Collapse, Weakness and Fainting

Syncope (pronounced sin-coh-pea) is the technical term for fainting when your pet temporarily loses consciousness. This is more common in dogs than cats.  However, when your pet exhibits involuntary collapse, this may be a life-threatening emergency.

What causes episodes of weakness, collapse or fainting?

The causes are many and varied and can involve:

• The airways
• The heart and blood vessels
• The nervous system – brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves
• The muscles, bones and joints
• A malfunction of one or more chemical processes occurring in one of a number of body organs (these are usually referred to as ‘Metabolic’ causes).

Take your pet to a veterinarian at once if he exhibits involuntary collapse or fainting.