Fainting in Dogs

We have a 6 year old Pomeranian who has now on several occassions had these fainting epiodes. Everytime it has been prompted by activity, either a walk, or the past two times going up stairs after going to the bathroom. It always begins with a cough and clear difficulty getting air. He then falls over to his side with all legs stiff and sticking out. His pupils seem to dialate. The last two times he has whimpered during the events. When seen by vets they test his trachea and nothing happens when they squeeze his trachea so likely not collapse. He has had both an echo cardiogram and an x-ray and in both the vet and cardiologist say they see mothing wrong with his heart and that it looks good. We are so frustrated and getting desperate as the incidents are increasing in how many times they are happening. Any thoughts on what may be causing it or what else to have checked would be GREATLY appreciate.

My nearly 11 year old boxer, Wes, has been having this unusual new "coughing" eposide that sounds like he is trying to catch his breathe and a few times since this started, he struggled enough that he began too look like he was fainting and began falling over having to be caught by me or my fiance. This happens pretty much every time he gets up from a long term resting position, such as when we return from work at the end of the day and he's been sleeping all day, or when he wakes up in the morning. It's pretty much always after getting up from resting. He does have a heart murmur and takes medication 2x a day for it, however I feel like his condition may have changed or progressed somehow since this "cough" to get air thing is new. We are seeking second opinions. I am curious if others have experienced this with their boxer or have advice?

Hi my pug is almost 3, he has had 2 occasions where he has passed out, one was when he was playing with my pug puppy and the second was he came down over the stairs and dropped, seems to be out for not even a minute. it scares me. His breathing is good and the vets always say how he is in amazing shape for a pug, I don't know if it's me but I feel no and again his tonge seem a pale so I give him a drop of honey. Could it be diabetes or something else,He also seems to act like nothing has happened. he will be booked into the vets just after some advise.u

Our 13 year old pug is fainting multiple times a day. We’ve taken her to two different vets. Nobody can say what is causing it. She has a collapsing trachea and coughs due to it somethings like she’s coughing up phlegm. Sometimes we are out walking with her. Sometimes she just wakes up from resting. Sometimes she’s walking around since we just got home from work. There’s nothing consistent about the timing. Sometimes she just starts to not be able to hold up her own weight and will sit in her back legs, then her front ones start sliding out from under her. Then she will recover 45 seconds later. Other times that all will happen but she will continue to go down on the tummy or on her side, then her breathing goes very shallow eventually not hearing or seeing a breath. Her body is completely limp and she pees herself at this point. It’s like she’s dead. Nothing going on for a minute or so. Then tiny breaths can be heard and she slowly starts breathing louder and coming back. It’s terifying. We don’t know what to do. We’ve had chest X-rays. Didn’t show anything wrong with her heart. Lung xrays. Didn’t show anything wrong with her lungs. Vets gave us an inhaler and some cough surpresents a couple days ago but she still has the episodes. Anyone have any ideas?

My Pug Daisy just recently over the past 2 months started "collapsing" or "fainting". Its has happened around 10-12 times over the last 2 months. It only happens when I come home after being gone for an hour or all day. She gets up from her bed, runs around the ottoman and comes to greet me. Then she stops to catch her breath and just goes down. Her eyes are still open but she has a glazed over look on her face and she continues to pant. After 5-10 secs she snaps out of it and goes back to regular self. She has gotten blood and urine labs, EKG, Chest x-ray, and Cardiac Echo. Everything normal. The cardiologist suggest I get her a holter monitor, Blood Pressure monitoring at home. But if her cardiac work up was normal than what is the rest of the test going to prove?

