my beagle has shaking spells, can't or won't ...

All the things you describe can be blamed on pain, maybe not excruciating, but significant enough they are hesitant to move much.

With only this to go on, two things come to mind.

1) Pancreatitis. An inflammation of a digestive gland causing diffuse pain in the abdomen. Often the result of a fatty meal, or sometimes unknown causes.

2) Lower back 'strain', or mild disk injury, usually caused by activity like jumping off things. Pain is in the back, but anything that causes them to move their back can hurt.

Picking up a dog with either of these conditions causes pain... pressure on the abdomen in the case of pancreatitis, and touching the abdomen causes a change in the angle of the back causing pain. Putting gentle, slowly increasing pressure on both sides of the abdomen will show tenderness in the case of pancreatitis, but not back pain. Slowly and gently, with fingertips.


Mild cases of either often goes untreated, or at least the vet never sees the pet.

So, if there is vomiting or diarrhea, it is probably pancreatitis. Give only water for a few day or two. Then try a little cooked skinless chicken to see the effect. Don't feed full ration all at once or it may flare up. Add other fat-free foods for a week, and gradual return to regular diet, less the extra fat.


For the back, when he begins to move around more, curtail his activity, and watch him going out. If there are stairs, carry him up and down if you can. If not, put him on leash going up or down. I don't recommend anything for pain. Pain helps keep them quieter. Remove the pain and they often start to run and jump as before, and may reinjure themselves, often more seriously.

If there is an increase in pain, your vet should be consulted.

I hope this answers your questions. If not, please feel free to ask.


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Please check just one ACCEPT box. Feedback is nice, too.   Medicine comes in doses of Science, Art, and Miracle, given as needed.

A freind of mine suggested that she may have been poisened. She is eating food and drink when I hold it for her. I have given her about a total of 8oz of skim milk, which she seems to enjoy. Also a small amount of peanut butter, and some boiled skinless chicken. This is over a 6 hour period.
Her stomach is hard to the touch, is this as you answered in your responce to my first set of questions?
I am planning on taking her to her Dr. in the am if nothing has changed for her.

Peanut butter would not be a fat-free food, but if she hasn't vomited, it may be back pain.

If you are going in the morning, and you promise not to let her run loose, give her an aspirin. (adult is fine) On top of the P Butter, that ought to be enough buffering.

A tense abdomen, splinting it is called, would be what she would do if her back is hurting. Think of the backbone as the wooden part of a bow, and her abdominal muscles as the string. The back is held in place, until you move the string.

Poisoning is an often blamed, infrequently correct cause of most maladies like this.

Thank you for the response. I remain open to more. And am glad you will have someone actually look at her.



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Please check just one ACCEPT box. Feedback is nice, too.   Medicine comes in doses of Science, Art, and Miracle, given as needed.

Thank you for the advice. The foods that I mentioned are not part of her normal diet. She is on a high protien dry diet, No Junk Food ever. I have been watching her all day to see if she will void but til now has not. Again I thank you for your help. I will be delighted to refer my friends to this web site. T. Egan

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