My Chihuahua went outside for about an hour when she came back in she was acting weak. When we tried to feed her and get her to drink, she refuses. She's panting and jerking all over. Her front legs are stiff.

I can't find any snake bite indications, no swelling or any reason for this behavior.

HELP!

Suggestions?

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), July 26, 2001

Answers

This is another one for the vet, but one thing you can do right off is check her for ticks. My Border Collie mix had tick paralysis just a few weeks ago. De-tick her, and get her to the vet, is your best bet.

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), July 26, 2001.

Checked for ticks., insect stings, snake bites. We called a breeder and he said she may have gotten overheated almost to point of heat stroke. She had puppies 13 days ago.

Called vet he said it'd be $500 and wait 2 hours to see if she died. (Real nice sob)

After cooling her down with a damp towell, forcing water and milk into her. shes resting now. Her breathing has improved. We'll watch her close tonight.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), July 26, 2001.

Kenneth, sorry I didn't have any answers for you earlier, but am glad your dog is doing better now. Scares the you know what out of ya, doesn't it?

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), July 26, 2001.

We had a similar problem with our fox terrier several years ago..similar symptoms..vet said it was a calcium deficiency after her pregnancy and delivery...said give her 1/4 Tums am and pm..she got well in 2 days

-- Demaca in TX (demaca@alloftexas.com), July 28, 2001.

I had a Chihuahua years ago. My dog got those systoms real quick when she turned about 10 years old. Would even tip over, and when she would begin to sit up she would sway back and forth. The vet told me she was getting old and her heart vaulves were sticking open and giving her mini heart attacks. He gave us some meds for her and we had the company of the sweet little dog fo 3 more years. Good luck. PS. we did not live in snake country so that was not a concern for us.

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), July 29, 2001.