I have a 12 yr old cairn terrier, no health aliments in fact you wouldn't think he was 12! however towards the end of last year he's started to have little collapsing episodes where he would lay still (as though dead) and take 5mins to come round and he would be absolutely fine as though nothing had happened. He's not off his food or water and everything else about him is normal. My mum took him to the vets who checked him over and gave him the all clear both visits but said if i happened again they'd take bloods but he was fighting fit for his age. Even addressed his panting a lot which he put down to age.We thought he was possibly over heating so turned the heating off near where he slept and he got a hair cut.
There is no particular time or event that this occurs?? However on Monday he was called for his dinner, we heard this thud turned round and he was on the floor, we calmly brought him round he was more alert this time and aware of us and tried to get up but couldn't. This episode was shorter than the previous. Ate his dinner and then he was running round the garden again as though nothing has happened?? but these are occurring ever 2mths and we were unsure if a vet visit needed or should it be checked as every time we go they give him a clean bill of health?? As they are unable to communicate we don't want him to be suffering but we don't know where to go next with it?

My boy Scrappy has fainting episodes anytime he gets excited or does any strenuous exercise. Today we went for a short run (less than 5 minutes of light jogging) and he just fell over on his side. The same thing happened when he met my parents dog and was playing with him. His eyes never close, he just falls over and won’t get back up. He stays down for a few minutes and then is completely fine. When I first adopted him they said it was an overstimulation thing?

My golden-chow is 14 almost 15, his name is Otto. He always had a heart murmur the vet would always say that but they’d say nothing to worry about, it’s common. So around thanksgiving he began coughing and we didn’t know why, took him to the vet and they said heart failure. But they put him on Vetmedin, Rimadyl, Enalapril, and Lasix. It was going to take the fluid off of him to stop the coughing the vet said and it did stop the coughing. We are in the beginning of February now and Otto has been better as in not coughing like he was and still has enough pep to go over to the neighbors for treats which is about a quarter mile away. Well recently we have been seeing him have episodes lasting about 90 seconds where he collapses on his side, urinates, breathes very heavy as if gasping to breathe, his eyes are open but he seems totally unaware, his legs go out stiff and sometimes move a little, then when he comes out of it he just gets right back up. The vet tried to tell me this was a seizure by my description but I’m not convinced. I think it’s fainting, what do you think? And do you think the medicines could be causing the episodes?

Hi everyone! Just experienced something very scary. We were informed by the vet that our 11 year old Maltese mixed fainted. He has now home resting. We have scheduled an appt to a cardiologist but until then we were hoping to get some advice on what we can do until his appt in 2 weeks. Hopefully you guys can share your experience.

I have a 4 year old Dogue de Bordeaux, last night he was running around playing with another dog, then he suddenly fell onto his side, his legs were stiff he didn't seem to lose consciousness, his gums and tongue lost all colour and were very pale/grey, this has never happened before, he is booked into vets for a full check but I'm so worried until then.

Syncope diagnosed by a vet almost two years ago now due to enlarged heart constricting her trachea, congestive heart failure with heart murmur. Feeling blessed to have her still here. Longest she has gone without a syncope is 60 days. Recently she had 13 in 15 days and they seem to be lasting a little longer...maybe 20 seconds or so. Usually falls on left side, legs outstretched and stiff, sometimes front legs paddle, head goes back, urinates and sometime defacates, and worst of all is the pitiful scream. The vet told me that she will eventually just not recover from a syncope and pass away. However, I do believe that she would have died awhile ago had she not been on vetmedin. I believe it has made her heart stronger to be able to cope. Nothing u can do but comfort them. Not even sure they remember what happened to them. Her syncopies are brought on by excitement, over exertion and lately by excessive coughing. I carry her up and down the steps. Put my mattress on the floor so she doesn’t have to jump up and down. Hold her when we get company so she doesn’t get excited. The vet prescribed hydrocodine syrup which has almost completely stopped the coughing. She has only had two syncopies in the last two weeks. She acts stoned when she takes it, one dose before bed, but the thought of syncopies scares me even more. She has one more dose and we’ll see what happens. An adventure everyday but I will do whatever I can to reasonably extend her life and pray to God to give me the strength to know when to stop. I’m sure u r all doing ur very best too. God bless u and ur babies.

