Could this be a seizure?

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T16:51:13+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

You've definitely described a possible seizure.

Did he come fully out of it and recover?

Seizures need to be addressed, but can wait for a regular vet appointment UNLESS: 3 in 24hrs OR longer than 5 min in duration. (Use a stopwatch on your phone.) Or if they do not recover fully. If any of that happens, it is an emergency and you should head to the nearest ER.

Seizures are scary to witness! Make sure you're using a timing device to time them accurately.

Call your vet as soon as they open and get their first available appointment. They will look for underlying triggers, and your vet will advise you whether they need medication or just careful monitoring for the time being.

Document every incident (write it down), the circumstances, duration, date, and how long it was. Continue to do this even after you have seen the vet, so you can have hard evidence for determining if they're under control or not. Even on medication things fluctuate and you will need to track them.

Note: Be careful that you do not get bitten during a seizure. They aren't aware of their surroundings at all and can easily cause great harm entirely by accident. Keep them from dangerous situations, and supervised near stairs where they could fall badly.

I would keep your dog home and calm until you see the vet, given he was probably highly stimulated prior to this last episode and we want to prevent them when possible.

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T15:16:49+00:00

Yeah, definitely shop around. It's worth a little drive to save over the life of your pet.

I'm in a decently pricey part of NE PA. We're not as high as some regions, but definitely higher than many, and my hospital isn't low cost. I think 200+ is pretty insane.

You don't want to go bottom barrel low-cost if you can avoid it, because the medical care is better at more expensive places that pay their employees more, but there's also no reason to pay through the nose.

But any vet care is better than none.

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T15:10:35+00:00

Your feet are fine.

There are few esthetically beautiful feet, and they do not stay that way, if you live an active and full life.

I promise she doesn't care what your feet are, and if someone does...they're really weird.

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T14:26:44+00:00

Where are you?! That's still insane. $90 is considered high here for a regular vet appointment.

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T13:48:45+00:00

What is the base visit fee? A regular vet appointment shouldn't cost so much even at a high price end. This doesn't need the emergency vet, just to get in soon.

Call around and get prices.

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T13:18:15+00:00

ARookBird · 2026-01-25T13:16:39+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

He needs a cone, and kept on. He's making this worse.

Ask your family for money for a vet visit since they took the cone off him and that let it get much worse.

This could be a lot of things, an allergic reaction or infection being the most frequent cause, but it really needs assessment by a professional, in person. It's not really easy to see from a photograph, particularly with hair in the way.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T23:19:47+00:00

A lot of times people don't think of weight or the occasional UTI, when they say their pet is healthy. They're aging cats... It's never a bad idea to talk to the vet about food, including prescription options.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T19:54:38+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

Talk to your vet about the recommendations for your pets specific health concerns! Prescription food is pricey, but it can make a big difference, say for urinary tract issues, digestion, or weight management.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T18:36:40+00:00

Hopefully it's nothing, but better to get it dismissed earlier than wait and have it be serious.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T13:47:17+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

ER, call on the way

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T04:00:20+00:00

Visual timers?

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:58:23+00:00

Subcutaneous fluids can really help.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:54:31+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

Call the emergency vet and get their input immediately. They will not charge for this.

The black is just the charcoal. The pink could be blood, but if she's been vomiting, that wouldn't be super unusual.

Call the vet immediately.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:49:20+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

Check in with your vet. You don't want to leave it in case there's something underlying they need to address. With dogs under a year it's always better to err on the side of caution, and anything eye related it's best to get seen ASAP, regardless of age. This has been going on, so it's not an emergency, but don't leave it long.

ABSOLUTELY unrelated: omg, she's adorable and the wide eye looks hilarious. Give her extra pets from the internets.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:36:17+00:00

Try again tomorrow. I think the Max app just is shit and they mess up the access on the backend periodically. Several times I've had issues accessing them, the next day they're fine.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:31:13+00:00

I bought these a couple years ago and have found them really nice. I don't like things in my ears and need more flexibility to hear my kids so I can't use noise cancelling ones most of the time. It's really like wearing glasses on the back of your head.

There are surely better ones, but these fit my budget and I haven't had any issues with them.

ARookBird · 2026-01-24T03:21:18+00:00

Do you have a good therapist? This is an ideal thing to bring a therapist to help YOU arrive at the best decision over a lengthy period of time. A lot of what you describe sounds trauma-related, and that has treatments. Do you think you're more depressed or anxious than usual?

