Fainting – “Syncope”
Fainting is the sudden loss of consciousness or a sudden marked weakness. It may be associated with numerous medical conditions and can be caused by anything from low blood sugar and neurological diseases to severe heart disease.
What To Do
What Not To Do
Fainting is the sudden loss of consciousness or a sudden marked weakness. It may be associated with numerous medical conditions and can be caused by anything from low blood sugar and neurological diseases to severe heart disease.
What To Do
- Immediately position your dog with head down and hindquarters elevated – this will improve the blood flow to the brain.
- Cover the dog with a blanket to preserve body heat.
- If the dog vomits, make sure that they do not “inhale” any of the vomitus into their lungs by keeping the head down.
- Seek veterinary assistance.
What Not To Do
- Do not administer anything by mouth; it can be aspirated into the lungs and cause serious problems.
- Do not slap the dot or throw cold water over them in order to shock them back to consciousness.
- Do not fail to seek veterinary assistance just because the dog recovers quickly and seems fine. Several of the conditions which cause fainting and dizziness are extremely serious and require diagnostic tests to determine the cause and prevent further episodes.
