It started Friday evening.

The heeler sisters' mother has upon occasion been having a hard time walking. It started this past winter, her hind legs collapsing under her. Usually when she needs to poop, and after wandering around enough to get her business done, all four legs would then seem to be fine. But it got us worrying.

Then Friday night she added a new symptom. Cocking her head at an odd angle, left eye looking up, right eye looking down. And obvious disorientation, unsteady on her feet, trying hard not to walk in circles.

Saturday and Sunday were more of the same, only worse. Her eyes in constant motion, jerking together left to right, like she was on a spinning wheel and they were trying to keep up. She had to be carried down and up the front stairs, and spent the nights in the living room instead of being in bed with us. Walking in circles in the yard. Obviously knowing where she wanted to go, and confused that her steps weren't taking her to the right places.

And no food stayed down for more than overnight.

Wife was the eternal optimist, and began treating her for an ear infection.

I was thinking a stroke.

And we were discussing where we should eventually bury her. Her and Brown Eyes.

This morning she was improved. Less flicking of the eyes, less jerking of the head, and slightly straighter walks in the yard. So this afternoon she got in to see the vet. And she knew enough to be alarmed at the turns in the road that signal impending doom to heelers.

Vet's diagnosis?

Stroke.

Which is not the death sentence I thought it might be. Most dogs apparently respond well, and quickly, to prednisone and antibiotics.

Probably would have been better if we'd called them during the weekend to start the treatment earlier, but the mother is already on prednisone and antibiotics daily for her skin condition. And the wife had doubled the heeler's doses when problems got bad on Saturday, so she's not too bad off. Got new antibiotics and an increased dose of prednisone.

Vet says to expect marked improvement in just a couple days.