4 year old lab collapsed today, doing ok but scary

[Westside88]

This afternoon I called my 4 year old female up from the yard. She was running and everything looked normal and then just short of the garage door she collapsed and slid to a stop. She struggled into the garage and then couldn’t get up. I called out to my wife who ran next door and got the neighbor who is a vet tech.  She pointed out that her eyes weren’t dancing around which likely rules out seizure. After a few minutes she stopped looking dazed and started wagging her tail and licking us. It was suggested that it could be a blood sugar or vitamin issue and we should give her some high caloric food. This dog has had extremely consistent health and is strong and healthy.  We fed her some peanut butter and honey based on why I found online for canine blood sugar issues.  She seems to have snapped back to normal. Has anyone ever experienced similar. This was unexpected and scary. We will be having her examined of course.

[huntnfmly]

That’s very scary
My daughters boxer had that happen but it was seizers and had them every once in awhile
Doesn’t sound like seizures the hot weather can dehydrate dogs quick also sounds like she’s doing better

[Old Dog]

Was it just the back legs/hips affected?  Could be Exercise Induced Collapse, commonly referred to as EIC.  It's a genetic disorder.  Did the parents have all of their health clearances? 

Years ago, in the early ninties before genetics. I had a dog that had the same issues.  Local vets couldn't figure it out for years.  When genetic testing became available I had him checked.  He tested positive for EIC.  I had already started being careful with how hard he played, so I had him nutured so he couldn't pass on the bad genes.  I hunted him for upland and waterfowl until he was 12 with no problems, and he lived to be 16.

Ask your vet. 

[Westside88]

We got her from a friend who bred his female who was a high dollar well screened female with his male who is several generations of good hunting healthy dogs. I understand that doesn’t answer your question because I honestly don’t know. It didn’t seem to be back end only. It was more like a whole body collapse. She was mildly shaking and looking at me like “HELP ME”. Since then she’s laid around some and played a little with our golden. We’ll definitely be asking those questions, thanks

[scotsman]

Something very similar happened to our very energetic 1 year old Blue Heeler. We were camping in Oregon where the dog was happily running alongside me on my mountain bike. Just after getting back to camp the dog collapsed and didn’t want to stand. We made some hurried phone calls and by the time we got to the vet the pup was recovering. After doing some tests the vet couldn’t come up with a diagnosis but suspected the pup had picked up a marijuana butt. Could be, because the seizure never reoccurred. Hmmm.

[509]

My French Brittany had a similar episode, except it went on for two hours and I was 50 miles from the nearest vet.  I made it there just before closing time and the diagnosis by the vet was marijuana.

I had a dog die from a stroke and the French Brittany showed the EXACT same behavior. 

If you smoke....don't throw your joints or edibles on the ground!!!  I was pissed for the trauma, that I and the dog went through, not to mention the vet bill.

Next time, you see somebody smoking outside, read them the riot act about disposing of their joints in a responsible manner.

[Westside88]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. 99.9% sure this couldn’t be cannabis related. We don’t use it a the dogs are confined to our 1 acre yard and can’t get within 100’ of the sidewalk. Probably I’m hoping we never find out because it doesn’t happen again

[ghosthunter]

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/heatstroke-in-dogs/

[dreadi]

Was it warm/direct sun, long exposure, and was she active in it?


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[Bullkllr]

Our older lab had some kind of a seizure-like episode a few years ago. It was over in about a minute, but he was twitching, shaking and was unresponsive. He popped out of it and acted like nothing happened. It never recurred and he is 14 yo and hanging in there.   

[blackpowderhunter]

similar thing happened to my 6 y/o lab while at boarding a few weeks back...
they luckily got a video i could show the vet when we got back from our trip.  her rear legs got real shakey and she looked scared like she didnt know what was happening.
vet said seizures can range in dogs from a slight twitch episode, to the full blown stiff as a board on the ground un responsive, so it sounds like it could have been a seizure.  all blood work came back normal, and our dog's parents have all their health clearances.
hoping it was just a one time deal, after the fact she was back to herself running and playing like nothing happened.