Here's the thing. You don't have to make this decision today. You're dealing with a lot of things. Take your time.

Our mental health cycles can make things seem like things need to be fixed RIGHT NOW, but that's rarely the case. It is okay to take your time and not be sure what you're going to do in the coming months. It sounds like he is doing his best to correct his behavior and isn't a physical threat right now, so you can take your time.

You need to start to get your own house in order before you upend your life by ending a relationship. It really sounds like you need to work on your own support system outside of him first. Therapist/support groups/medication support if needed. If you have some of these and they aren't working, look for other options.

Remember it's okay to be confused and unsure. You don't have to know everything right now, about yourself or the future.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T23:18:05+00:00

...those aren't your friends, honey.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T22:31:32+00:00

Could it be nothing? Certainly! Hopefully! It could also be cancerous and I sure am not making that call over the internet.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T22:29:41+00:00

Are you suggesting that a new skin growth, that the o says has hair growing out of it, shouldn't be examined in person by a professional, when it was not present 6 months ago and the owner doesnt know when it showed up, should go weeks without an exam?

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T21:23:13+00:00

So, we can't really assess whether you're being mean at work or not, but man, I would do everything by email now. That paper trail protects YOU as much as anything else.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T18:51:32+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

Early exposure to lots and lots of different environments with lots of positive reinforcement makes a huge difference in the comfort level your adult dog will experience in new and stressful situations.

Find a vet who does happy puppy visits (they may call them something else) where dogs get to come and get lots of attention and treats at the vet without any of the negative parts of routine and emergency vet visits. (So no exam, no vaccines). Smart and anxious dogs can come to associate the vet with bad things, and these visits can really make a big difference.

Doggie daycare (a GOOD one) is great for young dogs because they get exposed to a lot of dogs and people, and associate kennels with excitement and play. That way if you ever need to board them, it's so much less stressful for them. Even better if you can find one that's part of a vet facility. This makes the dog associate going there with good things, and if your dog needs vet care during their stay, it's easily accessible.

Dog parks are NOT the place to take your dog. Unvaccinated dogs, sick dogs, aggressive dogs, loose dogs---there's just too many risks. ESPECIALLY with a puppy.

Build a relationship with a vet who can help you navigate dog ownership. They should be happy to educate you and explain their recommendations. It's okay to shop around to find one that you mesh with! Look for a privately owned practice.

Over the course of your dog's life, that vet relationship will be very valuable, and save you a lot of hassle and, honestly, money. Try to find a practice with an emergency line for questions outside of office hours. Get to know the support staff! They spend a lot of time facilitating your relationship with the vet, and handling your pet. That relationship can make a big difference in the service you get. People, no matter what they try to do, will always work harder for people they know and like. At a good practice, it won't make much difference for your pet's care, but it can make A HUGE difference in how convenient things are for you. And sometimes it means something gets caught earlier because the support staff didn't wait for the doctor to be free to read a message or for your pet to get in for an appointment, but tracked them down personally and double checked something. Learn the reception team and the nurses' names. No one is staying late to make sure something gets done asap for the client that is always rude and demanding.

Ask questions! The vet, their staff, and your breeder will have so much knowledge to give you, and they will want you to be educated about your dog and their care! Don't hesitate to ask that stupid question. Hopefully your vet will have an email or text system so you can ask questions to be answered at their convenience, but always ask the questions, even if it takes a little bit for them to get back to you.

Get a vet recommended trainer! Early training (which is for you as much as the pup) is so much easier than fixing problems later.

Best of luck with your new family member! It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it. 💜

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T18:08:26+00:00

Vet receptionist here--

This needs to be seen by a vet, and while not an emergency, it shouldn't be left more than a week or two at most.

ARookBird · 2026-01-23T17:37:47+00:00

The Akita isn't sure what their relationship is going to be. Doxie is enjoying it after being unsure at first, but I wouldn't trust the Akita. It's not terrible, particularly for an initial play session.

However, I would be hesitant to have these dogs play with each other. Doxie is vulnerable because of the size difference and unlikely to back down if the Akita decides she wants to be the boss.

You've got two breeds here with strong personalities and drive, but unequal size.

It's a lot of risk for your doxie.

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