We had a Shunka incident last night. About 2 30 I heard him make a sound, hard
to explain, not bark, kind of distressed sound and move across the room, came
upstairs to check he was leaning on the kitchen door head down, panting slowly,
looking gray is the best description. He wanted to go downstairs, but wasn't
walking right so I grabbed him held him up and yelled and yelled for Tim who
finally got downstairs. Noticed S had pooped right by his bed. By the time Tim
got downstairs Shunka had collapsed in the panty. He was not moving, eyes
closed, breathing shallow. Threw a blanket over him . Called the vet emergency
number where they take info and have vet call you back. Vet called back about
10 minutes later. We talked. I asked heart? she said dogs don't do heart
attacks, probably neurological. I asked what to do. Carting a limp 130 lb dog
downstairs to car not easy. She said even if we brought him in there wasn't
much or anything she could do. While talking, he wagged his tail, lifted his
head briefly. She said sit and watch him. This felt a great deal like what
Luke used to do and they can't do anything about it. Seems like a short circuit
to me like the wiring gets confused, dog is not there, and then comes back.
First time Luke did it he turned blue. Shunka is far younger than Luke when
Luke started doing these.
At any rate he finally stood up and wanted to go downstairs so we both
helped him down. Tim took him out and brought him back in saying he really
didn't want to be out. I had moved his bed down next to mine, he climbed right
into it. Gated the stairs so he wouldn't try them in the night. Sat and
watched him sleep, threw a blanket on him and fell asleep.
This morning Indigo came down, we went out and then came in to breakfast.
He is acting fine, not the worse for wear. Just like Luke once the episode was
over, it was over.
Not the funest night for sure. Indigo was so good, wanting to be part. I
popped her back in bed told her to stay and she did till Shunk went downstairs
then she wanted to come down and sleep on his bed. Oh and the cats were already
downstairs so I had to get them particularly Wooly upstairs.
Today I work the afternoon and since the day is rainy not sure what my
early plans are. Vet suggested blood work this morning. With Luke bloodwork
showed nada and since Shunka got so stressed at vet last time I am not sure I am
going to bother with this. He had bloodwork done last month for heartworm which
he didn't have (he tested positive for Lymes a couple of years ago so he will
always show positive for that now and he did.)
So I do not understand how a dog as big, active, healthy and strong as Shunka can have this problem at age 5.
