Causes of Vomiting, Fainting & Seizures in Senior Dogs

Dogs are one of the most popular household pets, known as man's best friend. But they can fall ill - especially when they are older - just as humans can. Vomiting, fainting and seizures in senior dogs can be attributed to problems that range from minor to very serious. These issues can occur in any dog of any breed, and is not necessarily the owner's fault. Understanding the range of causes that provoke illness or fainting in dogs will help you know when to bring your dog to the vet or to take care of it yourself.
  1. Vomiting

    • When dogs vomit, it can be a result of a variety of different reasons. Vomiting can be from a diet change, such as changing the brand or fat content of a food.

      It could also be from a food intolerance or sensitivity, so if your dog recently ate a type of human food (like milk or gluten) or got into the garbage and became ill. Vomiting could also be from intestinal parasites such as hookworms, but this is more common in younger dogs, not seniors. Bacterial or viral infections such as E.Coli, parvovirus, salmonella and clostridia may cause vomiting and require a visit to the veterinarian. If you dog never received full distemper vaccinations, this could affect his health when he becomes elderly and is characterized by loss of appetite, fever, cough and diarrhea.

    Fainting

    • When dogs faint, it is also referred to as syncope. Usually fainting is related to a neurological or neuromuscular disease, bone disease, metabolic disorder, stroke or heart disease. It could also be epilepsy, which is the most common cause of fainting in senior dogs. More serious causes include hepatic encephalopathy, hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels) or hypoglycemia, (low blood sugar), or endocrine disorders like Addison's Disease. If your dog has been fainting, it is important to bring the animal into the vet for a complete physical exam. Always make note of when the fainting occurs and try to take notes of what the dog did right beforehand, whether it was sleeping, exercising, coughing, eating or if he was excited.

    Seizures

    • Seizures are one of the most serious things that can happen to a dog, but they don't necessarily mean the dog is going to die. If your dog has experienced any head injuries, this could be the cause of a seizure because it is related to the brain's electrical activity. Then, something as small as a tick bite could trigger a seizure if the tick carries Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Medical conditions that can cause seizures include brain tumors, distemper, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypoxia (low blood oxygen levels), and liver or kidney disease. If you dog has been exposed to anything toxic such as flea powders, snail bate, insecticides or rat poison, make sure to tell your vet this because it could be the cause. Even chocolate could cause seizures, depending on the animal's sensitivity.