Q:  I have a female Chihuahua who is 7 years old. She is unable to stand up. Every time that I stand her up she rolls back onto her left side. I do not think anything is broken, because I have felt around and she does not whine. What could be wrong? It just started this evening, and all the other dogs in the house are fine.

A:  This sounds serious, and there are a few conditions that can cause the symptoms you are describing. Two possibilities could be vestibular disease (which can be caused by a variety of underlying problems) or a metabolic syndrome such as hepatic encephalopathy (liver disease). You can read more about vestibular disease by clicking here, and you can read more about hepatic encephalopathy by clicking here. Of course, without examining your dog myself I cannot make a diagnosis. However, I can tell you that is important to get your dog to the vet.

Your question has been answered by the following veterinarian:
Daniel Lauridia, DVM

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