical pictures are rather rare, but also possible:
- At the Cushing's syndrome The body releases far too much cortisol, which hinders muscle building and maintenance.
- At the Autoimmune disease Myasthenia gravis The signal transmission between nerves and muscles is disturbed, which means that affected animals repeatedly fall and cannot maintain their balance.
11. Nervous diseases
There are also numerous others diseases of the nervous system, which prevent the dog from maintaining its balance safely. Among the most widespread are
- Herniated discs
- Meningomyelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord) and
- Discospondylitis (inflammation of the intervertebral disc).
Nerve inflammation is often caused by viral infections. It is quite possible that these are long-term consequences of an actually harmless illness that has been postponed.
12. Injuries & Joint problems
However, not every staggering dog has to do with neurological or organic problems: sometimes it's just that Musculoskeletal system sore.
This is how many people lead muscular injuries and also Broken bones to one protective posture in the four-legged friend, which can be interpreted as coordination difficulties. The dog then appears as if he is swaying, even though he is actually in control of himself.
Degenerative joint diseases often lead to the same result: If your four-legged friend suffers from osteoarthritis, arthritis or hip dysplasia, he is restricted in movement and often has problems walking straight. This mostly affects older animals.
13. stroke
Strokes in dogs Although they are very rare, they do occur. The cause is usually a blocked blood vessel, but a cerebral hemorrhage can also be responsible.
Older dogs are usually affected; chronic obesity is a contributing factor. In the event of a stroke, the four-legged friend appears disoriented, apathetic from one moment to the next and sometimes suddenly suffers from incontinence or the urge to vomit. Furthermore, balance problems actually always occur.