Fainting, also called syncope, is a loss of consciousness that is typically due to a lack of normal blood flow to the brain. Fainting in dogs is typically attributed to one of two main problems: neurologic (e.g. to do with the brain or spinal cord) or cardiac (e.g. heart arrhythmias, heart failure etc.).
If your dog suffers an acute collapse, he will sit down suddenly or lie down and won't be able to get back up. Call or take your pet to your veterinarian immediately.
It's similar to a person fainting or passing out and may begin with weakness, staggering, disorientation or vomiting or diarrhoea. Your dog may fall to the ground either into a sitting position (hind limb collapse) or a lying position (complete collapse). Some dogs who collapse will also lose consciousness.
Losing a Pet is Never Easy.
That being said, it's important to take some time to process the loss of your previous pet before embarking on getting a new one. However, no one can stipulate how much time you need; it could be weeks, or months, or days, depending on the owner.
A collapse may happen when you become unconscious for a few seconds, such as when you faint. You might fall to the ground and not respond to sounds or being shaken. Your pulse may become faint and you might even stop breathing. A person collapses when their brain isn't getting enough oxygen.
Collapsing is not fainting
With collapse, loss of consciousness typically doesn't occur—in other words, your dog or cat may be weak and unable to get up, but he's still conscious. There are numerous causes for collapse including: Dehydration. Shock or severe hypotension (e.g., low blood pressure)
Collapse in Older Dogs
They will often go limp, tongue may flop out of their mouth, they may look pale, urinate / defecate, and they may stop breathing. Typically if you pick up a limb of a dog that has collapsed, it will be limp like a wet noodle. Generally the episodes last for 10 seconds to a minute.
It is wise to minimize any stimuli that precipitate episodes, including minimizing activity for dogs with decreased cardiac output. Most non-heart-related syncope is not life-threatening. Heart-related syncope can often be treated, but the risk of death is higher in these patients.
Syncope episodes are not considered painful or distressing to your dog, and most will recover quickly from the event.
Dehydration can cause fainting when it reaches extreme levels. There are many potential causes of dehydration in dogs, including excessive vomiting and diarrhea. If your dog has been sick or hasn't had enough to drink, she may suffer from dehydration and may pass out because of it.
Fainting can look like a seizure, but it is important to differentiate these two events as treatment is very different. In both fainting and seizure, animals will lose consciousness, collapse on their side, and they may urinate or defecate. A fainting episode is more likely to occur after exercise or coughing.
The last few days before your dog passes you may notice: extreme weight loss, a distant look in their eyes, a lack of interest in anything, restlessness or unusual stillness, a change in the way that your dog smells, and a changed temperament.
Abnormal, uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your dog's brain cause seizures, affecting how they look and behave. Seizures can look like a twitch or uncontrollable shaking and can last from less than a minute to several minutes.
What does fainting look like in dogs? Typically, the dog will fall over with stiff legs and rigid body; urination and (rarely) defecation may occur at the same time as well. After a few moments, the dog will get up and continue as normal.
Potential causes include inner/middle ear infections, intoxication, strokes, tumors, infectious or inflammatory diseases (meningitis), idiopathic vestibular disease (also called “old dog” vestibular syndrome), or other less likely causes.
lightheadedness. sweating. changes to your breathing, such as breathing faster and deeply.
Fainting might have no medical significance. Or the cause can be a serious disorder, occasionally involving the heart. Therefore, treat loss of consciousness as a medical emergency until the symptoms are relieved and the cause is known. Talk to your health care provider if you faint more than once.
Suppressing your feelings of sadness can prolong your grief. Try not to replay your last moments with your pet. It can be common to ruminate on your pet's final days or moments, especially if they were traumatic. Instead, focus on the life you shared with your pet and some of your favorite memories with them.
Your local vet will be well placed to deal with cat and dog death and handling their remains, and if you wish for it to be handled by them simply place a call as soon as possible. Your vet should then be able to organise the collection and subsequent burial or cremation, according to your preference.