how to treat border collie collapse

Its interesting that you mention it happens when running at a moderate pace. Can you please help me, I dont know what to do. Heart rate up, body overheating? Ive just come across this very helpful website so my input is late but my dog had the head tilt and her eyes made very small darting movements. During an episode, affected dogs may seem dazed and confused or may simply lose their focus They commonly develop a stiff, stilted gait with short strides in the rear legs (or all four legs) and scuff their feet during an episode. I panicked and started to carry her home again 3 min later she came too as excited and happy as ever. Ive approved your comment so others can reply in the hope that the more case study evidence there is, the better professionals can better understand it. Once you see it happen it can be quite scary but once you know your own dog it gets easier to spot the signs of it building and then stopping the activity before it happens. Piper played frisbee tonight and I thought I kept it under 10 mins then she insisted on chasing a ball for quite a few throws with a fellow in the park suddenly the staggering hit shes made it home and crashed. It doesnt hurt to get a vet to rule out other things like epilepsy but when an episode only seems to happen when the dog is very excitable and usually combined with warmer weather I would tend to suspect its BCC. She will take what I call a 7 minute power nap and wants to play again. She has recently collapsed a few times with my partner, and I have never witnessed it. Ive not heard of this before but now Im fully aware of what my girl is going through and she now stays on a long lead for her walks I do let her off if no other dogs are about or anyone playing ball . My 5yr BC Grace has just had an episode that I think might be BCC. He never fainted, he just lost his strength completely to stay on 4 legs, when this happened i trie make him sleep I had kept the pace fairly slow and treid to let her set it more since shes a sprinter more than a long distance runner so far, as I waited until she was over two to take her out with a bike and kept the distance and time under that recommended for hr age. He has experienced similar symptoms on three occasions after exercising in the heat. My fianc ended up finding information/videos on BCC and we really think that this is what shes suffering from. My theory, (though I am no scientist,) is that the warm weather is an important part of the picture. Hi, we have three collies and our youngest has had two episodes now of collie collapse, we were in the park for only around five minutes and she too was very excitable running round holding her tuggy, when I noticed she was walking a little drunk like and sideways like a crab and prancing high with her front feet. Elizabeth. He fell to the ground and was kicking his legs as if he were trying to get up or run. My family have had several Border Collies over the past 15 years. After a day of excessive chasing of a granddaughter , she has been down for the count ever since . Theresa It certainly sounds like a case of Exercise Induced Collapse, sometimes referred to Border Collie Collapse (though it happens to some other breeds too). This is before exercise on a cool day. The scenario you describe doesnt sound like most cases of Border Collie collapse. DNA testing shows her to be half border collie, 20% cattle dog, plus a few others. It does seem that Border Collie Collapse can happen at any age. She was flopping on the ground. I am intrigued though about the other 2 minor episodes she has experienced were during winter, although again I have read a comment of someone else saying their BC experienced one in winter. I now never leave for a walk without a bottle of water for her, both to drink and to rub into her tummy to cool her down after extreme activity. Hi I have a male border collie Max 5years 9month, in the UK but he is originally from Germany as it says on his dog pasport. The first was this past spring and both were triggered by surprise encounters with a fox that he then chased across the (fenced) yard. Enjoy your Border Collies! We have managed the condition simply by closely watching him and if he shows signs of being over excitable in hot weather we will stop him and take him away from the source of that excitement. Seems if I regulate the intensity of exercise and change focus he is fine. It has to be combined with the activity that sends them into a frenzy. Its not about the weather and its not exhaustion. Mum a collie and dad a collie x lab. Border collies with BCC are negative for the dynamin 1 mutation causing EIC in Labrador retrievers. Could this be bc collapse? Is this something that will continue to happen now that she has had an episode? Soswimming is definitely the best exercise for him . Until then, if you have a collapsing dog from one of these breeds feel free to contact us and provide us with a completed questionnaire, video and a DNA sample as described for Border collies. By monitoring our dog we are able to predict when its likely to happen and stop the activity before it gets to that stage. Piper is not overweight and has a healthy coat I was thinking of getting a frisbee for some variety and maybe slower running though most likely she would end up learning to jump. When you say she chased the ball for 10 minutes is that just general play or would you say she is very ball fixated and intensely focused? She has lost her sparkle . He feeds of their intensity and it becomes like a drug to him. My sister was able to get him out of the hedge and bring him water but it took him sometime to come out of it. He is a rescue and has been manic and excitable since I first took him in. University of SaskatchewanDisclaimer|Privacy, Instructions for collecting and shipping the DNA sample (EDTA preserved blood), and forms to accompany the sample, If you have a video of your dog having an episode of collapse we would also like to have the opportunity to view that to