Why is my dog acting drunk all of a sudden? Simple steps to take when you see these symptoms.

Okay, so let me tell you what happened with my dog, Max, the other Tuesday. It was wild.

I got home from work, usual stuff. Max usually bounces off the walls, super excited. But this time? He kinda stumbled over to greet me. Like, really stumbled. His back legs were wobbly, he bumped right into the door frame. Looked totally drunk. I'm serious, like he'd been hitting the bottle.

First thought? Panic. Pure panic. What the heck was going on? Did he get into something?

My immediate reaction: investigate.

I dropped my bag and started searching. Checked the kitchen floor, the trash can – did he eat something he shouldn't have? Sometimes he scavenges outside. Went out to the yard, looked for weird plants, maybe some old, mouldy food someone tossed over the fence? I read somewhere that mouldy stuff can cause mycotoxin poisoning, makes 'em act just like this. Found nothing obvious.

He kept swaying, trying to walk, sometimes just circling. It wasn't getting better. He looked confused, poor guy.

Then I remembered seeing stuff online, or maybe hearing it somewhere. Things that can cause this:

• Ear infections, deep inside, messing with balance.
• Something called vestibular syndrome – apparently common in older dogs, hits suddenly.
• Scarier stuff like infections hitting the brain, or even tumours.
• Toxins, poisons... the list goes on in your head, you know?

At this point, playing detective wasn't cutting it. Seeing him like that, unable to walk straight, head tilting... it was freaking me out big time. I wasn't going to wait and see.

Off to the Vet We Go

Scooped him up carefully – he wasn't a small dog, but adrenaline helps. Got him into the car, called the vet's emergency line, told them I was coming in NOW.

The drive felt like hours. Max was mostly quiet, just lying on the seat, looking miserable.

The vet team was great, took us straight in. They checked his vitals, looked deep in his ears, checked his eyes, felt his belly. Asked me a million questions – what he ate, where he'd been, any changes in behaviour before this.

They ran some quick checks. Blood work, neurological tests – the basics to rule out the really bad stuff quickly.

The Verdict?

After the initial checkup, the vet suspected it was likely 'old dog vestibular syndrome'. Came on suddenly, looked terrifying, but often resolves on its own or with supportive care. Basically, his inner ear balance system went haywire for a bit. Could have been an infection too, but less likely given his other signs.

They gave him some anti-nausea meds because the dizziness was probably making him feel sick. Told me to keep him comfortable, confined so he wouldn't fall, and help him get outside to potty.

Took him home, set him up in a safe spot with his bed and water. Watched him like a hawk for the next couple of days. Slowly, very slowly, the wobbling got less severe. The head tilt improved. Within about three or four days, he was almost back to his normal, clumsy-but-not-drunk self.

Man, what a scare. The big takeaway for me? If your dog suddenly starts acting drunk, staggering, tilting its head – don't guess, don't wait. Get to the vet immediately. Could be something simple, could be serious. Just not worth the risk trying to figure it out yourself.