Why is My Dog Staggering and Walking Like Drunk (Stumbling)

Isn’t it a strange sight to see a puppy acting all drunk and wobbly? What if you wake up discovering your dog is behaving in a weird, drunken, and unstable manner? It would sure be of great concern to you since it is abnormal behavior. Many factors can make your dog behave in that manner, but it is not something to get frightened about in most cases.

Here are a few reasons why your dog may be acting this way.

1. Your Dog is Suffering from Vestibular Disease

One of the diseases that commonly affect dogs is called vestibular disease. This disease affects the balance of the dog and is also known as old dog syndrome. It is a non-life-threatening sickness that dogs get when they age considerably. A further look at the concept of vestibular disease in dogs is necessary.

The vestibular system controls the eyes, neck, limbs, and head of a dog, respectively. The vestibular system consists of the central and peripheral parts associated with the overall system, the brain. The inner ear, which aids in transmitting different information to the central system, which is the brain, and the inner ear is found in the peripheral component. The vestibular system also consists of balance, spatial orientation, and movement, respectively.

For clarification, vertigo is associated with vestibular disease, and it is sometimes treated as a very severe disease. Growth in the brain and strokes are mostly considered vertigo, which is also called vestibular disease. The widespread vestibular disease, mostly known by people, is called the peripheral vestibular disorder, not forgetting that central vestibular disease is also in existence.

The central vestibular disease attacks the brain that could lead to bleeding inside; it could also indicate a cancer-related issue, which can be life-threatening.  This type of vestibular disease, which is the central vestibular illness, are most likely not seen in dogs because of the vestibular disease.

Is Dog Vestibular Disease Fatal?

The amazing fact about dogs’ vestibular disease is that it is not deadly and wears off by itself within a few weeks. A veterinarian usually encourages patience, and it will be gone within two weeks, as said by the veterinarian. Your dog might be feeling nauseous because of the imbalanced nature, but it is advised to administer an anti-nausea treatment or drugs prescribed by the veterinarian.

As we have seen so far, it is possible for your dog to act in a wobbling and drunken manner without its health being in much jeopardy. The best way to solve this is by taking the pet to a vet when you observe any strange behavior.

2. The Dog is Suffering from an Ear Infection

As seen in humans, a loss in balance is associated with an ear infection in dogs. When you see your dog acting drunk, know that it is thrown off, which resulted from the ear infection it’s having. Your dog can also start shaking its head unnecessarily, and even a paw at the ear is also observed. Difficulty in chewing food is associated with it. Immediately you keep that your dog rejects food due to its pains when opening its mouth or jaw; you should seek a veterinarian’s help to avoid further loss of excessive fluid. This is also to mitigate the reduction in your dog’s size and weight and prevent additional health challenges.

Treatments are mostly given to help eradicate the ear infection, usually done by the veterinarian, who might also take some samples for proper diagnosis. It is advisable to see a veterinarian anytime you observe that your dog is having an ear infection because it could worsen if left untreated.

3. Your Dog May be Suffering from Stroke

Stokes is considered as one of the most severe health cases that can cause your dog to wobble. Some of the stroke symptoms include; abnormal behavior, loss of balance, inability to walk correctly, head tilting, to mention but a few.

Older and aging dogs are most prone to getting a stroke. Many other health issues affect older dogs, and some of them include heart disease, a disease in the kidney, cancer, and so many others.

There are many reasons why a dog can get a stroke, and the treatment is only possible if the underlying cause is detected and corrected. However, a prompt visit to a veterinarian can be considered the best decision to take. It is quite hard to find stroke in dogs, making it easy for the veterinarian to diagnose if the dog is having a fainting disorder spell or stroke. It also fast tracks the recommendation of appropriate drugs.

 

Leave a comment