determine if your dogs episode is typical for the disorder we are calling BCC. Ive had three border collies and didnt know this condition existed. It seems the veterinary profession are hoping to identify the defective gene and then prevent affected dogs from breeding. In your case it sounds like different triggers. Grace is Frisbee/ball crazy, I take the Frisbee and throw it for Grace on our wood walks. I believe I have just witnessed a BCC with him. Gary If other people ever walk your dog though I would educate them about the condition and what to look for. We bought a garden (what you in the U.K. would call an allotment I believe), thinking it would be great for the girls. I would certainly seek another opinion and rule out a few other possible conditions before I would assume Border Collie Collapse. His symptoms sound very much in line with what you describe. Its only after you stop the game that they sometimes then start experiencing the condition. Its believed that its a genetic mutation that causes it and affected dogs are being tested to try and identify the common gene. She has always been a inside dog. She continuously wants you to throw one of her dozens of toys. Chase is a highly strung chap and also has dog and human aggression. Hes eating, drinking, and walking with no limping. Border Collies are a very intense breed and often addicted to a particular activity, playing ball in your case and herding in our dogs case. Sometimes she zooms around the house jumping on and off every piece of furniture like someone lit her on fire. I could tell she was scared. He is unable to pace himself or take a break. Summer is terrible in Andalusia with temperatures up to 44 C, and it can be very dangerous for dogs, but in our case I have learned that we must be much more careful due to the BCC. Its not Border Collie Collapse based on what you are saying. Hello Gary Hi Gary, We have been able to predict when its likely to happen and manage activity. As I said he is really excited to be going for a walk. My almost 2 year old collie did something similar tonight. In such weather there are a number of things, At this time of year it can be quite stressful for dog owners, due to fireworks. My vet thought she might have a heart issue stemming from her stoke but Im not sure now. Therefore I too have surmised this to be a genetic mutation. Sorry for the long post but nice to know others out there with it, We have found that we now know the sort of conditions that will trigger it and we will stop the activity if we feel its warranted. He has no off switch when tracking and would over exert if allowed. I hope this helps. She went quite a few times last night (not far throws) and did lay down. Now what is the best route to take can you guys help me as I never want this to happen again thank you. He is inside now, and wants to play. Studies into Border Collie Collapse continue but essentially its a nervous system disorder brought on by strenuous exercise. Like you say its not merely the duration of an activity that seems to trigger this but the intensity and obsessive behaviour. Your circumstances sound quite different to most cases of EIC or Border Collie Collapse. We have. At home shes the calmest dog you could wish for. We live in a large metro area and neither the emergency hospital vet nor our usual vet were familiar with the disorder. I think that is the best coping mechanism until someone comes up with a viable treatment option. We got another appointment at the vet tomorrow but are not taking him, am at a loss what to do, karen. Thanks for your comment. So I continued to comfort her. Any change in the way your dog walks and you should stop the activity and find a shaded or cool location for your dog to relax until they return to normal. In most cases it can be managed but there may be times in hot weather where its easier to walk in a location where your dog is unlikely to come across their particular triggers. It was very scary. Our 5.5 year old border collie mix (spaniel?) Ironically we have not seen this behaviour around sheep but fast moving, ball focused dogs we come across. On another site I have been reading that some dogs may benefit from a very low carb diet. I do believe he would play until he drops, however the episodes begin after he has stopped and the adrenaline levels start to reside and then he looses balance, gets wobbly and has collapsed. The vet said he thinks it was heat stroke. The second time was today we was playing with his ball maybe a little too much but was only playing for about 10-20 mins we could tell he was getting tired so stoped went back to the car and drove home in the car he was slouched and couldnt sit properly, (he is normals staring out of the window and he loves car rides) , he was panting loads and as we got home and out the car he couldnt hardly walk, staggering, almost falling and couldnt even walk up stairs, I had to carry him, he just looked like he was going to faint / collapse I gave him plenty of water he drank about two bowls I thought it could be his blood suger levels (I dont know) so I gave him a digestive biscuit but he couldnt even bite it he tryed but it just fell out of his mouth so I broke it up and he managed it, She is a crazy girl once out on a walk she lives to run, not interested in balls will only play at home she has a good recall but has always run further away than Id like. He is also an inside dog. I dont think its something we can expect a cure for. He is attracted to very manic ball obsessed dogs. It is most common in dogs used for working stock but has also been seen in dogs training for agility or flyball competitions and in dogs repetitively retrieving a ball or frisbee. Hi Hes a very happy dog, we dont stop him from doing what he loves but we do monitor him closely. She still does so with ball throw (from a chuck it) after a number of throws but is raring to chase again within a few mins. Hi Gary been reading your posts my miniature Australian Shepherd was just diagnosed with BCC