'OLD DOG VESTIBULAR DISEASE' NOT AS AWFUL AS IT SOUNDS
When my 15-year-old Sheltie collapsed in the yard, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to lose him that night. That's because I knew there was a good chance that what he had was something called "Old Dog Vestibular disease" -- and that chances were good that he'd be fine after a visit to my veterinarian.
Which is not to say I was nonchalant about having a dog who couldn't stand without falling over. After all, Drew has been a "hospice dog" since last summer, when he was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease. Since then, though, he has been happily toddling along with daily doses of subcutaneous fluids, which I give him from IV bags that I hang from my dining-room chandelier.
But back to ODV ... or, if you will, a doggy stroke.
"There are few conditions veterinarians see with some regularity that really scare the pants off pet owners, but most veterinarians don't see them as major problems," said Dr. Tony Johnson, clinical professor of emergency and critical care at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. "One of these is indeed Old Dog Vestibular disease."
Dr. Johnson is a friend and Pet Connection colleague, which is why I already knew that Drew might be fine. The board-certified emergency specialist had previously written about ODV for a book project that I edited, so I knew about the sudden onset symptoms that include a loss of balance, head tilt and vomiting attributed to something akin to motion sickness. To the dog with ODV, the world appears to be spinning, explained Dr. Johnson, which makes everyone feel a little queasy.
As soon as I got Drew to the hospital, our own veterinary team started eliminating other, more dire possibilities. In Drew's case, that meant a blood test for his kidney values (fine) and a check of his blood pressure (also fine). Because of his nausea, he was sent home with something to settle his stomach. That, and the tincture of time.
"The real cause of ODV has eluded science," said Dr. Johnson. "It may be a mini-stroke, like a TIA (transient ischemic attack) in people."
Less than a day after his initial collapse, Drew was able to stand a little and was interested in begging for a little toast. (He got what he wanted, of course.) In the majority of ODV dogs, most symptoms resolve within a couple of weeks, said Dr. Johnson, although TLC is necessary while the pets are getting better.
Some dogs need help getting out into the yard to relieve themselves, and some will also need to be hand-fed for a while. For those dogs who don't get better -- about a quarter of suspected ODV cases, says Dr. Johnson -- the true problem is typically a brain tumor.
While only an MRI would rule out that problem -- and I didn't opt for Drew to have one -- it'll be a while before I know if my little old dog will be back to what was normal for him before. In the meantime, he'll get all the TLC he needs -- along with the daily fluids he has had for months to keep his aging kidneys going.
With any luck, he'll be around and feeling just fine for his 16th birthday.
Q&A
Little dogs can be
hard to house-train
Q: Why are small dogs so difficult to house-train? I've never been able to make our little Chihuahua mix reliable and I've read that's common. -- M.A., via e-mail
A: Small dogs can indeed be difficult to house-train, for a couple different reasons. One of the major problems is inconsistency on the part of the owner. A lot of people with small dogs decide it's just as easy to clean up a little mess now and then instead of working on a big training problem.
But little dogs can be house-trained. Toy breed expert Darlene Arden says you have to start by looking at things from a little dog's point of view.
For example, you have to make sure your dog feels safe in the outdoor spot you've chosen for him. "You need to find that one very safe spot for them," says Arden, adding that it's important to keep the grass short so the dog doesn't feel as if he's hacking through a jungle.
Despite the special challenges a small dog presents, Arden says house-training is possible. Once your dog has a safe spot, you can teach him to use it with the aid of a schedule, praise and a dedication to consistency.
"Feed on a schedule," says Arden. "You must take your dog out after he eats, after play, after any kind of stimulation. Take a special treat and your happiest voice to the special spot. The moment the puppy's feet hit the ground, get excited." When the deed is done, says Arden, praise to the heavens and deliver the treat.
Limiting a dog's range in the house helps, too. "I'm a firm believer in crate-training -- as a tool, not a punishment," says Arden. "A crate keeps a dog out of trouble when you can't watch him."
Mistakes are part of the learning process and should never be punished. "If you see the dog starting to go in the house, pick him up and run him to that special spot," says Arden, and praise him when he finishes up outside. -- Gina Spadafori
Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.
THE BUZZ
Tabby stripes top
all feline markings
-- "Tabby" is a general term for striped cats, and tabbies come in many colors and patterns -- more than 40 varieties in all. Red tabbies seem to have a special following and mythology, perhaps because in male cats the red-orange gene is almost always connected with tabby markings, while in females, red-orange cats can be tabbies, tortoiseshells or calicoes. (About one calico in 3,000 is male, but he's not your usual male: He carries an extra "X" chromosome.) Red tabby males are often called "ginger toms" with great affection.
Tabbies can be further distinguished by differences in the pattern of their stripes. The most recognizable is probably the "mackerel" tabby, with parallel lines placed like the ribs of a fish -- hence the name. All tabby cats carry a special mark in common, an "M" on the top of their heads.
The word "Tabby," by the way, is thought to come from the "Atabi," the name of an ancient silk with a striped pattern.
-- As laws get passed to prevent distracted driving, don't be surprised to see seat belts for pets becoming law in more places. Securing a pet in a vehicle makes sense all around. A loose animal in the car can cause an accident by distracting the driver. In an accident, or even if the driver has to stop suddenly, a pet can hurt himself or other passengers.
For cats and dogs, crates -- secured to the floor or to a safety belt for small pets -- are perfect for travel. They keep pets in place and allow for transport straight into the veterinary office for scaredy-cats or nervous dogs.
For dogs, a variety of safety harnesses have become available in recent years. Many of these snap right into existing seat-belt buckles, and some double as harnesses for walks. -- Mikkel Becker and Dr. Marty Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and also the authors of many best-selling pet care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.