Neurological symptoms in dogs: when to see a neurologist

Based on the international veterinary neurology guidelines (IVETF, ACVIM). Updated 19 October 2026. 7 min read.

Which symptoms point to a neurological problem in a dog?

The nervous system controls consciousness, walking, balance, muscle strength, the senses and emptying of the bladder, so neurological signs vary a great deal. The table below brings together the most common ones and tells you how quickly you need to act.

Which neurological symptoms are an emergency?

Go straight to the nearest emergency vet clinic (open now) if:

• a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or your dog does not recover between two seizures (status epilepticus);
• he has two or more seizures within 24 hours (cluster seizures);
• he suddenly cannot walk, or his legs become paralysed;
• you suspect poisoning (slug or rat bait, medicines, chocolate, chewing gum containing xylitol);
• he is struggling to breathe, cannot swallow or is hard to wake;
• the signs are getting worse from one hour to the next.

In an emergency, also outside opening hours, send a WhatsApp message or call 0745 145 033; the emergency consultation, outside opening hours, costs 500 lei. If a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, or you cannot reach the practice, go straight to the nearest emergency vet clinic that is open now. The neurological consultation is by appointment and is suited to signs that are not an immediate threat to life, or to an assessment after an emergency.

What does each type of sign mean?

Seizures and episodes

Epileptic seizures can be generalised, with loss of consciousness and movements of all four legs, or focal, with signs on only one part of the body: twitching of the face, rhythmic movements of one leg, drooling. Not every episode is a seizure: fainting, balance problems and movement disorders can look similar. The differences are explained in the guide to epilepsy in dogs.

Balance, head tilt, walking in circles

A head tilt, falling to one side and eyes that flick rhythmically usually point to a problem with the vestibular system. In older dogs the cause is often a benign form that gets better on its own, but the same signs can also come from the brain. More detail in the article on vestibular syndrome in dogs.

Weakness, unsteady walking, paralysis

Weakness can come from the spinal cord, the nerves, the junction between nerve and muscle, or the muscles themselves. A dog that wobbles and drags his legs usually has a spinal cord problem, most often a slipped disc. A dog that tires after a few steps and recovers after a rest raises the suspicion of a neuromuscular disease.

Tremors

A tremor is a rhythmic, involuntary movement, usually while the dog is fully aware, which disappears during sleep. The causes range from cold and excitement to poisoning and neurological disease. How to tell them apart is covered in the guide why is my dog shaking.

Changes in behaviour

Behaviour naturally changes over time: at around 2 years a dog matures, and in old age he may become more irritable because of arthritis or loss of sight and hearing. These changes are gradual. Sudden changes, especially together with circling, pacing without stopping, staring into space, blindness or seizures, can point to a brain disease: inflammation (encephalitis), a tumour or a stroke.

Which neurological diseases are most often behind these signs?

The same signs can have very different causes, so the list below is a guide, not a diagnosis:

• Epilepsy, the most common cause of repeated seizures in dogs with no other illness.
• Slipped disc (intervertebral disc disease), the most common cause of back pain and sudden paralysis of the hind legs in short-legged breeds.
• Vestibular syndrome, especially the idiopathic form seen in older dogs.
• Inflammation of the brain and the meninges (encephalitis, meningitis), which in dogs is more often immune-mediated than infectious.
• Brain tumours, more common in older dogs, which can cause seizures, circling and changes in behaviour.
• Neuromuscular diseases, such as myasthenia gravis, in which weakness appears with exercise.
• Poisoning and metabolic diseases (low blood sugar or calcium, liver disease), which affect the brain from outside it.

What does the neurological examination do?

The neurological examination establishes whether the problem really is neurological and where it lies: in the brain, the spinal cord, the peripheral nerves, or the muscles and the junction between nerve and muscle. The location matters because each area has different likely causes and needs different investigations.

At DEMED, the examination takes about 20 minutes, is done with you present, is painless and does not require sedation. The vet:

1. goes through the history: when the signs started, how they have developed, what illnesses and treatments your dog has had;
2. watches his behaviour, level of consciousness, posture and gait;
3. tests the postural reactions, meaning how your dog corrects the position of his legs;
4. checks the spinal reflexes and the cranial nerves (sight, eye movements, facial reflexes, swallowing);
5. looks for painful areas along the spine.

The examination points to the location, and the cause is confirmed in most cases with further investigations: blood tests for metabolic diseases, an MRI or CT scan, analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), electromyography or EEG. The result of the examination means that only the investigations that are actually needed are chosen. Details of what it includes are on the neurological consultation page.

How do I prepare for the neurological consultation?

• Film the episodes. For signs that come and go, a phone video often says more than any description. Film from the start of the episode, with your dog's whole body in the frame, and note the time and how long it lasted.
• Keep a diary. Write down the date, how long it lasted and what happened before and after each episode.
• Bring the paperwork. Blood results, X-rays, MRI or CT reports, letters from other vets and the exact list of medicines, with the doses your vet has given.
• Send the history in advance. E-mail what you have noticed to helga@demed.ro and attach the videos, so the consultation time can be spent on the examination.
• Do not stop any treatment on your own before the consultation, especially seizure medication.

Frequently asked questions

This article is for information only and does not replace a veterinary consultation.