My dog fell while eating, cried, then walked fine. Is it serious?

I am very concerned about your dog's condition and highly recommend a veterinary visit. There are a few general categories that fit with what your dog is showing at home. One would be weakness due to a nerve problem in the back end. This can happen if a disc has moved out of place in the spine and is pressing on the spinal cord. This can cause dogs to have trouble walking and placing their feet in an appropriate way. Some have the appearance of walking on their toes. Otherwise they are able to place weight on the back legs but stagger or sway when walking. This can be an emergency situation if the disc slips more into the spinal cord and causes paralysis. Another type of weakness that causes trouble getting up is if there is a lack of proper blood circulation. The lower level of blood in the body causes them to be lethargic due to the decreased oxygen circulating throughout the body. In an older dog, the most common cause of this is with a tumor or mass on the spleen that has ruptured. The spleen holds a large amount of blood and if it has a rupture, the blood leaks out into the abdomen. In addition to the lethargy, we often see pale gums and a pot belly appearance due to the pooling blood. An x-ray or ultrasound would help determine if this is occurring. These are the two most common reasons for such a dramatic change in her appearance. There is also the chance of her eating something she shouldn't. The best thing for her would be to have an exam as soon as you are able to determine what is causing her signs. The vet may recommend bloodwork or an x-ray. Unfortunately. older large breed dogs can lose nerve function in their back legs due to age changes. There is little we can do to help this aside from keeping them comfortable. Due to how sudden the signs showed up, this is less likely, as it is often a more gradual change.

Pudder sounds like she may have suffered severe internal injuries from this fall, and I would consider her symptoms a medical emergency. She needs to see a vet now. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

It is not uncommon to have 24 Hours of lethargy and “post-ictal” behavior especially after a cluster of seizures such as JJ experienced. However, it is also possible that he has something more concerning going on in his brain causing the seizures and lethargy such as encephalitis or cancer. If the behavior or seizure events continue then I would encourage you to have a follow up appointment with your veterinarian to discuss further diagnostics and possible anti seizure medication. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi. This sounds like it could be serious. I would worry about either some seizure activity, some severe nausea, dizziness, or even ears. Lots of possibilities. But this needs to be addressed quickly. I would call your veterinarian for an appointment today. If they aren't available then I would recommend the ER

Hello. I am so sorry for your worries with your pet. There are any number of medical reasons that might explain this, but the most likely would be a seizure (not all are classic grand mal), or a heart issue. The best way to determine the cause is to let your veterinarian do a full exam & blood work to rule out any metabolic or otherwise obvious reasons for the episode. Then, if any treatments or medications are indicated, your veterinarian can discuss all options with you. Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for posting. She may have endured an injury during the fall. If she cries out again or appears to limp, having trouble walking, pants excessively, becomes lethargic, or has a decrease in appetite, then I would recommend she see her veterinarian as soon as possible. Your vet will do a hands on exam and may recommend x-rays to help determine if there is any damage to the bone structure or internal organs.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about the puppy. I always advise that if an abnormal sign or behavior persists, worsens or other signs develop to always have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian right away. The fall may have caused some soft tissue/bone injuries or even internal injuries that are causing her problems. Also, she could be suffering from something unrelated to the fall. Your vet can examine her after gathering a history and then advise you on diagnostics/treatment. Possible tests include fecal/blood/urine tests and x-rays. Good luck