My 13.5 y.o. lab mix Nika has the same symptoms like other clients here: fainting 1-2 times a day now for about 2 weeks, urinating. She is very weak, has very low appetite. X-rays showed a part of her heart enlarged. She started Vetmedin 2 days ago. I'm not asking, what happened to her. It's definitely heart problem. My question is: could Vetmedin or some other medication improve her condition? Of course, she would never heal, but is it possible to improve her quality of life? It's not a fun to urinate every day to floor or dog bed.

My 1 year old chowspits fainted twice in a day. He just fainted in front of me and head back then urinate himself. I took him to the vet immediately but they just advice me to take my dog in a cold place (because it's warm here. My dog is still not feeling good and he doesnt want to drink water. What should I do? 😭

My 11 y.o.shih tzu Tarah was skipping meals over a week ago.then 5 days ago Tarah fainted, laying on her side and her paws stiff straight. A minute went by and she was still on the floor.I picked her up and down again she went. I Rushed her to the vet.blood and urine work all normal but the xrays showed the left side of her heart is enlarged and there is an unknown mass on her trechea.the vet gave her meds for her heart. The morning after treatment her nose is dripping lots of water or mucus. But she is NOT eating! After 3 days of no food the vet gave her meds to stimulate her appetite and still nothing. She has been drinking a lot and I do carry her outside to go potty.my other big dog got very excited today and Tarah did too but just for a very short time because she fell on her side again but did not lose consciousness.I've been forse feeding with a siringe and this food for weak puppy/kittens.but still she won't eat on her own. Even the food she loves, she turns her head away. What can I do?I can't bare the thought of losing her, she's my shadow, my baby. One of the vet techs said this is the last thing we can try and if nothing works I need to bring her in again but I'm scared if it's her last visit how can I help her get better And what is really wrong with my Tarah?thank you.

Our dog had a recent fainting spell last night spell 2 AM which resulted in her sprawled on the floor, stiffened, and having urinated. I rubbed her sides and belly until she was able to stand in about 2 minutes. She fully recovered in about 5 minutes and was able to go outdoor in a few more minutes.

Hi, I have a 15 year old dog named BJ whom I had all my life (he will be 16 in a few days) and he's had about 3/4 faint spells in the past week and a half. On the first one, he walked outside and went to the bathroom and went to walk down the sidewalk and stopped like his legs didn't work. He tried to take a step but knew his legs were going to give out. When I picked him up his head went limp and his eyes looked dazed and when I laid him down he peed on himself. A minute later and he was fine. He is a healthy dog besides his hips hurt him because he is old and I give him glucosamine vitamins. His other faint spells are outside (in the 40 degree weather) or even in the house but he tighten up his legs because he knows he can't move a step, he falls over, then after a minute he's fine. He also shakes sometimes and it's uncontrollable. Does that mean anything? I went to the doctor and they prescribed Gabapentin because they said besides the first faint spell he was healthy and everything checked out. I got blood work 6 months ago and it was fine. Should I get another test for his heart? or an x-ray? Also, I went to the vet only after the first episode. Also, he drinks a lot of water after the spells. Thanks!

Our dog was recently diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope and has been prescribed Spironalatone to control it. She had a small episode last night where she fainted for a short period of roughly 15 seconds. Is the Spironalatone supposed to stop this from happening or just manage them so they're not as frequent or as severe?

My three year old JRT has had two fainting episodes in 48 hours, no other symptoms what so ever. I have had him at the vet and all his bloods are good. The 2nd episode, he knew was coming on, both are after excitement ( people coming in unannounced). He ran to his bed with his ears back and then fainted, on his side, and stretched his head back, sat up dazed and after a minute was running around again. My vet says wait and see but wee are concerned. The only other thing I can notice, is that perhaps he is sleeping a little more than usual. Also prior to this I noticed at the park he wasn't socialising with the other dogs as he usually does.

My 5 year old shih tzu woke up this morning and was fine he came out to the kitchen so I could let him go out to go to the bathroom and before I was able to hook him up he collapsed and his eyes shit and his body tense up and then his head tilted back and he gave out like a cry and then his body went like limp only for a second and then he was back to normal and is now fine ?

