Collapse:

A frequent presentation to the Emergency Services is a dog that has collapsed at home. There are multiple scenarios, but the most common is a dog that was previously completely normal who was in the yard and suddenly was unable to stand or walk. Collapse can happen for multiple different reasons. Depending on the dog’s breed and age, the doctor will have an idea behind the cause of the episode. Dogs can collapse if there is a bleeding event (a ruptured tumor that bleeds into the space around the abdominal organs, or a tumor that bleeds into the sac that surrounds the heart are the most common presentations) or if there is an abnormal heart rhythm that causes sudden weakness. Any collapse event warrants veterinary attention and additional testing, such as abdominal and cardiac ultrasound, x-rays, and EKG.