diane303
Posted : 12/12/2006 10:58:47 AM
What kind of dog do you have? How old is she? I would talk to my vet about this behavior. It could just be disorientation from sleep or behavior related, but I can't help but think of a Springer Spaniel that would come into the clinic where I use to work as a tech. The springer was very sweet and well behaved most of the time, but at about 3 years old, he began to sometimes react violently with dialated eyes in some instances and then, finally, to wake up in the night or early morning and act out violently toward whoever was in the room, snarling, threatening and circling the bed with his hackles up and these wild wide open eyes. When he would snap out of it, he would be very upset and apologetic. It was finally decided, after xray, extensive testing and observation, that he was suffering what at that time was called "Rage Syndrome". Unlike epelepsy, it couldn't be treated with meds because it was being caused by, in this case, pressure within the scull on the brain that was increasing as the dog grew. It began to cause other neurological problems, as well. They ended up putting the dog down. This is, I'm sure, worse case senario and it was back in 1988.
I'm Sorry. I hate to scare you, but when you described the symptoms, they were the same in the beginning with this fella. Your description of his dialated eyes really disturbed me. I remember this one thing being so upsetting to the owner It might be nothing, but don't take it lightly. See your vet, first, and be careful.