My dog Candy, 17, passed out when they were grooming her...

• 03-07-2008 8:54 PM

  Chains Joined on 08-16-2007 Posts 12 Points 0

  My dog Candy, 17, passed out when they were grooming her... Reply Contact  I took my dog to get groomed today, they couldn't do it because she passed out; which the vet told me it could be arrhythmia. I've researched on the subject and fear could have also been a factor (she gets scared easily); also I took her to the vet for a check up about 3 months ago and the vet said her heart, blood etc. was fine. I looked at the symptoms and Candy does not have any of them, expect maybe tired, but shes 17 and still runs around chasing cats all day outside. Any advice would help; at this moment I can't spend $400 for an EKG to verify if she has any problem or not. Thanks.

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• 03-07-2008 9:44 PM

  In reply to Chains

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,748 Points 330	Re: My dog Candy, 17, passed out when they were grooming her... Reply Contact How about using some heart support supplements? http://www.dogaware.com/specific.html#heart
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• 03-07-2008 10:31 PM

  In reply to Chains

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,748 Points 330

  Re: My dog Candy, 17, passed out when they were grooming her... Reply Contact There are a number of anti-anxiety aids (link) that you could use in stressful situations.  Rather than the Anxiety Wrap, one could use a t-shirt snuggled with a large safety pin. Another aid is Rescue Remedy (very gentle relaxer) -  http://www.bachflower.com/Rescue_Remedy.htm.  It is available in lots of health food stores and vitamin/supplement stores. Did Candy's check-up 3 months ago include a blood pressure check?  There is a very good chance that it didn't.  You may need to get a referral to a vet with the proper equipment. I hope your groomer is already using a DAP plug-in dispenser.  It would make their life easier.  They could also keep four Calming Caps (one of each size) for dealing with anxious dogs.  Of course, one would have to remove the Calming Cap (not a blindfold!) to groom the head.

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• 03-07-2008 11:16 PM

  In reply to janet_rose

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 7,283 Points 1,975	Re: My dog Candy, 17, passed out when they were grooming her... Reply Contact And I'm going to get right in line behind Janet (RAH Janet's here!) and tell you to think maybe you should change groomers.  A bad groomer is your pet's worst nightmare -- MY dogs think their groomer is the fun-nest place on the planet.
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• 03-07-2008 11:24 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  spiritdogs Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 10,137 Points 735

  Re: My dog Candy, 17, passed out when they were grooming her... Reply Contact calliecritturs: And I'm going to get right in line behind Janet (RAH Janet's here!) and tell you to think maybe you should change groomers.  A bad groomer is your pet's worst nightmare -- MY dogs think their groomer is the fun-nest place on the planet.    One thing you can do is to offer to pay a little extra for a groomer to do your dog during off peak times, so that she is one of the only dogs in the shop.  Even when you have a great groomer, shops are noisy and have other stressed out dogs in them.  Or, better yet, hire a mobile groomer to come to your home and do the dog alone in the van:-)) Regional Director for Massachusetts, International Positive Dog Training Association Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program AKC CGC Evaluator #3669 Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer Sioux, CGC, TDInc. Maska, CGC, TDInc. Sequoyah, CGC Fergie, Retired Lap Dog, Age 19 Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz

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• 03-09-2008 8:22 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  Chains Joined on 08-16-2007 Posts 12 Points 0	Re: My dog Candy, 17, passed out when they were grooming her... Reply Contact  You guys are right, when I went to the vet for her grooming I noticed a new worker; which probably groomed my dog. I took her to petsmart for her nail trim and she was so frighten, she urinated all over the table. I think I'm going to start grooming her myself, because its really hard to see her struggle like that.
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• 03-24-2008 3:43 PM

  In reply to Chains

  whtsthfrequency Joined on 09-10-2007 Blacksburg, VA Posts 989 Points 200

  Re: My dog Candy, 17, passed out when they were grooming her... Reply Contact I realize I may sound a bit alarmist but....in an older dog (and 17 is very old), syncope (i.e. fainting) is almost invariably representative of a heart problem. Age-related heart degeneration and lessening on contractility and all of that cane some on very slowly, so the dog may not show the big signs of heart failure - sometimes fainting is the only symptom. I'd save up for the EKG, myself.  Either that, or get a second opinion - some vets are better at cardiac auscultation than others. Myself, I can't hear arrhythmias very well (yet) but some of my classmates are great - it's really a hard talent to acquire, and variable. $400 is also VERY steep for a simple EKG...maybe try another vet (or state vet school for a lower price and more experienced cardiologists) for that as well. Edited to add: I also saw in another post that Candy is epileptic... that adds a whole other dimension to it that I can't really address, not being an neurology expert, but I am sure that contributes. How recently was she diagnosed? Unfortunately, mild cardiac problems causing sporadic decreases in brain perfusion can be confused with epilepsy often. Again, I would double check the heart.

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