Have you ever experienced being so excited that you actually faint? Well, that syndrome is an actual thing with dogs. And to show you how it is, meet Peter.
Peter is a cocker spaniel who happens to faint whenever he sees anything that excites him. Just recently, Peter fainted from too much excitement from seeing ducks! Peter got so excited at the sight of ducks that he collapsed right then and there. The last time he experienced this was when he got excited from seeing birds.
Peter’s owners are well-aware that this adorable act is actually a neurological condition. It’s commonly referred to as the Fainting Goat Syndrome derived from the reaction of goats whenever they get shocked and frightened. Peter has what veterinarian’s refer to as Myotonia Congenita. This condition is most commonly found in mytonic goats. Humans are also known to experience such condition.
On Peter’s end, he faints whenever he gets too excited! Peter’s owners narrated how Peter is almost always unable to control his excitement that often leads to him having no control of his body, keeling over, and ultimately fainting.
On his last recorded faint that went viral, it was seeing ducks that caused him to go overboard excited. He got so excited from wanting to chase the ducks that he saw while walking at the park that he froze and fainted from being so worked up!
On a scientific perspective, the excitement sent signals to the brain that then sent signals throughout Peter’s body that caused actual temporary paralysis.
This incident lasts for just few seconds and no known harm or pain is caused to Peter.
Apart from the fainting goat syndrome, some experts suggest that Peter could also have syncope. Syncope is basically a technical term for fainting and it is commonly experienced by older dogs of the pug, dachshund, boxer, and cocker spaniel breeds.
Source: https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/12/fainting-dog-collapses-sight-ducks-9915060/