[Westside88]

Was it warm/direct sun, long exposure, and was she active in it?


BLACK HAMMER ARMS
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It was mid seventies, the dogs have shade under a second story deck which is her favorite hangout spot. They also can come into the garage which is insulated and stays cool. Plenty of water for them. She was pretty quiet last night and happy to just snooze and get petted, but seemed fine the rest of the evening

[shootem]

Was it just the back legs/hips affected?  Could be Exercise Induced Collapse, commonly referred to as EIC.  It's a genetic disorder.  Did the parents have all of their health clearances? 

Sounds like it could be EIC. Pretty scary when it happens.

[brokentrail]

You may want to get the thyroid levels checked.  I had a beagle do something similar during a hunt and he ended up having low Thyroid levels.  I put him on the pills and he never had another episode.

[dreadi]

Was it warm/direct sun, long exposure, and was she active in it?


BLACK HAMMER ARMS
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It was mid seventies, the dogs have shade under a second story deck which is her favorite hangout spot. They also can come into the garage which is insulated and stays cool. Plenty of water for them. She was pretty quiet last night and happy to just snooze and get petted, but seemed fine the rest of the evening

Well that ruled out the possible simplistic explanation. 


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[HerdBullH20]

My Golden Retriever had a heart murmur- If she exerted herself real fast chasing a ball occasionally she would kinda faint and eye's would roll back in head. It was super scary.   Your sounds healthy in that department so imagine not the case.

[pianoman9701]

I'm glad it turned out OK for your dog. What a scary thing to happen and how fortunate to have a vet tech next door!

[SuperX]

Sounds like EIC.  Simple genetic test will tell you.  It's a recessive trait so both parents can be fine but carriers so some of their pups can end up affected if both parents pass on the gene.  My last lab had it and was "affected" and he lived passed 13 and was a great retriever on water but could only last a short time before collapsing on land when hunting upland or training.  (a common thing with EIC affected labs).


Get him tested at your vets

[Happy Gilmore]

Sounds like EIC.  Simple genetic test will tell you.  It's a recessive trait so both parents can be fine but carriers so some of their pups can end up affected if both parents pass on the gene.  My last lab had it and was "affected" and he lived passed 13 and was a great retriever on water but could only last a short time before collapsing on land when hunting upland or training.  (a common thing with EIC affected labs).


Get him tested at your vets

They also do that in the water and usually drown

[Pegasus]

Had a GSP do the same thing while hunting. Dog keeled over, eyes glazed over and I thought he died. After examining the dog I realized he was still alive. Had to carry the dog out for several miles. About two hundred yards from the vehicle he perked up and was walking almost normal by the time I arrived at my vehicle. Wished the dog had awakened about two miles earlier. Carrying a dog and gun by yourself is not fun. Vet examined the dog later and said it was some kind of seizure and that the dog would be prone for more episodes. It happened once more. Luckily the dog was at home and did not completely go unconscious.  We hunted for many more years. I always believed the heat and dehydration had something to do with the episodes. Made sure he never had a lack of fresh water in the field after that.

[SuperX]

Was it just the back legs/hips affected?  Could be Exercise Induced Collapse, commonly referred to as EIC.  It's a genetic disorder.  Did the parents have all of their health clearances? 

Sounds like it could be EIC. Pretty scary when it happens.

OP, so sorry to hear about your lab having EIC.  I'm 99% sure based on what you've said, that this is what is wrong.  I have seen it before and my last lab had it.  It's scary and seems like heatstroke the first time you see it.  EIC is a recessive genetic trait in labs only (so far as I know from past research), there is a genetic test your vet can help you with.  You can have pups in the same litter that are just fine, affected, or just carriers.  On the positive side, it hits each dog differently and you can avoid it happening when you learn the triggers.   My last lab had it from both parents (affected) and was only good for a couple retrieves on land before he started to wobble, but he was happy to retrieve all day on the water and loved hunting ducks.   he had a normal lifespan and was a normal active lab unless you got him worked up to retrieve on land. 

Best thing you can do is get the test done.