I have a 12-13 year old male Papillon. He is on and off with his health. He has very bad dental disease, some arthiritis, and a collapsed trachea. However, he is good and sometimes he is more down than most days. Last night i woke up terrified. I heard a loud thump and got up to find him on the floor and in a pool of urine. I was so scared he wasn't completely out but just laying there and I picked him up and he was not able to stand for a couple seconds. Then, he was fine and walking and went back to sleep like nothing happened. He is fine today and normal/happy/eating so I have no idea why that happened! Please give me advice on what you think it may be! A neurological disorder i presume? Note: I give him glucosamine chondroitin tablets daily and have been for months, along with an antacid tablets (believe ranotidine) and have been for years the vet said daily was fine.

I have a sweet 16 year old Lhasa Apso. I gave her a bath this morning...and, she was less than happy. She is blind and hard of hearing. She was barking, got very upset and then collapsed. I got her out of the tub, she was limp. Within a few minutes she was up, went to have water and than ate her breakfast. Do you think she fainted because she was over excited?

My 14 year old chihuahua has congestive heart failure and is on medication. She had a re-check appointment last week and the cardiologist was satisfied with her condition. Since then she has collapsed 2 times. Both times were after giving medication. She falls over, starts moaning, and pees on herself. But does not lose consciousness. Ten minutes later she recovers and is back to looking for treats. Please advise?

My beloved Ruby is a female 15 year old Yorkie-Poo with advanced heart disease and has been having episodes of syncope of over a year. We have her on meds and try to keep her as calm as possible but she had an episode today and I noticed that the length of time that she was unconscious was longer than it has been previously. Is this an indication that she is nearing the end? I can't take her back to the vet as it would be too upsetting for her and would likely cause big problems for her. Thank you so much!

My old f. Yorkie is a rescue dog. I've had her at least 10 yrs. She is blind & hard of hearing. She's been eating well, but recently she's fell over two instances, and when l picked her up she was lifeless & limp like a wet noodle. I ran twice to my bed room & have her mouth to mouth bought her back. I'm afraid she MAYBE dying!!?? ;(

Kalou was completely fine but fainted twice while running in the forest 4 days ago. When he was back he just got on his feet and continued running like nothing happened. Since then theres no symptoms but Im still worried it might happen again.
On auscultation I couldnt detect any murmurs or abnormal sounds, but the heart rate increases sometimes very sudden for several seconds and goes back to normal.
Maybe you have some ideas?

I have a 12 yr old shih tzu who has suddenly started having episodes and was wondering if it could be congestive heart failure. He also has a skin condition and was recently treated for worms. He has very little physical activity.

My dog fainted shortly after eating some chicken. That's what I believe happened because I looked over and she was passed out on the ground laying on her side. Her eyes were closed and she was making a soft whimpering noise. I called her name several times and she was unresponsive to me. She opened her eyes about 15 seconds later. She couldn't get up because her legs gave out on her. What could be the cause? I know she is old, but I am really concerned.

Lexy, my 13 year old Maltese had 2 fainting episodes today. She was previously diagnosed with a Grade 5 heart murmur (?) and tracheal collapse. Prior to both episodes she was coughing. Veterinarian prescribed Vetmedin 1.25 - 1 tablet in morning and 1/2 tablet in evening. I understand that this is to allow the heart to beat stronger thereby improving blood flow.

My question is: should another of these episodes happen, what should I do right at that time? She was completely limp and unresponsive both times. I picked her up, kept gently shaking her, calling her name. Is there anything else I should do?

I have an 11 year old Jack Russell Terrier who fell over stiff a couple days ago after coughing and now is breathing rapidly (34 breaths per minute). She is at the worst at night. She was diagnosed with a stage 3 heart murmur 6 months ago. Could this be her heart failing?

my dog got really excited and just fell over stiff. got back up in a few minutes totally fine but seemed startled.

Should i be concerned