Puppy with intermittent neurological symptoms

I have an 11 week old lab puppy with intermittent neurological symptoms. He will lose balance/coordination in his hind limbs intermittently. It lasts for 20-30 minutes and then he gradually regains function. When he is not having an issue he is fully active and energetic. It happens first thing in the morning, when he eats (particularly if he is standing on a slick floor at the time), and more mildly when he plays energetically with our 4 year old lab for an extended period of time.

We are attempting to limit the triggering events - getting him to wake up more slowly, holding him and hand feeding at meal times, breaking up play sessions by taking them to another location etc.

He was wormed and had his first set of vaccinations from the breeder before we picked him up. He has had an xray and there don't appear to be any physical reasons for the issue. Another pup from the breeder (4 days younger but no blood connection) is having the same issue. Neurologist ran blood and urine and didn't find anything. (We see the neurologist next week)

I'd love any ideas - I've been trying to research vaccine reactions and treatments (my personal suspicion) but while I can find reference to neurological vaccine reaction I don't see any treatment ideas.

Is he otherwise mentally alert?

Perhaps it could be a trapped nerve? Having said that, if another pup from the same breeder who isn't related has similar, it could be an acquired infection - has the vet done any stool tests?

I'm not sure how likely it is, but trying to think of environmental rather than genetic.
Could it a lack of something in their diet? From a young age could have short term (weeks to months) of lasting effect? What were they being fed on? What is yours eating now?

How long have you had him? Do his symptoms seem to be getter any better or worse? Such as lasting longer or shorter, be more off balance or better co-ordinated?
Maybe it is a (oddly) coincidence?

Sorry I can't be of more help.

An Xray at 11 weeks of age will not show much as the puppy's bones will not have calcified sufficiently to show whether there is a problem with his skeleton, and he would need an MRI to check if it is neurological, although even that is not 100% certain of picking anything up at such a young age.

I hope he will be OK and that whatever it is he will grow out of it.

No stool test yet.

He's mentally alert even in the middle of symptoms. He's full on lab puppy when he's not having symptoms - full of energy

He was on Iams puppy food and is now on Pure Vita adult (that's what the other lab eats due to food allergies)

I'm leaning toward either something environmental or a vaccine reaction.

Yesterday was a better day, but today he's had a hard time. It's hard to tell if things are getting better overall. I don't think they are getting worse.

My 4yo border/patterdale cross developed apparent neurological problems about 2 months ago. His symptoms were spasms in his back and back legs that made him fall over and they lasted about 5 mins. He was conscious and alert throughout although frightened and I think in some pain. He also had abdominal spasms.

Two months later and over £4k spent on neuro exams including MRI, by elimination the diagnosis is Canine Epileptoid cramping disease (Spikes disease). It's regarded as a 'new' condition in Borders and border Xs and as yet there is no really effective treatment - or so I've been told. Most vets don't have a clue about how to treat it.

Do your puppy's back legs go stiff or does he just lose control?

That sounds like a possibility. On the more severe episodes his legs go stiff first and then it takes a while for his motor control to come back. On the milder episodes I don't see the stiffness but if it was quick I wouldn't.

Thanks for the idea.

So we go for an MRI tomorrow - the vet suspects hydrocephalus, specifically impacting his cerebellum. She's not sure about inflammation vs a physical blockage.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with that?

Sorry, no thoughts or experience, but just wanted to wish you good luck with the MRI, let's hope they can diagnose this and hopefully get it treated. You must be out of your mind with worry, and it's a very unusual case, no wonder the vets are baffled.

I'm sure the MRI is the only way to go with something like this along with a specialist like the neurologist. Please keep us updated and good luck with everything today.

Just a thought, can you absolutely trust your breeder that your puppy was wormed properly? I ask this because I'm an avid watcher of Monsters Inside Me programme and I do know, that some worms/parasites can cause neurological symptoms, so it might be worth asking the neurologist about the possibility or if there are any other tests which could show something like this up?

My Fluke has a procephalic cyst on the brain which when I googled hydrocephalus seems quite similar. Turns out his was caused by a trauma injury too the skull at only a few days old. His symptons were pretty much like your boy shows, poor co ordination in his back legs and seems to happen when he is eating too,he has to keep moving around when he is eating meals or a bone almost as if he has cramp.His other symptons were no exercise tolerance and circling all the time.The neurologist told me there was nothing could be done to help him and gave him only months left at the very most and also said seizures would start. I wouldn't give up on this boy and although it hasn't been easy he is 4 years old now and is happy with life. I have everything crossed for you today,I know just how you are feeling.