this morning as a diagnosis of conclusion. Q? Also Sally feel free to report back if you discover more. As you say the recovery is quick with BCC and not so with heat stroke. We panicked of course and have been to vet who think his heart rate is weak/irregular and we will be getting a CT scan this week. If we go somewhere theres water she manages her own body temperature, even laying in puddles to cool herself. I hope I can contribute my experience with my little one in the future and continue learning from all of you. In July this year (15 months later) he was having a good run following rabbit smells on holiday in the New Forest and similar happened. Hopefully more research will get done and it will be identified easier. My 1.5 years old BC had its first collapse yesterday. We have experienced sudden shaking and fear for example regarding our conservatory. In his case it needs another manic ball obsessed dog to get triggered. I think further Frisbee and ball playing must be very limited and I will concentrate on brain games. Interesting to hear that you think the problem in your case might be made worse by flea and worm treatment. (All meant to help her gain control of herself.) Her front legs gave out she was not really able to walk and was extremely wobbly. However were unsure whether this was heatstroke or BCC. Hi. Was the exercise very intense? Could BCC present this way? She did get over-hot, even in cool weather. They are doing some bloodwork to see if that brings back anything. The one we ended up doing was organised through Dog First, What with the recent high summer temperatures thoughts turn to keeping dogs cool. As a precaution blood tests were done to check his kidneys and liver but all came back clear. And by what Ive read there is no test for BCC or cure other to manage his exercise and excitement. Regards. The situation in some ways shows signs of improving and in other ways it seems to be getting worse. Certainly sounds like BCC. Thanks for commenting with your experience. Its only when hes fixated in herding to the point of obsession which is why we think its chemical and not a heart issue. After around 15-20 minutes playing frisbee (her literal obsession) she seems to become really disoriented (she almost looks drunk). He recovered over night. The Northampton Dog Walker. Katie will forward videos to Dr. Taylor in Canada for evaluation. 5 minutes later I heard him banging into walls as he struggled to get into the shower and cool tiles. If you can record the behaviour too then you have more evidence for a professional to make the right conclusion. With hip problems stiffness can happen even without the exercise. She though he had just got hot and exhausted. To read more about this condition please click the link below which will take you to an article on the Agilitynet website. If your local vet has never come across the condition it might be worth getting another opinion. Its been happening for a while now dont know what to do with her but about 10 to 15 mins and she ready to go again she is such a wonderful dog I just worry she in pain when it happens. Its only when he stops that he collapses. We rushed her to the vet but by the time we could talk with them. My Border Collieis 2 months old. I can take him to the beach where its all about waves and running through the surf and along the beach and no problem whatsoever. Thanks for your observations. Please feel free to report back if you have any more information. In my experience the level of activity is not the most important factor. Its a combination of their trigger activity and warm weather that seems to bring it on. Certainly your examples do not sound like classic examples but if all the tests come back good then it might be worth mentioning it to the vet as an outside chance. I have two BCs who love playing ball. It took her about 15-20 minutes before she could stand and walk. He was being violently sick and walking lop sided. He stopped and laid down and was really wobbly when he got up. Hi Gary We often go there for our walks but this is the first time this has happened. I would be interested to hear what updates you have. She is still sleeping now and we have been home an hour. Its for us to monitor him and the weather and step in if we feel he is at risk. I had said I think she may have had a mild stroke or heart attack. Gary The University of Saskatchewan's main campus is situated onTreaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Mtis. From what I have read about the condition a treatment option is unlikely. Im still awaiting a call back from my vets to discuss it. I think I need help. Generally if after a brief (15-20 minutes) rest they seem to make a perfect recovery as if nothing happened its usually a good indication that BCC is the reason. How long after are we talking? The first sign she was getting too hot which may be helpful to readers was that she started to pace as opposed to trotting on the diagonals. Im not one to let my pets suffer, so I will take her to the Vet for hopefully answers. Good that your brother-in-law suggested Border Collie collapse. This is the second time this week, its 14 Feb, grey, cold and damp. Have to tried to limit the activity that triggers it? Good luck She was obviously very hot/tired from playing as well (it was around 75 degrees today) but this was not normal. Normally after 30 minutes they normally recover completely as if nothing happened. The 14 week old pup seemed to display similar symptoms to the ones you mentioned above over the week end. I wonder if this restriction of exercise has prevented the more severe signs developing. Im very concerned and never want to witness another collapse. If like us you are able to manage it then it will only confirm your suspicion that it is indeed this condition. Are you able to do the same? I told her what I had read about BCC and although she had never heard of it was very interested. When I threw the frizbee and she was running after it and her back legs just stopped working