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

some kind of poison,, snake, insect, ect,, is her neck swollen? breathing ok?, a vet , or forcce some water,, and wait

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), July 26, 2001.

No swelling, breathing other than panting ok. Called vet SOB wants $500 and wait 2 hours to see if she dies. (Real nice guy)

Called a breeeder he said she might have had a heat stroke or hopefully just gotten overheated. Currently were folling his advice a cool towel and forcing milk & water into her.

This is irritating as !@#$%^&. This dog is like family.

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

Get your dog to a VET!!!!!!!!

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), July 26, 2001.

My brain is asleep .If I remember correctly she just had pups right ? There is a possiblilty of a uterous infection .There is also a name for this kinda thing that I cannot remember .Take her temp , see if its normal.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), July 26, 2001.

Hi Patty, What is a Chihuahua normal temp. My wife read in our pet medical book to give her 1/8 of a asprin. Anything else we can do tonight?

Thanks for your help.

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

As of 9:30 p.m. shes resting. Her breathing has improved and her coloring has returned to her eyes. Her legs are still weak but are now back to being flexible.

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

If she is nursing puppies, she could have eclampsia, commonly called milk fever. It sure sounds like a seizure of some kind and eclampsia acts just exactly like that. Do a search and read about it - see what you think.

-- Dianne (willow@config.com), July 26, 2001.

See I knew someone would come up with things my brain would not find ! Its hard getting old .Normal temp is 102

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), July 26, 2001.

Chihuahua temp is 100.0

Read the article on eclampsia her symptoms are somewhat like that. Shes no longer jerking, breathing has returned to normal. Still having trouble walking.

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

Sounds like she ate something that made her sick. Watch her when she goes out and see if you find anything. Glad she is doing better.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), July 26, 2001.

If the symptoms appear to have subsided after she was cooled off and also had milk it may be in bitches the same as milk fever. Milk fever will cause a lower temp and you give calcium to help out. If she is nursing pups you may want to offer her some milk for awhile as this will ward off future problems.

-- Skip in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), July 27, 2001.

Ken If shes still nursing, I'm CERTAIN it eclampsia. Very common in small breeds. Make sure shes eating lots of excellent quality puppy food with a little bit of cottage cheese, not too much though or you can exascerbate the problem. If it happens again she needs IV calcium supplementaion. Good Luck Dianne

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

Diane, Vet said "not eclampsia" just heat exhaustion. She's tempermental and when we didn't jump at her first bark to let her in she ran down to the neighbors and back. She wore herself out. Vet provided some vitamins and said to use leash when letting her out to potty for next 2 weeks.

Puppies are growing "fast".

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001.

Hi Keneth, I raise chihuahuas, i am glad that yours is better. I just lost my 8 year old male that slept with me and went everyplace that I did it is very hard. I would also advise that you try to get the pups to lick some baby cereal mixed with can milk. I do not know how old that they are but I start mine at 2 weeks. this gives the mom a little break from all that lactating. I get mine to lick the cereal off of my fingers at first and then graduate them to a flat plate. This is good for the pups as well as the mom. eventualy you can put in puppy food that you have wet with water so that it is mushy. Blessings Lisa

-- Lisa in TX (westexas@ev1.net), July 30, 2001.