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GeneralDesireeAugust 30, 2026

Sick Chihuahua I have a seven-year-old female Chihuahua, and we've taken her to the vet…

Sick Chihuahua I have a seven-year-old female Chihuahua, and we've taken her to the vet three times, and have yet to find an answer or medicine to take care of what's wrong with her. We have been experiencing events where she acts completely different. She runs around in circles. Seems like she doesn't know where she's at. She lifts her foot up and down, up and down, up and down, moves her head all around, all around, won't eat, whines, doesn't act like her personality at all. It will last for a day to a day and a half, and then she just comes out of it, and she's back to normal again. And then it could last clean for a day, maybe two, three, and then all of a sudden she does it again. There's nothing that triggers her. While she's in this fit, she whines and whines, runs around in circles again, repeats all the same behaviors, and then just comes out of it. A couple days later, or it could even be one day, she does it again. It's been an ongoing event that we don't know how to handle it. We've taken her to three vets. Nobody's been able to diagnose it yet. Please, please help us. Anybody that has had a dog that has acted like this. please get ahold of us

A licensed veterinarian’s answer

DWDylan Wilson, DVMVerified VetSmall Animal, Mixed Animal, Preventive Care, Laboratory Medicine · KY license 293504Answered 28d ago

Hello I'm sorry to hear about your Chihuahua's condition. I can only give some expectations of what is possible after seeing several veterinarians and them not being able to diagnose your dog. Depending on where you live, try to look for a specialty clinic/hospital or a veterinary teaching hospital at a university. They may be several hours away from your home. They should have a veterinary neurologist and or other specialists who may be able to help address your concerns. Previous veterinarians you went to can also recommend a consultation with these specialists or other colleagues they would recommend.

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3 replies, one from a vet

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MMichaelAug 31PAWSRX TEAM

I'm not a veterinarian and I can't tell you what this is. What I can tell you is what tends to move a case like this forward. Video is the most useful thing you can bring to any vet now. Film an episode from start to finish if you can, and a second one for comparison. Keep a note of each date, how long it lasted, and what that day looked like: meals, sleep, anything new. Episodes that come and go are hard to diagnose from an exam room, because the exam usually happens on a good day. The video brings the bad day into the room. Then ask whichever of the three vets you trusted most for a referral. General practices send recurring, hard-to-pin-down cases to specialty hospitals and university teaching hospitals, and arriving with videos and a diary changes the first visit from describing to showing.

This reply is from the PawsRx team, not a veterinarian. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment, and it is not intended to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. For guidance about your pet, ask a verified vet or book an appointment.

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AAbdulSep 11

I’m a veterinarian, and based on the signs you’ve described, I would take these episodes seriously. The circling, disorientation, repetitive leg movements, abnormal head movements, whining, and temporary loss of appetite could potentially indicate a neurological problem, seizure-related disorder, vestibular disease, pain, or another metabolic/systemic condition. Because the episodes are recurring and your dog returns to normal between them, it would be very helpful to record a video of an episode and show it to the veterinarian. Please also keep a written record of the duration, frequency, and any possible triggers. I strongly recommend taking her to a veterinarian—preferably a veterinary neurologist or a clinic that can perform a neurological examination and appropriate blood tests and imaging if needed. If an episode becomes severe, lasts unusually long, or she becomes unable to stand, has a seizure, or loses consciousness, please take her to the nearest veterinarian/emergency veterinary clinic immediately. If you have a video of one of these episodes, you can share it with me and I can help you assess the signs.

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Community posts and replies are written by pet parents and independent veterinarians, not by PawsRx. We do not review, verify, or endorse them. Nothing here is a diagnosis or a substitute for examining your pet. For a medical concern, consult a licensed veterinarian. In an emergency, contact an emergency clinic immediately.