and she collapsed to the ground and couldnt get up. We picked her up and carried her back to the truck about 1/4 mile and when we got to the truck she still couldnt stand on her back legs. When herding a friend though a bomb could go off and he wouldnt hear it! My two year old Collie cross (a Borderdoodle) gets this quite often when its hot, collapsing to the point that she sometimes needs to be carried for a few minutes, or she sits in the shade to recover. Went back to her same Vet, who told me about Border Collie Collapse and the current research that is being done with it. There are a number of claimed benefits to raw feeding dogs and I would like to discuss these as well as some things you might want to consider before taking the plunge and doing it for your dog(s). She was 12 when the episode happened and made a full recovery after a few days but sometimes the tilt remains. Other local dog owners who have lived locally are always a good source of information. Whilst Archie is not overly ball obsessed he has a strong addiction to herding. Your report is exactly our experience. She appeared to be fine after 10-15 minutes or so but we brought her into our vet to be checked out anyway. It is scary to witness a dog during a collapse but I honestly feel that by paying close attention to your dog and watching for warning signs and being mindful of the temperature it can be largely prevented. He is quick to recover after around 2-5 minutes and is up and about without any visible side effects but this is very scary. Its not even a warm day as i dont take my dogs out when its warm they just have the run of the garden instead. Archie for instance is noise sensitive of things like industrial noises, car backfiring etc. Its interesting to hear you say change focus because thats exactly what I notice. She isnt the same at all . In your case do you think it was just the heat rather than this condition? I contacted the Vet and because of lockdown had to have telephone consultation. Each type of papilloma virus is confined to an individual type of species. Two days ago I experienced a bcc type reaction in my 2 year old border collie Jesse. Id check with a vet. When you send a DNA sample in from your dog to the University of Minnesota, realize that there will be no "test result" forthcoming. 21 Masefield Way, Northampton, NN2 7JT We are always trying to find other activities that he likes that wont over stimulate him. I thought she was having a seizure. The DNA will be used to achieve our long term goal of identifying the genetic cause of BCC. I think my 2 year old border collie has this too , he doesnt have and signs of him limping , but his leg shakes . She is extremely fast when she gets running around and very ball obsessive so I try to only throw it on days when shes not been out for a good run. Note: this is seven years later. Its so sad to watch him stagger around but he wont stay down and will recover in about 20 minutes. She was at her vet today to check her blood to rule out all other diseases. It certainly sounds like Border Collie Collapse because of the quick recovery but Id still speak to a vet to rule out any other possibility. Its also known as Exercise Induced Collapse and other breeds do suffer including other herding breeds and labs. Good news is that for the most part, dogs seem to recover. My vet was very well informed on exercised induce collapse syndrome and directed me to the University of Minnesota Veterinary articles on the syndrome and genetics. It certainly sounds like an episode of Border Collie Collapse. My Sasha had it probably 30+ times last year during aust summer/ autumn over 6 months. It does cause some worry but in our case we know the triggers that cause Border Collie collapse in Archie. She is tilting her head slightly , and something is different about her eyes. When he was 18 months old after a lot of running on the Towans he started wobbling on his legs. My border collie today walked five mins down the road and chased a ball for not even 10 mins and on the way home she started walking like she was drunk and dragging her back legs. Our dog is still able to carry out his herding of his friends but we will sometimes stop him for a few minutes if we spot any early warning signs. This disorder has also been called exercise-induced hyperthermia and "the wobbles." If anything once you know the triggers you should find you can manage it so it happens less and less. She had her first episode at about 5 months, we were away from home and after laying in some damp grass she recovered completely, wanting to run again, so didnt go to vet. She had water and I wiped her face with water too and she seemed fine. Hi Gary, I have a 9 year old BC she has been with me since she was a new pup. He did. Even though there is no cure the condition can be managed in my opinion and our Archie still has a very full and fun life doing what he loves. Robyn. There are still some vets that dont know too much about it but I think thats changing. Now it seems every time she gets excited , playing frisbee or herding anything that moves, she has what I assumed was a seizure. If his tongue starts to extend a lot and there is any froth around his mouth we put him back on a lead to rest. In my experience though the breed are usually too much in the zone to be aware of anything but the ball or the herding. Most dogs get wobbly with an incoordinated gait (appearing "drunk") and a few dogs stagger and stumble and actually collapse and become unable to walk. Watching him closely and noting the outside temperature is enough for us to stop an activity before collapse happens. Your comments are exactly what I have experienced. I could chase Archie our Border Collie around the garden or park in hot weather and he will be fine. When you first become a dog owner you need to think about which local vet to use. Now we know the signs we seem to be able to manage things so he has not had another episode recently.

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